Centene reported a third-quarter net loss of $71 million, or 14 cents a share, a sharp improvement from the loss of $6.63 billion, or $13.50 a share, recorded a year earlier.
The healthcare company also lifted its 2026 guidance, citing cost controls in its Medicare business that are helping to offset a decline in membership. Lower enrollment has weighed on revenue, but tighter management of medical costs has supported profitability.
Medicare Advantage plans, which the company offers through its managed care operations, remain a key focus for investors as insurers navigate rising utilization and reimbursement pressures. Centene's ability to control costs in this segment has become central to its outlook.
The revised guidance reflects management's confidence that cost discipline can sustain earnings even as the company shrinks its member base. The update comes as the broader managed care sector continues to adjust to changing patient volumes and regulatory conditions.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing