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Upturn AI Summary - About
Cardinal Health Inc(CAH)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CAH
11/13/2026: CAH (5-star) is a STRONG-BUY. BUY for 22 days. Simulated Profits (10.80%). Updated daily EoD!
Cardinal Health Inc is a significant player in the global healthcare supply chain, acting as a vital link between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers. The company's strengths lie in its extensive distribution infrastructure and steady demand for essential medical products. While its core wholesale business model provides reliability, it operates on thin margins and faces intense competition from industry peers like McKesson and Cencora. Key risks include pricing pressure and regulatory hurdles, though the company is pivoting toward higher-margin specialty pharmacy services to drive growth. Cardinal Health may suit dividend-focused or value-oriented investors seeking stable exposure to the healthcare sector.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company operates in a mature, low-growth sector. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum is conditional on positive market sentiment and positive quarterly earnings surprises. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The stock often trades at valuations reflective of its stable, essential business model. |
| Dividend investor | Strong fit | Cardinal Health has a consistent record of dividend payments which supports income-focused strategies. |
| Low-risk investor | Strong fit | The company provides essential services, resulting in relatively stable demand regardless of economic cycles. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium | While generally stable, the stock can react to sector-wide healthcare regulatory news. |
| Valuation risk | Low | The company is often priced based on steady cash flows rather than speculative growth. |
| Competition risk (wholesale distribution) | Medium / high | The market is highly concentrated with intense price competition from MCK and COR. |
| Business quality | Medium | It is an essential utility-like player, though with thin margins. |
| Dividend income | Low | The dividend is generally well-supported by recurring revenue. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Maintaining efficiency in complex, low-margin supply chains is critical for profitability. |
Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 64.97B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 35.99 | 1Y Target Price 294.87 |
Price to earnings Ratio 35.99 | 1Y Target Price 294.87 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares | Beta 0.52 | 52 Weeks Range 179.64 - 286.29 | Updated Date 11/14/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 179.64 - 286.29 | Updated Date 11/14/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 0.74% | Basic EPS (TTM) 7.81 |
Sector & Industry Intelligence
Sector
Healthcare
Bullish- Sentiment
- Strong Bullish
- Momentum
- Momentum Steady
- BUY participation
- 62.6%
- Active BUY / eligible
- 72 / 115
- 30-Day BUY Count Change
- +35
- Market state
- Strong Bullish
The number of qualifying BUY stocks has remained relatively stable.
Industry
Medical Distribution
- BUY participation
- 100.0%
- Active BUY / eligible
- 3 / 3
- 30-Day BUY Count Change
- +2
Eligible universe: 3 stocks.
Sector signal summarizes BUY breadth conditions for the sector. It does not override this stock’s BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory.
Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 91.04% | Avg. Invested days 53 | Today’s Advisory Strong Buy |
Upturn Advisory Rating ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance | Stock Returns Performance |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals 
Financial Health Rating 
Growth Momentum Score 
Ownership 
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue) 
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile 
Style Classification
Quality Focused
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Segment | Distribution of brand and generic drugs and specialty pharmaceutical services. | This is the core, high-volume, low-margin business that acts as the primary engine for revenue. |
| Medical Segment | Manufacturing and distribution of medical and surgical products like exam gloves and drapes. | This segment is focused on product efficiency and provides a more diversified mix of healthcare supplies. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-11-05 | When Before Market | Estimate 2.92 | Actual 3.26 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 0.7% | Operating Margin (TTM) 1.33% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 3.72% | Return on Equity (TTM) - |
Valuation
Trailing PE 35.99 | Forward PE 21.51 | Enterprise Value 67.84B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.25 |
Enterprise Value 67.84B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.25 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.26 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 18.98 | Shares Outstanding 231.14M | Shares Floating 230.70M |
Shares Outstanding 231.14M | Shares Floating 230.70M | ||
Percent Insiders 0.29 | Percent Institutions 91.62 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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