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Centene (CNC) Stock Plunges 14% as CEO Warns of Massive ACA Enrollment Decline

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CNC Stock Card

TLDR

  • Shares of Centene plummeted 14% Tuesday, claiming the title of S&P 500’s biggest loser for the session
  • Membership in ACA programs projected to decline to 3.5 million members by Q1 conclusion, a steep fall from December’s 5.5 million
  • Management stood by its 2026 adjusted EPS forecast of above $3
  • Mizuho Securities downgraded its price objective from $47 down to $41 while keeping a Neutral stance
  • Medicare Advantage operations continue to operate at a loss and won’t reach profitability until after 2026

Investors in Centene have experienced a turbulent 2026, and Tuesday’s trading session only amplified the pain. The managed care provider’s shares tumbled 14% following remarks made by CEO Sarah London during her presentation at the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, where her disclosure about plunging enrollment figures sent shockwaves through the market.


CNC Stock Card
Centene Corporation, CNC

During her presentation, London informed conference participants that all three primary business segments at Centene continue to perform in line with 2026 projections. She confirmed the company’s adjusted earnings forecast of more than $3 per share — a figure that aligns precisely with the $3 consensus among analysts tracked by FactSet.

However, the market response was far from positive. With the guidance failing to deliver any upward revision, market participants focused their attention on the troubling membership trends.

The health insurer now projects ACA marketplace enrollment will sink to 3.5 million by the conclusion of the first quarter, representing a dramatic decrease from the 5.5 million members it had in December. As of the most recent February data, enrollment stood at 3.6 million participants.

London revealed that company leadership had predicted the overall marketplace would contract “somewhere between the high teens and the mid-thirties” on a percentage basis. She noted Centene anticipated finishing “at the higher end of that and possibly higher than the top end of that.”

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She explained that some of the membership decline stems from strategic pricing adjustments implemented at year’s start, where the company chose to emphasize profitability enhancement rather than expanding its member base.

Medicare Advantage Still a Drag

The Medicare Advantage segment at Centene remains a significant headwind for overall performance. Profitability in this division was negative throughout 2025 and is projected to stay marginally unprofitable during 2026, with management targeting break-even status by 2027.

Adding to market uncertainty is the pending final rate announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, scheduled for release by April 6 at the latest. The Trump administration’s earlier proposal to maintain essentially flat Medicare reimbursement rates for 2027 triggered widespread selling in Centene shares and throughout the managed care sector.

London disclosed that Centene had filed formal commentary with CMS regarding the Advance Rate Notice and voiced optimism that the final rate schedule would more appropriately account for current medical cost inflation trends affecting the entire industry.

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Analyst Reaction

Mizuho responded swiftly following the conference presentation. The investment firm reduced its price objective on Centene shares to $41 from the previous $47 while maintaining its Neutral rating.

Mizuho pointed to worries surrounding health insurance marketplace attrition and specialty pharmaceutical cost pressures. The firm indicated it would employ a more cautious valuation approach until greater visibility emerges regarding the ultimate severity of the enrollment deterioration.

Truist Securities adopted a more constructive perspective, preserving its Buy recommendation with a $49 price objective, highlighting margin expansion potential and confidence from executive leadership. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its Neutral position with a $41 target, characterizing the 2026 operating landscape as difficult.

For perspective, Centene shares have declined 9.7% during 2026, compared to a modest 0.7% pullback for the broader S&P 500 index.

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Despite the selloff, the stock has actually outperformed several competitors. Molina Healthcare has retreated 17% year-to-date, Elevance Health is off 18%, and UnitedHealth Group has lost 14%.

Centene’s fourth quarter 2025 results revealed an adjusted diluted loss per share of $1.19, which marginally surpassed expectations for a $1.22 loss. Total revenue reached $49.73 billion, exceeding the anticipated $48.39 billion.

InvestingPro estimates Centene’s fair value at $62.11, with Wall Street analysts forecasting full-year 2026 EPS of $3.05.

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Crypto World

Price Predictions for BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, LINK

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Price Predictions for BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, LINK

Key points:

  • Buyers are attempting to maintain BTC above the $66,500 level, but several analysts believe that the $60,000 level may crack.

  • Some major altcoins risk breaking below their immediate support levels, signaling that bears remain in control.

Buyers are attempting to push and maintain Bitcoin (BTC) above the $66,500 level, but are facing stiff resistance from the bears. Although recovery attempts are being sold into, the BTC supply in profit and loss metric suggests that BTC may be close to a bottom.

CryptoQuant analyst “Darkfost” said that there are currently about 8.2 million BTC in loss, compared to roughly 10.6 million BTC during the previous bear market. That suggests the market is at a comparable level of undervaluation seen during the previous bear phase.

However, not everyone believes that a bottom is in. Chartered Market Technician Aksel Kibar said in a post on X that BTC may sink to $52,500 if its developing bearish pattern breaks down.

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Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView

During bear phases, select analysts turn overly negative and forecast gloom and doom for the markets.

One such projection is from Bloomberg Intelligence senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone, who said in a post on X that BTC may collapse to $10,000. Contrary to that opinion, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood said in an interview with CNBC that BTC will not see 85-95% collapses from its all-time high.

Could BTC and select major altcoins hold above their support levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC turned down from the moving averages on Thursday, and the bears are attempting to strengthen their position by pulling the price below the support line.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If they succeed, the bullish ascending triangle setup will be invalidated. That may force the aggressive bulls to close their positions. The BTC/USDT pair may then slump to the crucial $62,500 to $60,000 support zone.

The first sign of strength will be a close above the moving averages. That opens the doors for a rally to $72,000 and then to $76,000. A close above $76,000 will complete the ascending triangle pattern, propelling the pair toward $84,000.

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Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) failed to rise above the $2,200 resistance on Wednesday, indicating that the bears are aggressively defending the level.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flat moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) just below the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. That suggests the ETH/USDT pair may swing between $2,200 and $1,916 for some time.

Buyers will have to push and maintain the ETH price above the $2,200 level to gain the upper hand. If they do that, the pair may climb to $2,400 and thereafter to $2,600. On the downside, a close below $1,916 might sink the pair to the critical $1,750 support.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) turned down from the moving averages on Wednesday and dropped to the solid support at $570.

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The downsloping 20-day exponential moving average ($620) and the RSI near the oversold territory signal that the path of least resistance is to the downside. If the $570 support breaks down, the BNB/USDT pair may resume the downtrend to $500.

This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the BNB price turns up and breaks above the moving averages. That suggests the pair may continue to oscillate between $570 and $687 for a few more days.

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XRP price prediction

XRP (XRP) turned down from the 20-day EMA ($1.36) on Thursday, and the bears are striving to pull the price below the $1.27 support.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If they manage to do that, the XRP/USDT pair may plummet to the Feb. 6 low of $1.11. This is a vital support for the bulls to defend, as a close below it may extend the decline to the support line of the descending channel pattern near $1.

Buyers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to drive the XRP price above the moving averages, clearing the path for a recovery to the $1.61 level and then to the downtrend line.

Solana price prediction

Solana (SOL) has reached the support of the $76 to $95 range, indicating that the bears continue to exert pressure.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Buyers are expected to aggressively defend the $76 level, but the relief rally is likely to face selling at the moving averages. If the SOL price turns down from the current level or the moving averages and breaks below $76, it signals that the bears are back in the driver’s seat. There is support at $67, but if the level cracks, the next stop may be $50.

Contrarily, if the SOL/USDT pair turns up and breaks above the moving averages, it signals that the range-bound action may continue for a while longer.

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Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) is getting squeezed between the moving averages and the $0.09 support, signaling a potential range expansion in the short term.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

A close below the $0.09 support indicates that the bears are back in command. That may intensify selling and sink the DOGE/USDT pair to the Feb. 6 low of $0.08. Buyers will attempt to defend the $0.08 level, but if the bears prevail, the DOGE price may plunge to $0.06.

On the upside, a close above the moving averages suggests that the buyers have overpowered the bears. The pair may ascend to $0.10 and later to the stiff $0.12 resistance.

Hyperliquid price prediction

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is attempting to bounce off the 50-day simple moving average ($34.16), but the relief rally is expected to face selling at higher levels.

HYPE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-day EMA ($37.10) has started to turn down, and the RSI has slipped into the negative zone, signaling that the bulls are losing their grip. If the HYPE price turns down and breaks below the 50-day SMA, the pullback may reach the $29.42 level.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns up and breaks above the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the bulls remain in control. The HYPE/USDT pair may march to $41.59 and subsequently to $43.76.

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Related: Here’s what happened in crypto today

Cardano price prediction

Sellers have maintained Cardano (ADA) below the $0.25 resistance but have failed to pull the price below the $0.23 level.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-day EMA ($0.25) is sloping down gradually, and the RSI is in the negative territory, indicating a slight edge to the bears. If the ADA price turns down from the 20-day EMA and breaks below $0.23, it suggests that the bulls have given up. The ADA/USDT pair may drop to $0.22 and later to the support line near $0.18.

Conversely, if buyers propel the price above the moving averages, it suggests that the selling pressure is reducing. The pair may rally to the downtrend line, which is a vital resistance for the bears to defend.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has dropped to the $443 level, which is a critical support for the bulls to defend.

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BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Any bounce off the $443 level is expected to face selling at the moving averages. If the BCH price turns down sharply from the moving averages, it increases the likelihood of a drop below the $443 level. If that happens, the BCH/USDT pair will complete a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern. The pair may then tumble to the $375 level.

On the contrary, a close above the $486 level suggests that the bulls are back in the game. The pair may then jump to the $520 to $540 zone.

Chainlink price prediction

Chainlink (LINK) has been trading between the $8 and $10 level, indicating a balance between supply and demand.

LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If buyers thrust the price above the moving averages, the LINK/USDT pair may rise to the $10 resistance. Sellers are expected to defend the $10 level, as a close above it may propel the LINK price to $10.94 and then to $11.61.

Alternatively, if the price turns down from the moving averages and breaks below the $8 level, it signals that the bears have seized control. The pair may collapse to $7.15 and then to the $6 level.