Shares of Centene Corp. soared Friday morning after the Medicaid coverage provider forecast a 2014 earnings range that extended well beyond average Wall Street expectations.

The St. Louis company said its outlook for the new year does not include its now discontinued Kentucky business, which had been dragging down the company's results and led to litigation. Centene left the state earlier this year.

Centene said its 2014 forecast also excludes a fee that insurers will have to pay next year due to the health care overhaul, the massive federal law that aims to help millions of uninsured people gain coverage. The company said excluding the fee allows for a better comparison between the years.