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Cardinal Health Inc (CAH)

Q3 2026
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Cardinal Health expands home care, guides strong fiscal 2027 despite pricing and tariff risks

  • Home care acquisitions Cardinal Health is spending about $360 million to buy AdaptHealth's diabetes unit and Strive Medical, adding over 245,000 customers and expected to boost earnings per share in the first year.

    This is a new expansion move that could drive future growth and investor optimism.

  • Strong fiscal 2027 guidance and buybacks Fiscal 2027 guidance of $12.40–12.60 EPS implies 13–15% growth, above its long-term target, supported by at least $1 billion in buybacks and a new $5 billion repurchase authorization.

    This new guidance and capital return plan signal confidence and support the stock price.

  • Fiscal 2026 results show strong profit growth Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS rose 37% to $11.26, with Specialty revenue up over 25% and Pharma segment profit up 21%, though Q4 revenue missed consensus and one-time tariff refunds won't repeat.

    This new full-year result highlights underlying business strength despite a revenue miss.

  • Pricing and geopolitical risks Risks include IRA pricing changes cutting fiscal 2027 Pharma revenue by about 500 basis points (though management sees no profit impact) and an Iran conflict potentially pushing GMPD profit to the low end of its $200–220 million range.

    These new risks could pressure revenue and profit, acting as a counterweight to positive drivers.

September 2026
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Cardinal Health's strong FY26 and buyback meet IRA and Iran risks

  • Strong FY26 results and $5B buyback Cardinal Health reported fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $11.26, up 37%, with Q4 EPS up 40%, and announced a $5 billion increase to its share repurchase authorization. Buybacks reduce shares outstanding, which can lift earnings per share and support the stock price.

    This is the core new event that explains the period's positive move and capital returns.

  • Pharma momentum and specialty growth Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions revenue rose 6% to $58.8 billion with segment profit up 21%. Management expects fiscal 2027 pharma revenue growth of 3-5% and segment profit growth of 8-11%, while specialty revenue grows double digits. This supports future earnings and the stock price.

    It shows the main profit engine is still growing, which underpins the positive outlook.

  • IRA pricing changes create revenue headwind Cardinal Health expects Inflation Reduction Act price changes to cut Pharma revenue by about 500 basis points in fiscal 2027, though management sees no adverse profit impact. A revenue headwind can worry investors about growth, even if profits are protected.

    It is the main regulatory risk that could cap the stock's upside.

  • Iran conflict could pressure GMPD profit Cardinal Health said a prolonged conflict in Iran could push its Global Medical Products and Distribution segment toward the lower end of its $200-220 million profit range. Geopolitical risk adds uncertainty and could weigh on the stock if it persists.

    It is a new geopolitical risk that could hurt a specific segment's profit.

Latest
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Cardinal Health's strong FY26 and buyback meet IRA and Iran risks

  • Strong FY26 results and $5B buyback Cardinal Health reported fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS of $11.26, up 37%, with Q4 EPS up 40%, and announced a $5 billion increase to its share repurchase authorization. Buybacks reduce shares outstanding, which can lift earnings per share and support the stock price.

    This is the core new event that explains the period's positive move and capital returns.

  • Pharma momentum and specialty growth Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions revenue rose 6% to $58.8 billion with segment profit up 21%. Management expects fiscal 2027 pharma revenue growth of 3-5% and segment profit growth of 8-11%, while specialty revenue grows double digits. This supports future earnings and the stock price.

    It shows the main profit engine is still growing, which underpins the positive outlook.

  • IRA pricing changes create revenue headwind Cardinal Health expects Inflation Reduction Act price changes to cut Pharma revenue by about 500 basis points in fiscal 2027, though management sees no adverse profit impact. A revenue headwind can worry investors about growth, even if profits are protected.

    It is the main regulatory risk that could cap the stock's upside.

  • Iran conflict could pressure GMPD profit Cardinal Health said a prolonged conflict in Iran could push its Global Medical Products and Distribution segment toward the lower end of its $200-220 million profit range. Geopolitical risk adds uncertainty and could weigh on the stock if it persists.

    It is a new geopolitical risk that could hurt a specific segment's profit.

July 2026
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Cardinal Health buys home-care assets and guides to faster profit growth

  • Cardinal Health expands at-home care with $360M of acquisitions Cardinal Health agreed to buy AdaptHealth's diabetes unit and Strive Medical for about $360 million in cash. These businesses sell medical supplies directly to patients at home, adding over 245,000 customers and building on its recent Advanced Diabetes Supply purchase. The company expects the deals to add to earnings per share in the first year, which supports the stock.

    This is the main new growth move this period and directly explains why investors see more future earnings.

  • Fiscal 2027 profit guidance beats its own long-term target Cardinal Health guided fiscal 2027 earnings per share to $12.40–$12.60, implying 13%–15% growth, above its 12%–14% long-term rate. It also plans at least $1 billion of share buybacks and $700 million of capital spending. Buybacks shrink the number of shares, which can lift earnings per share further. The stock rose on this outlook.

    This is the key new financial outlook that tells investors how much profit growth to expect next year.

  • Quarterly profit beat but revenue missed, and tariffs cut both ways Cardinal Health's adjusted earnings of $2.60 per share beat the $2.42 estimate, but revenue of $63.67 billion missed the $65.15 billion consensus. Fiscal 2026 included a $100 million one-time benefit from tariff refunds that won't repeat. Management sees a modest tariff tailwind offset by higher fuel and commodity costs, with Iran conflict a risk. The profit beat and guidance outweighed the revenue miss.

    This explains the mixed quarter behind the stock move and the real counterweights investors should know.

  • Specialty drug business keeps growing fast Cardinal Health's Specialty revenue grew over 25% in fiscal 2026 and is projected to grow at double-digit rates in fiscal 2027. Specialty drugs are complex medicines for conditions like cancer that require special handling. This fast-growing, higher-margin business is a major reason the company can raise its profit outlook.

    Specialty is the engine behind the raised guidance and the stock's strength.

▲3

Cardinal Health buys home-care assets and guides to faster profit growth

  • Cardinal Health expands at-home care with $360M of acquisitions Cardinal Health agreed to buy AdaptHealth's diabetes unit and Strive Medical for about $360 million in cash. These businesses sell medical supplies directly to patients at home, adding over 245,000 customers and building on its recent Advanced Diabetes Supply purchase. The company expects the deals to add to earnings per share in the first year, which supports the stock.

    This is the main new growth move this period and directly explains why investors see more future earnings.

  • Fiscal 2027 profit guidance beats its own long-term target Cardinal Health guided fiscal 2027 earnings per share to $12.40–$12.60, implying 13%–15% growth, above its 12%–14% long-term rate. It also plans at least $1 billion of share buybacks and $700 million of capital spending. Buybacks shrink the number of shares, which can lift earnings per share further. The stock rose on this outlook.

    This is the key new financial outlook that tells investors how much profit growth to expect next year.

  • Quarterly profit beat but revenue missed, and tariffs cut both ways Cardinal Health's adjusted earnings of $2.60 per share beat the $2.42 estimate, but revenue of $63.67 billion missed the $65.15 billion consensus. Fiscal 2026 included a $100 million one-time benefit from tariff refunds that won't repeat. Management sees a modest tariff tailwind offset by higher fuel and commodity costs, with Iran conflict a risk. The profit beat and guidance outweighed the revenue miss.

    This explains the mixed quarter behind the stock move and the real counterweights investors should know.

  • Specialty drug business keeps growing fast Cardinal Health's Specialty revenue grew over 25% in fiscal 2026 and is projected to grow at double-digit rates in fiscal 2027. Specialty drugs are complex medicines for conditions like cancer that require special handling. This fast-growing, higher-margin business is a major reason the company can raise its profit outlook.

    Specialty is the engine behind the raised guidance and the stock's strength.

Cencora Inc. (COR)

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