Is CAH a good stock to buy?
Cardinal Health, Inc. · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026
- ConsensusBuy · 17
- FCF yield+7.5%
- News
- MAs4 of 4
- MACD1.97
- Sector▲ +15.9%
- Earnings in83d
- P/E36.4x
- Support-14.2%
- Off 52w high-1.8%
- Volume0.7x
- Bollingerupper half
- PT$284.27 +1.1%
- Trendsideways
- 52w range$180–$286
- ATR+2.3%
- Off ATH-1.8%
- P/E vs own+17.8%
- P/E vs sector+12.9%
- Insiders-$59.55M
- RSI79
Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.
Is Cardinal Health a good stock to buy?
Cardinal Health is strong on 2 of the 5 questions about the business; weak on economics. The price is high: 36.4 times its earnings, above its 3-year median of 28.5 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.
- Demand steady
- Advantage some edge
- Economics thin margins
- Execution delivers
- Fragility sturdy
- Price expensive
CAH sales growth revenue growth
+7%a year, for the last 3 yearsCardinal Health's sales grew 7% a year for 3 years, to $254B in fiscal 2026.
CAH analysts' forecast revenue estimates
+5%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the lastAnalysts expect Cardinal Health's sales to grow 5% to $266B in fiscal 2027 (12 analysts).
CAH peers
pretickt analysis+10%its sales in 12 months, on a year before
Cardinal Health's sales grew 10% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Boston Scientific (+9%), McKesson (+8%), Henry Schein (+6%) and Cencora (+5%).
CAH sales by business revenue by segment
92%of its sales from Pharmaceutical MemberPharmaceutical Member brought Cardinal Health 92% of its sales in fiscal 2026; GMPD 5%.
CAH return on capital ROIC
pretickt analysis513%earned before tax on the money invested in itCardinal Health earned 513% before tax on the capital invested in it in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; McKesson 1,000%, Cencora 44%, Boston Scientific 12% and Henry Schein 11%.
CAH margin on each sale gross margin
4%left after making the productCardinal Health kept 4% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; its peers' median is 17%.
CAH margin after costs profit margin
1%of sales left after running the businessCardinal Health's operating margin was 1% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 0% in fiscal 2023.
CAH cash generated free cash flow
$4.9Bcash left after investing, last 12 monthsCardinal Health generated $4.9B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, more than its reported profit.
CAH earnings vs estimates
8 of 8quarters above the analysts' estimateCardinal Health beat the analysts' profit estimate in each of its last 8 quarters, the latest on Nov 5, 2026.
CAH insider selling
-$61.62Msold, net, by its executives in 12 monthsCardinal Health's executives and directors sold a net $61.62M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
CAH number of employees
+11%more people in a yearCardinal Health had 63,900 employees at the end of fiscal 2026, 11% more than a year before.
CAH CEO pay
$22.57Mfor fiscal 2026, 72% of it in stock and optionsCardinal Health paid its CEO $22.57M for fiscal 2026, 72% of it in stock and options.
CAH financial health Altman Z-score
5.0Altman Z-score, safe above 3Cardinal Health's Altman Z-score is 5.0 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.
CAH quality checks Piotroski score
8 of 9checks passedCardinal Health passes 8 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; it misses on the current ratio.
CAH biggest customers
28%of sales from its biggest customerCVS made 28% of Cardinal Health's sales in fiscal 2026.
CAH in past recessions
pretickt analysis+1%its sales in the worst oneCardinal Health's sales grew through each of the last 2 US recessions (2008–09 and 2020).
CAH price vs profit P/E ratio
36.4×a year's earningsCardinal Health's P/E ratio is 36.4 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 28.5.
CAH price vs peers
pretickt analysis36.4×a year's earnings, against its peersInvestors pay 36.4 times Cardinal Health's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for McKesson (28.4), Henry Schein (23.6), Cencora (20.0) or Boston Scientific (18.8).
CAH analysts' target price target
+1%to their average targetAnalysts' average price target for Cardinal Health is $284, 1% above the Nov 13, 2026 close of $281.10.
CAH growth priced in fair value
pretickt analysis+1%a year, for ten years, to be worth the priceAt $281.10 a share, Cardinal Health's free cash flow must grow about 1% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).
What is Cardinal Health's P/E ratio?
Cardinal Health's P/E ratio is 36.4 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 28.5. Investors pay 36.4 times Cardinal Health's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for McKesson (28.4), Henry Schein (23.6), Cencora (20.0) or Boston Scientific (18.8).
Is Cardinal Health profitable?
Cardinal Health's operating margin was 1% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 0% in fiscal 2023. Cardinal Health generated $4.9B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, more than its reported profit.
Are insiders selling Cardinal Health stock?
Cardinal Health's executives and directors sold a net $61.62M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
How does Cardinal Health make money?
Pharmaceutical Member brought Cardinal Health 92% of its sales in fiscal 2026; GMPD 5%.
Who owns Cardinal Health stock?
1,554 institutions hold 88% of Cardinal Health's shares (Jun 30, 2026); Wellington Management added shares that quarter, Vanguard and BlackRock sold some.
How many employees does Cardinal Health have?
Cardinal Health had 63,900 employees at the end of fiscal 2026, 11% more than a year before.
Who are Cardinal Health's biggest customers?
CVS made 28% of Cardinal Health's sales in fiscal 2026.
From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.