Operating Expenses

Total Operating Expenses

Centene Total Operating Expenses decreased by 6.6% to $48.08B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 6.6%, from $45.09B to $48.08B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Total Operating Expenses shows an upward trend with a 13.0% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.

Analysis

StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2014
Last reportedQ1 2026

How to read this metric

An increase faster than revenue growth suggests declining operating margins, while slower growth indicates effective cost control.

Detailed definition

Total operating expenses represent the sum of all costs incurred to operate the business, excluding the cost of goods so...

Peer comparison

Used to calculate operating margin; peers in the healthcare sector monitor this closely to manage profitability against R&D requirements.

Metric ID: total_operating_expenses

Historical Data

20 periods
 Q2 '21Q3 '21Q4 '21Q1 '22Q2 '22Q3 '22Q4 '22Q1 '23Q2 '23Q3 '23Q4 '23Q1 '24Q2 '24Q3 '24Q4 '24Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Value$31.44B$31.86B$31.97B$35.93B$36.07B$35.39B$35.84B$37.67B$36.44B$37.31B$39.65B$39.30B$38.61B$41.36B$40.63B$45.09B$49.20B$56.64B$51.47B$48.08B
QoQ Change+1.3%+0.3%+12.4%+0.4%-1.9%+1.3%+5.1%-3.3%+2.4%+6.3%-0.9%-1.8%+7.1%-1.8%+11.0%+9.1%+15.1%-9.1%-6.6%
YoY Change+14.7%+11.1%+12.1%+4.8%+1.0%+5.4%+10.6%+4.3%+6.0%+10.9%+2.5%+14.7%+27.4%+37.0%+26.7%+6.6%
Range$31.44B$56.64B
CAGR+9.4%
Avg YoY Growth+12.2%
Median YoY Growth+10.7%
Current Streak2 quarters decline

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Centene's total operating expenses?
Centene (CNC) reported total operating expenses of $48.08B in Q1 2026.
How has Centene's total operating expenses changed year-over-year?
Centene's total operating expenses increased by 6.6% year-over-year, from $45.09B to $48.08B.
What is the long-term trend for Centene's total operating expenses?
Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Centene's total operating expenses has grown at a 13.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $124.20B to $202.40B.
What does total operating expenses mean?
The total cost of running the business, including all non-production expenses.