UPDATE 1-Centene Q1 profit beats Street view

* Q1 EPS cont ops $0.43 beats Street by 4 cents

* Q1 rev rises 20 pct to $932.4 mln

* Sees 2009 EPS $1.84 to $1.94, rev $3.65-$3.78 billion

April 28 (Reuters) - Health insurer Centene Corp (CNC.N) posted better-than-expected quarterly earnings, as revenue jumped 20 percent driven mainly by membership growth.

The company also raised the top end of its 2009 earnings view citing a lower effective tax rate, but maintained its revenue outlook for the year.

Centene forecast fiscal 2009 earnings of $1.84 to $1.94 a share, on sales of $3.65 billion to $3.78 billion. Its prior forecast was earnings of $1.82 to $ 1.94 a share.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $1.90 a share, on revenue of $3.8 billion for 2009, according to Reuters Estimates.

For the first quarter membership rose 22 percent to 1.34 million.

However, the company's earnings from continuing operations for the quarter fell 24 percent to $18.9 million, or 43 cents a share.

Revenue rose 20 percent to $932.4 million.

Analysts on average expected earnings of 39 cents a share, excluding special items, on revenue of $927.2 million for the first quarter.

Shares of the company closed at $19.71 Monday on the New York Stock Exchange.

For the alerts, double-click [ID:nWNAB9011] (Reporting by Anand Basu in Bangalore; Editing by Ratul Ray Chaudhuri)