Centene price target lowered to $33 from $45 at Barclays

Barclays analyst Andrew Mok lowered the firm’s price target on Centene (CNC) to $33 from $45 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm adjusted estimates and targets in the managed care and healthcare facility group following a “volatile” Q2 earnings season. Group valuations have increased recently, which may be a sign that investor sentiment and estimates have bottomed out, the analyst tells investors in a research note. From here, Barclays sees a number of potential catalysts including September budget deals, final pricing for Medicare Advantage and Affordable Care Act plans and Medicare Advantage star ratings for the 2027 plans. Relative to estimates, the firm believes UnitedHealth (UNH) and CVS Health (CVS) offer the most near-term upside while Molina Healthcare (MOH) has the most downside risk.