In the ever-evolving landscape of the U.S. healthcare sector, Humana Inc. $HUM (-1,37 %) and Centene Corporation $CNC (-1,3 %) stand out as two prominent players, each with distinct business models and strategies. Humana focuses on providing a wide range of medical and supplemental insurance plans, primarily targeting individual and group markets, while Centene specializes in serving under-insured and uninsured populations through government-subsidized programs. This analysis delves into key financial metrics across various dimensions, including profitability, valuation, dividend yield, financial health, and growth potential, to provide insights into their operational effectiveness and investment attractiveness.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Business Model Overview

Humana Inc.

Humana operates primarily as a health and well-being company, providing a range of medical and supplemental benefit plans. Its services are structured into three segments:

• Retail: Offers individual medical and supplemental plans, including Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans.
• Group and Specialty: Provides commercial health insurance products, including dental and vision, along with administrative services for employer groups.
• Healthcare Services: Encompasses pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home health services.

Humana's contracts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allow it to manage various government-sponsored programs, enhancing its revenue through a diverse member base, which includes approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans and 5 million in specialty products as of December 31, 2021.

Centene Corporation

Centene is a multi-national healthcare enterprise focused on providing services to under-insured and uninsured individuals. Its operations are divided into two main segments:

Managed Care: Offers health plan coverage through government-subsidized programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, targeting vulnerable populations.

• Specialty Services: Provides pharmacy benefits management, behavioral health services, and various healthcare services to government programs and commercial entities.

Centene emphasizes affordability and accessibility, leveraging a vast network of healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive services. The company has a significant presence across multiple states and serves millions through its various programs.

This structured analysis provides a clearer view of Humana and Centene's strengths and weaknesses across various financial dimensions:

• Profitability: Centene shows a slightly better net margin and EBITDA margin, indicating more efficient operations relative to its revenue. Additionally, Centene has demonstrated impressive EPS growth over the past three years, contrasting with Humana's decline.
• Valuation: Centene's lower P/E and EV/Sales ratios suggest it may be undervalued compared to Humana, making it potentially more attractive for value-focused investors.
• Dividend Yield: Humana provides a modest dividend yield, while Centene does not currently pay dividends, which may influence investor preferences.
• Financial Health: Centene has a stronger cash position and lower net debt, which enhances its financial flexibility.
• Growth Potential: Centene's higher revenue growth over the past five and ten years indicates a robust growth trajectory. Additionally, its long-term growth estimate is favorable compared to Humana's.

Overall, while Humana demonstrates solid profitability and a commitment to returning value to shareholders through dividends, Centene's operational efficiency, lower valuation metrics, and strong growth potential may present a more compelling investment opportunity for those looking for value and growth in the healthcare sector.