Centene Clocks First Quarterly Loss In 13 Years, Stock Volatile (UPDATED)

Editor’s Note: The story has been updated with executive comment and stock price change

Healthcare insurance giant Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) saw its stock tumble significantly on Friday after reporting a surprising second-quarter 2025 adjusted loss of 16 cents per share.

This stark reversal from an adjusted income of $2.42 per share in the prior year quarter sharply contrasted with analyst expectations of a $1.26 per share profit, marking the company’s first quarterly loss since the second quarter of 2012, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Despite the earnings shortfall, Centene demonstrated strong top-line growth, with sales surging 22% year-over-year to $48.74 billion, comfortably exceeding the consensus estimate of $44.48 billion. However, this revenue performance was overshadowed by substantial increases in medical costs.

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“We are disappointed by our second-quarter results, but we have a clear understanding of the trends that have impacted our performance, and are working with urgency and focus to restore our earnings trajectory,” stated Sarah London, Chief Executive Officer of Centene, acknowledging the challenging quarter.

The company’s premium and service revenues climbed 18% to $42.5 billion from $36.0 billion a year ago. This growth was primarily fueled by expanding premium and membership ...