DailyIQ
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Sector:HealthcareAll sectors
Last updated 1 hour ago

CAH·Cardinal Health, Inc.

$.
+. (+.%)
After Hours
High
$236.26
Open
$233.07
Market Cap
55.23B
52W High
$243.21
Low
$232.05
P. Close
$235.62
P/E
35.51
52W Low
$137.75
Fwd P/E
19.62
DailyIQ Est.
$256.24
Technical Score (1D)
86
BUY
News Sentiment
34
BEARISH
Analysts at several brokerages have upgraded Cardinal Health to a buy, citing recent financial strength, but some caution that the optimism may be overstated. TD Cowen has lifted its price target from $255 to $275, reflecting a more bullish view of the company’s earnings trajectory. The company will report fiscal 2026 fourth‑quarter results on August 11, with a pre‑market webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET that will provide real‑time commentary on revenue, margins and guidance. The upgrade in price target and the buy consensus suggest that traders should expect a short‑term rally if the earnings release confirms the projected EPS of $2.41 and revenue of $65.61 billion. However, the earnings guidance remains a key catalyst; any revision below expectations could dampen the bullish sentiment. In addition, analysts have noted that Cardinal Health was removed from the Russell 1000 defensive indices in June, but the removal is unlikely to alter its core earnings drivers. Market participants should also monitor for any regulatory or pricing risk updates that could impact the company’s distribution margins. The combination of a higher price target, a buy rating, and an upcoming earnings webcast positions CAH for a potential short‑term upside, but the stock remains sensitive to earnings surprises and payer reimbursement changes.
Earnings Summary
Cardinal Health, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, operates as a global healthcare distributor, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products across two main segments—Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions and Global Medical Products and Distribution—serving hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers. The medical distribution industry is characterized by tight margins and evolving reimbursement policies. In the most recent two quarters, Cardinal’s Q3 2025 EPS of $2.55 beat the $2.16845 estimate while revenue climbed to $64.009 B from $60.159 B in Q2 2025, marking a 6.5 % YoY increase; the prior two quarters saw Q1 2025 EPS of $2.35 beating the $2.14886 estimate and revenue of $54.878 B, a modest decline from Q4 2024’s $55.264 B. Thus, the company has consistently outperformed earnings estimates in all four quarters, with revenue growth accelerating in 2025 but a slight dip in Q3 2026 to $60.94 B versus $64.009 B in Q3 2025. Historically, Cardinal has maintained a streak of EPS beats and has shown resilient revenue growth, though the 2026 quarter indicates a modest slowdown. Recent news reports a robust upside outlook, with analysts projecting a 30.58 % lift in full‑year earnings and a 15.12 % rise in revenue, driven by strong cost control and margin expansion; meanwhile, the removal from defensive indices and an Evercore upgrade to a $265 price target underscore a positive sentiment shift. Investors should watch for the upcoming earnings release to confirm guidance on revenue, margin trends, and supply‑chain dynamics, and to assess whether pricing power remains intact amid regulatory and reimbursement pressures. The key will be whether Cardinal can sustain its margin expansion while navigating potential cost‑inflation and maintaining its distribution network efficiency.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$1.55$2.01$2.47$2.92$3.38Q4'24Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q3'26Q4'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q4'26$2.42 - -
Q3'26$2.82$3.17+12.5%
Q3'25$2.17$2.55+17.6%
Q2'25$2.03$2.08+2.4%
Q1'25$2.15$2.35+9.4%
Q4'24$1.76$1.93+9.4%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$53.2B$56.8B$60.4B$63.9B$67.5BQ4'24Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q3'26Q4'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q4'26$65.9B - -
Q3'26$62.3B$60.9B-2.2%
Q3'25 - $64.0B -
Q2'25 - $60.2B -
Q1'25 - $54.9B -
Q4'24 - $55.3B -
Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context
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Market Data

CAH Stock Snapshot

CAH is currently trading at $235.80, giving Cardinal Health, Inc. a market cap of 55.23B and a P/E ratio of 35.5. Today's range spans $232.05–$236.26, with shares opening at $233.07 and moving up $0.18 (0.1%) from the prior close. DailyIQ's technical score sits at 86/100 (BUY) with a news sentiment reading of 34/100.

Over the past year CAH has traded between $137.75 and $243.21 - the current price is +71.2% off the 52-week low and -3.0% from the high. 25 analysts cover the stock with a Buy consensus and a mean 12-month target of $249.60 (range $215.00–$275.00), implying upside of +5.9%.

The earnings revision cycle for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) may be in an upward phase - large-cap Healthcare names (55.23B market cap) showing bullish technicals (86/100, BUY) alongside bearish sentiment (34/100) often see analyst target increases in the weeks following this kind of dual-signal alignment. Price: $235.80 (near 52-week highs). (P/E: 35.5) Range: $137.75–$243.21. The chart frequently leads the fundamental revision, and the chart is bullish.

Earnings revision cycles in large-cap Healthcare names tend to compound: when technicals confirm a BUY thesis (86/100) and news sentiment (34/100, bearish) supports the narrative, analyst upgrades follow price rather than lead it. At $235.80 (near 52-week highs), CAH's position within the $137.75–$243.21 annual range suggests there's room for multiple expansion before the stock encounters meaningful technical resistance.