Centene Corp (CNC)vsCVS Health Corp (CVS)
CNC
Centene Corp
$34.40
-3.29%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $16.92B
CVS
CVS Health Corp
$71.48
-0.53%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $90.94B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
CVS Health Corp generates 127% more annual revenue ($399.83B vs $176.15B). CVS leads profitability with a 44.0% profit margin vs -3.8%. CVS appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.21. CVS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
CNC
Strong Buy65
out of 100
Grade: B-
CVS
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for CNC.
Margin of Safety
-18.4%
Fair Value
$65.05
Current Price
$71.48
$6.43 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Growing faster than its price suggests
Revenue surging 23.2% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 21.8% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 44 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Earnings expanding 76.6% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Generating 2.6B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
ROE of -28.7% — below average capital efficiency
Currently unprofitable
Operating margin of -1.9%
ROE of 2.3% — below average capital efficiency
Operating margin of 1.6%
Elevated debt levels
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CNC
The strongest argument for CNC centers on Price/Book, PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 23.2% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.77 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : CVS
The strongest argument for CVS centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 44.0% and operating margin at 1.6%. PEG of 0.21 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : CNC
The primary concerns for CNC are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin.
Bear Case : CVS
The primary concerns for CVS are Return on Equity, Operating Margin, Debt/Equity. A P/E of 51.4x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CNC profiles as a growth stock while CVS is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
CVS carries more volatility with a beta of 0.46 — expect wider price swings.
CNC is growing revenue faster at 23.2% — sustainability is the question.
CVS generates stronger free cash flow (2.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
CNC scores higher overall (65/100 vs 65/100) and 23.2% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Centene Corp
HEALTHCARE · HEALTHCARE PLANS · USA
Centene Corporation is a large publicly traded company and a multi-line managed care enterprise that serves as a major intermediary for both government-sponsored and privately insured health care programs. It is a healthcare insurer that focuses on managed care for uninsured, underinsured, and low-income individuals.
CVS Health Corp
HEALTHCARE · HEALTHCARE PLANS · USA
CVS Health (previously CVS Corporation and CVS Caremark Corporation) is an American healthcare company that owns CVS Pharmacy, a retail pharmacy chain; CVS Caremark, a pharmacy benefits manager; Aetna, a health insurance provider, among many other brands. The company's headquarters is in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Visit Website →Compare with Other HEALTHCARE PLANS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?