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Centene Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Premium and service revenue rose 22%: Premium and service revenues were $44.9 billion, up from $36.9 billion. The company attributed the rise to PDP premium and membership growth, Marketplace market growth and Medicaid rate increases, partly offset by lower Medicaid membership. Source
  • GAAP loss driven by goodwill charge: GAAP diluted loss per share was $(13.50), against diluted earnings of $1.36 a year earlier. The company attributed the loss to the goodwill impairment. Source
  • Health benefits ratio rose to 92.7%: The health benefits ratio rose to 92.7% from 89.2% a year earlier, an increase of 3.5 points. Source
  • Marketplace costs and PDP changes drove HBR: Management attributed the increase mainly to higher Marketplace medical costs, lower Marketplace estimated risk adjustment revenue, and PDP program changes tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Source
  • Goodwill impairment followed July conditions: The company performed a quantitative impairment test in the third quarter and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion. The test followed July market conditions and the stock price decline. Source
  • Progress reported on July milestones: Management said the quarter's results and increased full-year forecast showed progress against the near-term milestones it set for investors in July, and that much work remains. Source

“Our third quarter results and increased full year outlook demonstrate tangible progress against the near-term milestones we laid out for investors in July,”

Chief Executive Officer of Centene, Sarah M. London

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2025not to exceed $(12.85)New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2025at least $2.00Raised from $1.75
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202520-21%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 adjusted diluted EPS forecast raised by $0.25 to at least $2.00, from $1.75. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year 2025 GAAP diluted loss per share forecast was given, after the prior release deferred 2025 earnings expectations to the call.
  • New: Goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion recorded in the third quarter as a non-cash charge. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Premium and service revenue rose 22%: Premium and service revenues were $44.9 billion, up from $36.9 billion. The company attributed the rise to PDP premium and membership growth, Marketplace market growth and Medicaid rate increases, partly offset by lower Medicaid membership. Source
  • GAAP loss driven by goodwill charge: GAAP diluted loss per share was $(13.50), against diluted earnings of $1.36 a year earlier. The company attributed the loss to the goodwill impairment. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $0.50 included tax benefit: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.50, against $1.62 a year earlier. It included a $0.10 benefit from a low adjusted effective tax rate in the quarter. Source

Segments and revenue by line

  • Commercial and Medicare segments in line: Management said the Commercial and Medicare segment results were in line with expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Commercial and Medicare revenue grew fastest: Commercial premium and service revenue reached $11.0 billion, up 26%, and Medicare reached $9.4 billion, up 66%. Medicaid rose 9% to $23.2 billion and Other rose 8% to $1.3 billion. Source

“While much work remains ahead, our organization remains focused on driving margin improvement, delivering outcomes for our members, and positioning the business for long-term success.”

Chief Executive Officer of Centene, Sarah M. London

Membership and products

  • PDP and at-risk membership grew: At-risk membership was 27,968,100, against 25,893,000 a year earlier. PDP members rose to 7,972,500 from 6,766,400. TRICARE eligibles of 2,747,000 in the prior-year period are not reported this quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Health benefits ratio rose to 92.7%: The health benefits ratio rose to 92.7% from 89.2% a year earlier, an increase of 3.5 points. Source
  • Marketplace costs and PDP changes drove HBR: Management attributed the increase mainly to higher Marketplace medical costs, lower Marketplace estimated risk adjustment revenue, and PDP program changes tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Source
  • Medicaid costs rose on behavioral and home health: Medicaid HBR was 93.4%, against 93.1%, and included an approximate 40 basis point benefit from a retroactive revenue adjustment for a large state covering the first and second quarters. Source
  • Commercial and Medicare ratios rose: Commercial HBR was 89.9%, against 80.0%. Medicare HBR, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and PDP, was 94.3%, against 88.0%. Source
  • SG&A ratio fell to 7.0%: The SG&A expense ratio was 7.0%, against 8.3%. The company attributed the decrease to expense leverage over higher revenues and PDP growth, partly offset by Marketplace growth, which carries a higher ratio. Source
  • Effective tax rates fell on goodwill charge: The GAAP effective tax rate was 0.6%, against 22.9%, reflecting the non-deductible goodwill impairment. The adjusted rate was 2.5%, against 23.3%. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Operating cash flow supported by claims timing: Operating cash flow for the quarter was $1.4 billion. Nine-month operating cash flow was $4.7 billion, against $0.7 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Debt-to-capital rose to 45.5%: The debt-to-capitalization ratio was 45.5% after the goodwill charge reduced retained earnings, up from 39.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Total debt and undrawn revolver: Total debt was $17.6 billion, and the $4.0 billion revolving credit facility had no borrowings at quarter end. Source
  • Cash and investments reported at $38.8 billion: Cash, investments and restricted deposits were $38.8 billion. Unregulated entities held $357 million of cash and cash equivalents. Medical claims liabilities totaled $21.5 billion. Source
  • Days in claims payable rose one day: Days in claims payable were 48, up from 47 at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Buybacks lower in nine months: Nine-month common stock repurchases were $473 million, against $2,181 million. Nine-month capital expenditures were $554 million, against $490 million. Source

Goodwill impairment and reserves

  • Goodwill impairment followed July conditions: The company performed a quantitative impairment test in the third quarter and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion. The test followed July market conditions and the stock price decline. Source
  • Premium revenue reduced by return-of-premium: Approximately $106 million was recorded as a reduction to premium revenues from prior-period development, due to minimum HBR and other return of premium programs. The second-quarter figure was $124 million. Source

Strategy and near-term milestones

  • Progress reported on July milestones: Management said the quarter's results and increased full-year forecast showed progress against the near-term milestones it set for investors in July, and that much work remains. Source
  • Focus on margins and members: Management said the organization remains focused on driving margin improvement and delivering outcomes for members, and on positioning the business for long-term success. Source

People, recognition and community

  • Headcount rose to 60,900: Employees numbered 60,900, against 60,700 a year earlier and 60,300 at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Forbes culture list recognition: Centene was named in the inaugural 2025 Forbes America's Best Employers for Company Culture list in September. Source
  • Uvalde community health center opened: The Centene Foundation and Superior HealthPlan opened a multi-purpose community health center in Uvalde, Texas, providing primary, behavioral and dental health services. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Digital playback available into November: A digital audio playback of the call will be available until 9 a.m. ET on November 5, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$450 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: The debt-to-capitalization ratio rose after the goodwill impairment reduced retained earnings. Source
  • Operational: Higher Marketplace medical costs and lower Marketplace risk adjustment revenue were named as drivers of the higher health benefits ratio. Source
  • Regulatory: Program changes in the PDP business under the Inflation Reduction Act contributed to the higher health benefits ratio. Source
  • External: Management cited July market conditions, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the stock price decline, as the reason for the goodwill review. Source
  • Operational: Medicaid medical costs rose on behavioral and home health services, which management named as main drivers. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the quarter showed tangible progress against those milestones. No separate status for each milestone was given. Source
  • On track: Management described the Commercial and Medicare segment results as in line with expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said 2025 expectations would come on the call. This release gives the GAAP and adjusted forecasts.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.