Core Viewpoint - Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) is expected to report strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) anticipated to increase by 17.6% year-over-year, driven by robust pharmaceutical demand and new customer acquisitions [1][7]. Group 1: Performance Expectations - The company is projected to achieve revenues of $59.05 billion for the first quarter, reflecting a 13% increase from the previous year [7]. - The Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions unit is likely to be a key driver of revenue growth, benefiting from steady brand and generics volume growth, as well as contributions from biosimilars and GLP-1 therapies [3][9]. - The Other segment, which includes growth businesses like at-Home Solutions and Nuclear and Precision Health, is expected to show strong double-digit growth, with estimated sales of $1.49 billion [5]. Group 2: Segment Analysis - The Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment is estimated to generate $53.58 billion in sales, supported by increasing specialty penetration and new customer wins [3]. - The Global Medical Products and Distribution (GMPD) segment is projected to have sales of $3.19 billion, although margins may be pressured by tariff-related costs [4]. - U.S. and international sales are estimated at $57.82 billion and $437 million, respectively, with higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses potentially impacting operating leverage [6]. Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - Cardinal Health's shares have gained 1.2% over the past three months, underperforming the Medical - Dental Supplies sector and the S&P 500 [11]. - The company's forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 16.3X, which is below the industry average of 16.8X, indicating a potential valuation opportunity [15]. - The company is building a durable growth runway through its Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions business, supported by acquisitions and expansion into high-growth therapeutic areas [16][19]. Group 4: Growth Initiatives - The Biopharma Solutions segment is expected to grow at an annual rate of 20%, driven by technology-enabled services [17]. - The at-Home Solutions segment is capitalizing on the increasing demand for home healthcare, supported by recent acquisitions and distribution center expansions [18]. - Supply-chain modernization and growth in Cardinal-branded products in GMPD are expected to contribute to sustained earnings growth and margin expansion [19].

Core Insights - Cardinal Health's Relative Strength (RS) Rating has improved from 70 to 74, indicating enhanced market leadership and price performance [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Cardinal Health's stock has received an upgrade in its RS Rating, reflecting a positive trend in its price performance [1][3]. - The RS Rating for Cardinal Health has shown a significant increase, moving to 74, which suggests a strong upward momentum in its stock [3]. Group 2: Market Position - The improvement in Cardinal Health's RS Rating signifies that the stock is getting closer to key technical measures, indicating potential for further growth [3]. - Despite the upgrade, Cardinal Health's RS Rating is still shy of the benchmark, suggesting there is room for improvement [3].

Core Insights - Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is recognized as a must-buy dividend stock due to its diversified operations and strong financial position [2][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Cardinal Health is a major distributor of branded and generic drugs, specialty medicines, over-the-counter healthcare products, and consumer goods, serving a wide range of customers including hospitals, pharmacies, and medical offices [2]. - The company also produces and markets its own line of medical and surgical supplies, including gloves and surgical wear, and operates a large network of radiopharmacies [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In FY25, Cardinal Health generated an adjusted free cash flow of $2.5 billion, with expectations for FY26 to be between $2.75 billion and $3.25 billion [4]. - The company has increased its dividend payouts for 39 consecutive years, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.5107 per share and a dividend yield of 1.30% as of October 9 [4].

Core Insights - Cardinal Health, Inc. is a healthcare services and products company with a market cap of $36.6 billion, providing a range of services including pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare product manufacturing [1] - The company is expected to announce its fiscal first-quarter earnings for 2026 on October 30, with analysts predicting a profit of $2.21 per share, a 17.6% increase from the previous year [2] - For the full fiscal year, analysts forecast an EPS of $9.45, reflecting a 14.7% increase from $8.24 in fiscal 2025, and an expected rise to $10.58 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - Cardinal Health's stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.7% over the past 52 weeks, while CAH shares increased by 39% [4] - Following a mixed Q4 earnings report, CAH shares dropped 7.2%, despite an adjusted EPS of $2.08 beating estimates, while revenue of $60.2 billion slightly missed expectations [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on CAH stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 11 out of 15 analysts, while four analysts recommend a "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for CAH is $179.80, indicating a potential upside of 15.5% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is recognized as one of the top defensive healthcare dividend stocks to invest in [1][2] - The company is expanding its U.S. distribution network with a new facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, aimed at modernizing its pharmaceutical distribution capabilities [3][4] Expansion Plans - On September 30, Cardinal Health announced plans to build a flagship forward distribution center in Indianapolis, which will utilize advanced automation and technology [3] - The new facility will support the distribution of over 70,000 pharmaceutical and specialty products across the U.S. daily [3] - The Indianapolis center is expected to be operational by fall 2027 and will create over 100 new jobs [4] Financial Performance - Cardinal Health has demonstrated financial consistency by increasing its dividend for 39 consecutive years [5] - The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.5107 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.33% as of October 14 [5]

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of investing in dividend stocks, particularly those with a history of consistent dividend growth, which can provide stability during economic downturns [2][3] Dividend Stocks Overview - Companies that consistently raise dividends are often strong, profitable, and financially stable, making them valuable during economic slowdowns [2] - Dividend-growth stocks tend to have durable competitive advantages, allowing them to maintain profit margins even during high inflation [2] - Historically, dividends have grown at an average annual rate of 5.7% since 1957, outpacing the average inflation rate by over 2% [3] - Stock prices are noted to be more than twice as volatile as their dividend cash flows, indicating that dividend stocks may offer a more stable investment [4] Methodology for Stock Selection - The article outlines a methodology for selecting dividend stocks based on year-to-date highest-returning stocks as of October 9, 2025 [6] Featured Dividend Stocks - **Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST)** - YTD Return as of October 9: 31.55% - Fastenal is linked to the health of the US and global economies and has a strong dividend history with 26 consecutive years of increases [8][10] - Current quarterly dividend: $0.22 per share, with a dividend yield of 1.88% [10] - **General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD)** - YTD Return as of October 9: 31.7% - The company is a major player in military shipbuilding and has raised its dividend for 28 consecutive years [11][12] - Current quarterly dividend: $1.50 per share, with a dividend yield of 1.75% [12] - **Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH)** - YTD Return as of October 9: 33.7% - Cardinal Health is a major distributor of healthcare products and has increased its dividends for 39 consecutive years [13][15] - Current quarterly dividend: $0.5107 per share, with a dividend yield of 1.30% [15]

In the latest close session, Cardinal Health (CAH) was down 1.64% at $154.31. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 1.56% for the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 1.29%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 2.21%. Shares of the prescription drug distributor witnessed a gain of 3.05% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Medical sector with its gain of 2.08%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.41%.The upcoming earnings release of Cardinal Hea ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1][2] Company Overview - Cardinal Health is a leading global healthcare services and products provider, serving nearly 90% of U.S. hospitals and managing over 43,000 pharmaceutical shipments daily [11] - The company operates in multiple segments, including Pharmaceutical & Specialty Solutions and Global Medical Products & Distribution, and offers a wide range of medical and surgical products [11] Investment Ratings - Cardinal Health holds a 2 (Buy) rating on the Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for investment [12] - The company has a VGM Score of A, suggesting it is an attractive option for investors [12] Growth Potential - Cardinal Health is projected to achieve a year-over-year earnings growth of 14.3% for the current fiscal year, supported by upward revisions in earnings estimates from analysts [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cardinal Health's earnings has increased by $0.21 to $9.42 per share [12] Performance Metrics - Cardinal Health has demonstrated an average earnings surprise of +9.2%, indicating a history of exceeding earnings expectations [12] - The combination of a solid Zacks Rank and high Growth and VGM Style Scores positions Cardinal Health as a strong candidate for investors [13]

Core Insights - Bio-Techne (TECH) is expanding its portfolio through acquisitions and strategic investments, indicating strong growth potential, particularly in international markets [1][8] - The company has experienced a decline in share price by 20.3% over the past year, contrasting with a 5.8% decline in the industry and an 18.7% rise in the S&P 500 [2] - Bio-Techne's market capitalization stands at $9.64 billion, with earnings consistently surpassing estimates in the last four quarters, averaging a surprise of 9.2% [2] Expansion and Growth Strategies - In fiscal 2024, Bio-Techne completed the acquisition of Lunaphore, which achieved nearly 50% growth for the full year despite order timing delays [3] - The company holds a 20% stake in Wilson Wolf, which is expected to grow by more than 20% in fiscal 2025, maintaining EBITDA margins above 70% [3] - Bio-Techne introduced ProPak GMP Cytokines to support CAR-T and TCR-T manufacturing workflows, reinforcing its leadership in RUO assays through a partnership with Sphere Bio [4] International Market Performance - Bio-Techne's core portfolio includes over 6,000 protein and 400,000 antibody types, essential for life science research globally [5] - In the fiscal fourth quarter, sales in the Americas grew in the low single digits, while Europe saw mid-single-digit growth driven by biopharma demand [5] - The Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, experienced low single-digit growth, with China showing low double-digit growth due to improved demand [6] Financial Health - As of June 30, 2025, Bio-Techne's total debt was $346 million, with cash and cash equivalents at $162 million, indicating a stable liquidity position [9] - Despite higher quarterly debt compared to cash levels, the company had no short-term payable debt on its balance sheet [9] Challenges and Competitive Landscape - The macroeconomic environment has led to increased raw material and labor costs, impacting the company's operations and margins [10] - Bio-Techne faces intense competition from both large global companies and smaller niche competitors, leading to pricing pressures [11] - The company's cost of sales rose by 15% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with selling, general, and administrative expenses increasing by 47.2% year over year [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bio-Techne's fiscal 2026 earnings remains at $2.00, with revenues projected at $1.24 billion, reflecting a 1.7% increase from the previous year [12]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health (CAH) is establishing a new pharmaceutical distribution facility in Indianapolis, enhancing its supply-chain modernization efforts and aiming for over 70,000 daily deliveries of pharmaceutical and specialty products nationwide [1][4] - The 230,000-square-foot facility will utilize a robotic storage and retrieval system, enabling real-time inventory management and intelligent order fulfillment, setting a new standard in automated distribution [2][7] - Cardinal Health's stock has increased by 31.3% this year, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 1.1% and the S&P 500 Index's gain of 15.1% [3] Investment and Expansion Strategy - The Indianapolis facility, expected to be operational by fall 2027, is part of a broader multi-year transformation strategy that includes recent infrastructure upgrades and automation enhancements [4][11] - The company has also opened a Consumer Health Logistics Center in Groveport, OH, and a distribution center in Fort Worth, TX, adding over 750,000 square feet of distribution capacity in three years [9][10] - Cardinal Health's investments across pharmaceutical, consumer health, and at-home care sectors are designed to improve logistics efficiency, reduce transit times, and enhance customer service [10][12] Market Outlook - The healthcare distribution market is projected to grow to $2.2 trillion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%, driven by rising demand for specialty drugs and home-based care [12] - Cardinal Health's strategic investments position the company to capitalize on this market growth, enhancing its competitiveness and potential for long-term shareholder value [12]