The structural profiles are close, with Centene carrying a narrow edge on growth. UnitedHealth still has the edge on profitability, 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.
Most of the separation is still concentrated in growth.
Both operate in: Healthcare Plans
This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. CNC and UNH share the same industry classification.
For a similarity-based comparison, see how Centene and UnitedHealth each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.
Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.
The clearest separation appears in growth.
Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.
Centene Corporation looks stronger on relative valuation, while the broader price setup remains mixed.
Valuation position uses Forward P/E and peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.
The main growth separation is very wide, driven by a meaningfully stronger expansion profile.
Capital efficiency also runs the other way, with a 45-point ROIC edge acting as a real counterforce.
Growth gives Centene Corporation the clearer edge, even though profitability still pushes back in the wider comparison.
Break down the CNC vs UNH comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.
Explore how CNC and UNH 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.
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.