Centene (STU:QEN) Moat Score: 7/10 (As of Jul. 11, 2026)


STU:QEN Centene Corp STU:QEN
71 GF Score
Price €58.96
GF Value €73.01
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 7 Warning Signs
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What is Centene Moat Score?

Centene STU:QEN -0.03% 71 Moat Score is 7 as of Jul. 11, 2026. GuruFocus rates STU:QEN with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of €73.01 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 18 Healthcare Plans companies, Centene ranks better than 83.33% on this metric.

Centene has the Moat Score of 7, which implies that the company might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.

Centene has Wide Moat: Centene Corp has a wide moat due to its strong market leadership in managed healthcare, significant regulatory barriers, and economies of scale. Its extensive distribution network and pricing power, combined with customer loyalty, provide durable competitive advantages.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Centene might have Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages.


Centene  (STU:QEN) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Centene Moat Score Related Terms


STU:QEN vs HUM, MOH, OSCR: Moat Score Comparison

For the Healthcare Plans subindustry, Centene's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Centene Moat Score vs Healthcare Plans Industry

For the Healthcare Plans industry and Healthcare sector, Centene's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Centene's Moat Score falls into.


STU:QEN
71GF Score
Centene Corp STU:QEN
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 7 mean?
Centene (STU:QEN) has a Moat Score of 7 as of Jul. 11, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Centene ranks #3 out of 18 companies in the Healthcare Plans industry, placing it in the top 16.7%.
Is Centene's Moat Score too high?
Centene's current Moat Score is 7. The Healthcare Plans industry median Moat Score is 4.00. Centene's value of 7 is 75% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Centene ranks #3 out of 18 companies in the Healthcare Plans industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Centene has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Centene's Moat Score compare to HUM and MOH?
According to the Healthcare Plans industry distribution chart, Centene ranks #3 out of 18 companies for Moat Score. This places Centene in the top 17% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Moat Score is 4.00. Centene's value of 7 is 75% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Healthcare Plans company?
The median Moat Score among Healthcare Plans companies is 4.00, based on 18 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Moat Score significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Centene's current Moat Score of 7 is 75% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. For the Healthcare Plans industry, the median Moat Score is 4.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Centene's current Moat Score is 7. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Centene stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Centene (STU:QEN) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €73.01, compared to a current price of €58.96 — trading 19.2% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 7 and 75% above the Healthcare Plans industry median of 4.00. Centene's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Centene (STU:QEN), the current Moat Score is 7 as of Jul. 11, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Centene (STU:QEN) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Centene stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €58.96 is trading 19.2% below its estimated GF Value™ of €73.01. GuruFocus considers Centene to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for STU:QEN:

  • Moat Score: 7
  • GF Value™: €73.01 vs. price of €58.96 (19.2% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 71/100 with 7 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 75% above the Healthcare Plans median (#3 of 18)

No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:QEN stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Centene Business Description

Address 7700 Forsyth Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, USA, 63105
Centene is a managed care organization that focuses on government-sponsored healthcare plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the individual exchanges. Centene served 20 million medical members as of December 2025, mostly in Medicaid (about 64% of membership), the individual exchanges (about 28%), and Medicare (about 5%). The company also provides Medicare Part D pharmaceutical plans.
71GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€58.96
Price
€73.01
GF Value