AGL vs CNC

For growth investors, Centene Corporation (CNC) is the stronger pick with 19.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 1% for Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL). Analysts rate Centene Corporation (CNC) a "Buy" — based on 43 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Centene Corporation (CNC) delivered a total return of -22.

0%, compared to -92. 8% for Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNC returned +81. 2% versus AGL's -92. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Centene Corporation (CNC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

39β versus Agilon Health, Inc. 's 2. 98β — meaning AGL is approximately 661% more volatile than CNC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 94% for Centene Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Centene Corporation (CNC) is pulling ahead at 19.

4% versus -2. 1% for Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Agilon Health, Inc. grew EPS -55. 6% year-over-year, compared to -315. 8% for Centene Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AGL leads at 35. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Centene Corporation (CNC) is the more profitable company, earning -3.

4% net margin versus -6. 8% for Agilon Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CNC leads at -3. 9% versus -7. 1% for AGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CNC leads at 12. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CNC: -7.

2% to $51. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Centene Corporation (CNC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

39)). Agilon Health, Inc. (AGL) carries a higher beta of 2. 98 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNC: +81. 2%, AGL: -92. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AGL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CNC is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.