Core Insights - Cardinal Health is expanding its Equity Rx program to improve access to prescription medications for those who cannot afford them, with a total investment of $5 million from the Cardinal Health Foundation [1][3][5] Group 1: Program Expansion - The Equity Rx program, initially launched in Ohio in 2023, aims to address the critical need for affordable medication access, especially for individuals with chronic conditions [2][3] - The program has successfully established partnerships with charitable clinics, allowing for the direct delivery of medications to patients during their primary care visits [3][6] - Equity Rx has expanded to 10 charitable clinics across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Illinois, helping thousands of patients access free medications [3][6] Group 2: Statewide Drug Repository - Cardinal Health is launching Ohio's first statewide prescription drug repository to facilitate the donation and distribution of unused medications, which will help expand access to care [4][6] - The repository will be developed in partnership with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy and is expected to be fully operational by 2027 [4][6] - The initiative aims to reduce waste from unexpired medications in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, ensuring they are redirected to those in need [4][6]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health plans to release its fourth-quarter and year-end financial results for fiscal year 2025 on August 12, prior to the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange [1] - A webcast discussion of these results will begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on the same day [1] Access Information - The webcast and corresponding slide presentation can be accessed via Cardinal Health's Investor Relations page without the need for an access code [2] - Presentation slides and a replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations page for 12 months [2] Company Overview - Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals and specialty products, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a supplier of home-health and direct-to-patient products and services [3] - The company operates nuclear pharmacies and manufacturing facilities and provides performance and data solutions [3] - Cardinal Health emphasizes a customer-centric focus that drives continuous improvement and leads to innovative solutions that enhance people's lives [3]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health has launched the Cardinal Health™ One Voice Initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to state pharmacy associations to support independent pharmacists' advocacy efforts [1][2][3] - The initiative is part of Cardinal Health's ongoing commitment to advocate for independent pharmacies and enhance their influence in healthcare policy discussions [2][3] - Financial contributions will be made to state pharmacy associations, with support for additional states contingent on advocacy opportunities for the independent pharmacy community [3][4] Company Overview - Cardinal Health operates as a distributor of pharmaceuticals and specialty products, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of home-health and direct-to-patient products and services [5] - The company emphasizes a customer-centric focus that drives continuous improvement and innovation in solutions that enhance people's lives [5]

Company Overview - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) is part of the Medical group, which consists of 987 companies and is currently ranked 6 in the Zacks Sector Rank [2] - The Zacks Rank system identifies stocks with characteristics likely to outperform the market in the short term, with BioCryst Pharmaceuticals holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCRX's full-year earnings has increased by 324.2%, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook [4] - Year-to-date, BCRX has returned 18.9%, significantly outperforming the average return of -3.1% for Medical companies [4] - BioCryst Pharmaceuticals belongs to the Medical - Drugs industry, which includes 155 companies and is currently ranked 67 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 3.5% year-to-date [6] Comparative Analysis - Another outperforming stock in the Medical sector is Cardinal Health (CAH), which has increased by 39.5% year-to-date and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5] - Cardinal Health is part of the Medical - Dental Supplies industry, which has a current ranking of 27 and has seen a year-to-date increase of 0.7% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to capitalize on established price movements for profitable trades [1] Company Overview: Cardinal Health (CAH) - Cardinal Health currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong momentum characteristics [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the market [3] Price Performance - Over the past week, CAH shares increased by 2.31%, outperforming the Zacks Medical - Dental Supplies industry, which rose by 1.28% [5] - In a longer timeframe, CAH shares have gained 33.67% over the past quarter and 71.85% over the last year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gains of 10.83% and 14.92%, respectively [6] Trading Volume - CAH's average 20-day trading volume is 2,322,982 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 8 earnings estimates for CAH have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $7.99 to $8.18 [9] - For the next fiscal year, 8 estimates have also moved upwards without any downward revisions [9] Conclusion - Considering the positive price trends, strong earnings outlook, and favorable momentum score, CAH is positioned as a solid momentum pick for investors [11]

Market Overview - The first half of 2025 experienced increased volatility and uncertainty due to President Trump's tariffs and a faster-than-expected cooling of inflation, leading to market recovery [1] - Recent months have shown favorable market conditions with easing trade tensions and a reduction in the Middle East crisis [1] Stock Performance and Recommendations - Optimism regarding artificial intelligence is expected to continue supporting stock prices, particularly in technology sectors [2] - Cooling inflation raises expectations for potential rate cuts starting in September 2025, contributing to a positive market outlook [2] - Stocks such as Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL), BGSF, ArcBest Corporation (ARCB), Cardinal Health (CAH), and AutoNation (AN) are recommended for monitoring as the second half of 2025 begins [2][6] Screening Strategy - A screening strategy has been developed to identify stocks based on improving broker recommendations and upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past four weeks [3] - The price/sales ratio is included as a valuation metric, focusing on companies with strong top-line performance [3] Screening Criteria - The top 75 companies with net upgrades in broker ratings over the last four weeks are identified [4] - The top 10 stocks with the highest percentage change in earnings estimates for the upcoming quarter are highlighted [4] - Companies in the bottom 10% of price-to-sales ratios are included for better valuation [4] Company Highlights - Cracker Barrel is focusing on menu innovation and pricing strategies to drive growth, introducing new offerings to attract customers [5] - BGSF has seen a 25% increase in shares over the past month and has a Zacks Rank 1, with earnings estimates rising over 300% in the last 60 days [7] - ArcBest is improving productivity and service quality, expecting a 52.1% increase in earnings per share for 2026 compared to 2025 [8] - Cardinal Health is undergoing strategic improvements to revitalize its business model, with its Medical segment expected to drive growth [9][10] - AutoNation's diversified product portfolio and strategic acquisitions support its market position, currently holding a Zacks Rank 3 [11]

Group 1: Company Performance - Cardinal Health (CAH) closed at $165.61, with a daily increase of +1.14%, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.8% [1] - Over the past month, CAH shares increased by 6.94%, surpassing the Medical sector's gain of 3.12% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.12% [1] Group 2: Upcoming Financial Results - The upcoming EPS for Cardinal Health is projected at $2.02, indicating a 9.78% increase year-over-year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $60.65 billion, reflecting a 1.31% increase from the previous year [2] Group 3: Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $8.18 per share, representing an increase of +8.63%, while revenue is expected to be $223.07 billion, a decrease of -1.72% from the prior year [3] Group 4: Analyst Estimates and Stock Performance - Changes in analyst estimates for Cardinal Health are important as they reflect short-term business trends and analysts' confidence in performance [4] - The Zacks Rank system, which incorporates estimate changes, indicates Cardinal Health holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6] Group 5: Valuation Metrics - Cardinal Health has a Forward P/E ratio of 20.03, which is higher than the industry average of 17.14 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.83, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.7 [8] Group 6: Industry Context - The Medical - Dental Supplies industry, part of the Medical sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 26, placing it in the top 11% of over 250 industries [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Cardinal Health (CAH), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools like the Zacks Rank for making informed investment decisions [1][5][10]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Cardinal Health has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.43, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 14 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 14 recommendations, 11 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 78.6% of all recommendations [2]. - Despite the positive ABR, reliance solely on brokerage recommendations may not be prudent, as studies indicate limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the highest price increase potential [5][10]. Group 2: Zacks Rank vs. ABR - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock rating tool that classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, providing a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is updated more frequently and reflects changes in earnings estimates, making it a timely tool for predicting future price movements [12]. - Cardinal Health's Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased by 0.9% to $8.16, indicating growing optimism among analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. Group 3: Investment Implications - The recent change in the consensus estimate, along with other factors, has resulted in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for Cardinal Health, suggesting a favorable outlook for the stock [14]. - The Buy-equivalent ABR for Cardinal may serve as a useful guide for investors when combined with the Zacks Rank [14].

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that help investors select stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics [2] - The Style Scores consist of four categories: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [3][4][5][6] Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score assesses trends in stock price and earnings outlook, utilizing factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for selecting stocks with the best value, growth, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to aid investors in portfolio creation [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] Stock Selection Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - Stocks with a 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell) rating, even with high Style Scores, are less favorable due to declining earnings forecasts [10] Company Spotlight: Cardinal Health - Cardinal Health is a global healthcare services and products distributor, operating in three segments: Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, Global Medical Products and Distribution, and Other [11] - Cardinal Health holds a 3 (Hold) Zacks Rank and a VGM Score of B, with a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 19.82 [12] - The company has seen upward revisions in earnings estimates, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.20 to $8.14 per share, and an average earnings surprise of 10.3% [12]

Company Overview - Cardinal Health is a global healthcare services and products distributor, serving hospitals, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and manufacturers [11] - The company operates under three segments: Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, Global Medical Products and Distribution (GMPD), and Other [11] Investment Insights - Cardinal Health has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of B, indicating a moderate investment outlook [11] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of B, with shares increasing by 5.6% over the past four weeks [12] - Eight analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising by $0.18 to $8.12 per share [12] - Cardinal Health has an average earnings surprise of 10.3%, suggesting potential for positive performance [12]