Cardinal Health Inc logo

Cardinal Health Inc(CAH)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
5-STAR RATING
STRONG BUY
BUY for 22 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+10.8% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$281.1
11/13/2026
(24-hour delay)

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)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

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 styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company operates in a mature, low-growth sector.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum is conditional on positive market sentiment and positive quarterly earnings surprises.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock often trades at valuations reflective of its stable, essential business model.
Dividend investorStrong fitCardinal Health has a consistent record of dividend payments which supports income-focused strategies.
Low-risk investorStrong fitThe company provides essential services, resulting in relatively stable demand regardless of economic cycles.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumWhile generally stable, the stock can react to sector-wide healthcare regulatory news.
Valuation riskLowThe company is often priced based on steady cash flows rather than speculative growth.
Competition risk (wholesale distribution)Medium / highThe market is highly concentrated with intense price competition from MCK and COR.
Business qualityMediumIt is an essential utility-like player, though with thin margins.
Dividend incomeLowThe dividend is generally well-supported by recurring revenue.
Execution riskMediumMaintaining 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
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

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

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

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 star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/13/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CAH receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CAH has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, moderate earnings growth (+9.8%) and solid revenue growth (+14.2%) are partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 1.8%), soft profitability (net margin 0.7%), very low insider ownership of 0.29%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CAH's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $4.5B (1.8% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CAH's strongest growth driver at +144.6% FY2026 versus FY2025 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+14.2%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (+9.8%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 91.6% and approximately 99.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.29%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 11.46%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.62%
Wellington Management Company LLP 6.43%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 5.94%
State Street Corp 5.18%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CAH generates approximately $38 of gross profit, $10 of operating income, and $18 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Weak margins explain the 2-star rating, with moderate cash conversion and strong capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 21.57%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CAH has a large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Pharmaceutical SegmentDistribution 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 SegmentManufacturing 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon 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)

Information icon 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)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.