Centene Corporation (CNC): David Einhorn Is Bullish on This Managed Care Firm

We just covered 15 Under-the-Radar Picks from David Einhorn That Are Quietly Dominating 2026 and Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) ranks 1st on this list.

Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) recently posted Q1 2026 results that significantly cleared the high bar set by institutional expectations. The company delivered an Adjusted EPS of $3.37 on $49.94 billion in revenue, far exceeding analyst estimates. Management increased the 2026 full-year adjusted EPS guidance floor to greater than $3.40. Hedge funds view this as a signal that the company has finally moved past the Medicaid redetermination headwinds that plagued the sector in 2024–2025. While competitors like UnitedHealth and Humana have struggled with rising medical utilization, Centene has demonstrated better cost-containment in core niches.

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The Health Benefits Ratio of Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) improved to 87.3% in Q1 2026. Despite lower overall Medicaid membership, Centene achieved 8% revenue growth in this segment through rate increases and state-directed payments. Hedge funds like the defensive nature of these government contracts during periods of broader economic uncertainty. In Q1 2026, the company used proceeds from divestitures to repurchase $1 billion in senior notes due in 2027. This reduced total debt to $16.4 billion, improving the debt-to-capital ratio to 43.2%.

Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) operates as a managed care company that provides programs and services to under-insured families, and commercial organizations in the United States.

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