The stock market has been fueled by a steady diet of artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled growth recently, as evidenced by the reaction to Nvidia's (NVDA) latest earnings report. But with corporate earnings season winding down, and stocks lingering near highs ahead of a critical payrolls report next week, it's not a bad time for investors to stay open to defensive opportunities, too - stocks that offer good value, steady results through economic cycles, and reliable demand.
Against this backdrop, it's worth taking a closer look at names like Centene Corporation (CNC), a leader in the healthcare industry. While it's not expected to deliver Magnificent Seven-style growth in the years ahead, Centene is well-positioned to benefit from industry shifts toward value-based care and digital transformation. Plus, the company recently delivered a Q4 earnings beat, and is expected to deliver steady gains in EPS and revenue going forward.
