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Centene vs Elevance Health: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

Elevance Health leads structurally, with profitability as the clearest single gap between the two profiles. Centene still has the edge on growth, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. Both sides have seen trend damage — neither carries a clear market edge right now. With both trends damaged, the structural comparison carries most of the weight here.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

The lead runs through profitability, while growth still acts as a real counterweight on the other side. Elevance Health, Inc. leads by 10 points on the overall comparison score.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Healthcare Plans

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. CNC and ELV share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how Centene and Elevance Health each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
CNC
Centene Corporation
51
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
ELV
Elevance Health, Inc.
61
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in profitability.

Dimension spread: CNC vs ELV Profitability 0 64 Stability 25 32 Valuation 88 85 Growth 100 48 CNC ELV
Gap Ranking
#1 Profitability +64
#2 Growth +52
#3 Stability +7
#4 Valuation +3
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for CNC and ELV Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer CNCELV Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup is mixed: neither company clearly combines the stronger profile with the more supportive price setup.

Valuation position uses Forward P/E and peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Profitability
Elevance Health, Inc. sits in the stronger part of the group on profitability, while Centene Corporation is closer to mid-pack.
Growth
Both rank well on growth, but Centene Corporation still holds a clear edge.
Profitability — Dominant Gap
CNC
0
ELV
64
Gap+64in favour of ELV

Capital efficiency adds support, with a 51-point ROIC advantage.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

Growth still tilts materially toward Centene Corporation, which stops the result from looking dominant across the whole profile.

What this means for the comparison

Profitability settles the comparison, while pricing and growth keep the broader setup from looking fully aligned.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the CNC vs ELV comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how CNC and ELV each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.