WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ryan & Maniskas, LLP (www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/cnc) has filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on behalf of all investors who purchased Centene Corporation ("Centene" or the "Company") (NYSE: CNC) common stock during the period from February 7, 2012 through June 8, 2012 (the "Class Period").

For more information regarding this class action suit, please contact Ryan & Maniskas, LLP (Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire) toll-free at (877) 316-3218 or by email at rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com or visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/cnc.

Centene operates as a multiline healthcare company in the United States. The complaint brings forth claims for violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that Centene misrepresented its financial condition and failed to inform investors that the Company's 2012 outlook, provided at the start of the Class Period, lacked a reasonable basis when made due to already existing and understood competitive pressures.

On June 11, 2012, the Company's stock price plunged over 22% after the Company cut its full-year profit and revenue forecasts due to higher-than-expected medical costs. Centene revised its projections to earnings of $1.45 to $1.65 per share for 2012 versus a previous forecast of $2.64 to $2.84 per share. In addition, the Company also disclosed that expenses were above projections for commercial polices sold by its Celtic Insurance unit and Centene was evaluating goodwill and intangible assets at the unit that may result in a non-cash charge of about $28 million.

If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than August 28, 2012, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain Ryan & Maniskas, LLP or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.

For more information about the case or to participate online, please visit: www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/cnc or contact Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire toll-free at (877) 316-3218, or by e-mail at rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com. For more information about class action cases in general or to learn more about Ryan & Maniskas, LLP, please visit our website: www.rmclasslaw.com.

Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is a national shareholder litigation firm. Ryan & Maniskas, LLP is devoted to protecting the interests of individual and institutional investors in shareholder actions in state and federal courts nationwide.

Ryan & Maniskas, LLP
Richard A. Maniskas, Esquire
877-316-3218
rmaniskas@rmclasslaw.com
www.rmclasslaw.com/cases/cnc

Source: Ryan & Maniskas, LLP