Centene raises 2026 EPS guidance after Q1 adjusted EPS of $3.37
Centene reported first quarter 2026 GAAP diluted EPS of $3.11, up from $2.63 a year earlier, and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.37, up from $2.90. The company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance floor to greater than $3.40 and its premium and service revenue guidance by $1.0 billion to a range of $171.0 billion to $175.0 billion, which points to higher expected earnings for shareholders.
Key points
- Q1 2026 premium and service revenues rose 5% to $44.7 billion, and the health benefits ratio improved to 87.3% from 87.5%.
- 2026 GAAP diluted EPS guidance floor updated to greater than $2.37; adjusted diluted EPS guidance floor updated to greater than $3.40.
- Company reduced debt by $1.0 billion in Q1 2026 through repurchase of 2027 senior notes; total debt was $16.4 billion at March 31, 2026.
- Q1 cash flow provided by operations was $4.4 billion; Marketplace membership fell to 3.58 million from 5.63 million a year earlier.
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 8, 2026, 1:30 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on April 27, 2026.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.