UnitedHealth [UNH] vs Centene [CNC] Detailed Stock Comparison

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

NYSE
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Centene Corporation

NYSE
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated wins in 13 metrics, Centene Corporation wins in 6 metrics, with 0 ties. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Centene Corporation Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 26.81 8.06 Centene Corporation
Price-to-Book Ratio 3.42 1.01 Centene Corporation
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 73.98 90.56 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
PEG Ratio -0.27 -0.02 Centene Corporation
EV/EBITDA 17.29 7.09 Centene Corporation
Profit Margin (TTM) 2.68% -3.79% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Operating Margin (TTM) 8.05% -1.88% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 8.05% N/A N/A
Return on Equity 12.18% -28.68% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Return on Assets (TTM) 3.78% 1.01% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $16.08B $4.32B UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Dividend Yield 3.84% N/A N/A
1-Year Return 30.30% 18.06% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 0.72 0.11 Centene Corporation
Enterprise Value $371.09B $18.15B UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
EV/Revenue Ratio 0.83 0.10 Centene Corporation
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 16.34% 4.96% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Revenue per Share (TTM) $496 $357 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $13.24 $-13.53 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.41 0.59 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Short % of Float 1.86% 3.18% UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated vs Centene Corporation Stock Performance Analysis

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UNH
CNC

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated0.62%1.10%4.36%43.98%20.50%22.19%
Centene Corporation-2.75%-2.51%8.80%82.39%56.74%51.75%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated30.30%-10.90%4.92%196.70%717.69%822.38%
Centene Corporation18.06%-0.72%-9.07%94.54%698.90%825.99%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated vs Centene Corporation

MetricUNHCNC
Market Information
Market Cap i$322.34B$20.21B
Market Cap CategoryMega capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i9,626,0404,473,526
90 Day Avg. Volume i9,353,9006,124,115
Last Close$411.04$63.40
52 Week Range$234.60 - $415.98$25.08 - $66.55
% from 52W High-1.19%-4.73%
All-Time High$630.73 (Nov 11, 2024)$98.53 (Aug 15, 2022)
% from All-Time High-34.83%-35.65%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.02%0.23%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.00%0.22%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.03%-0.04%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.08%-0.02%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.12%-0.29%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i73.9890.56
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$103.87$40.58
Cash per Share (MRQ)$34.32$41.32
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$23.15B$5.09B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$17.69B$5.05B
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.84%N/A
Last 12-Month Dividend i$10.94N/A

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated vs Centene Corporation

MetricUNH (Apr 26, 2026)CNC (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i26.818.06
Forward P/E i17.1710.33
PEG Ratio i-0.27-0.02
Price to Sales (TTM) i0.720.11
Price to Book (MRQ) i3.421.01
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$322.34B$20.21B
Enterprise Value i$371.09B$18.15B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i0.830.10
Enterprise to EBITDA i17.297.09
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.410.59
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$103.87$40.58

Financial Statements Comparison: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated vs Centene Corporation

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricUNH (2025)CNC (2025)
Revenue/Sales i447.57B194.78B
Cost of Goods Sold i364.65B180.91B
COGS % of Revenue i81.5%92.9%
Gross Profit i82.92B13.87B
Gross Margin i18.5%7.1%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i18.96B-312.00M
Operating Margin i4.2%-0.2%
EBITDA i23.33B963.00M
EBITDA Margin i5.2%0.5%
Pre-Tax Income i14.70B-6.73B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i3.3%-3.5%
Income Tax i1.89B-51.00M
Income Tax % of Revenue i0.4%0.0%
Net Income (Profit) i12.81B-6.68B
Profit Margin i2.9%-3.4%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricUNH (2025)CNC (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i24.37B17.89B
Total Current Assets i90.58B40.37B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i20.2%20.7%
Total Current Liabilities i114.90B36.70B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i25.7%18.8%
Long-Term Debt i72.32B17.97B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i16.2%9.2%
Total Shareholders Equity i101.70B20.06B
Retained Earnings i95.60B8.67B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i21.4%4.5%
Property, Plant & Equipment i0317.00M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricUNH (2025)CNC (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i13.61B-1.56B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i3.0%-0.8%
Capital Expenditures i-3.62BN/A
Free Cash Flow i16.08B4.32B
FCF Margin i3.6%2.2%
Debt Repayment i-3.05B-1.90B
Common Stock Repurchase i-5.55B-475.00M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricUNHCNC
Shares Short i15.18M13.67M
Short Ratio i1.681.89
Short % of Float i1.86%3.18%
Shares Outstanding i905.84M491.76M
Float Shares i902.31M458.81M
% Held by Insiders i0.81%0.31%
% Held by Institutions i83.96%99.41%
% Held by Public i15.23%0.28%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated vs Centene Corporation

MetricUNHCNC
Last 12-Month Dividend i$10.94N/A
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.84%N/A
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$8.25N/A
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.50%N/A
3-Year Total Dividends i$24.76N/A
Ex-Dividend DateMar 09, 2026N/A