Core Viewpoint - Cardinal Health (CAH) has experienced a downtrend with a 9.1% decline over the past four weeks, but it is now in oversold territory, suggesting a potential turnaround due to analysts' positive earnings outlook [1] Group 1: Technical Indicators - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that indicates whether a stock is oversold, with readings below 30 typically signaling this condition [2] - CAH's current RSI reading is 27.62, indicating that heavy selling may be exhausting itself, which could lead to a price rebound [5] Group 2: Fundamental Analysis - Analysts have shown strong agreement in raising earnings estimates for CAH, with a 0.7% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which often correlates with price appreciation [7] - CAH holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [8]

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though? Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Cardinal Health (CAH) . Cardinal currently has an average broker ...

Acquisition Financing - Cardinal Health plans to sell bonds in the US investment-grade primary market to fund its acquisition of Solaris Health [1]

Core Viewpoint - Cardinal Health reported strong quarterly earnings but faced a decline in share price due to a significant acquisition announcement [2][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - Cardinal Health announced the acquisition of Solaris Health for approximately $1.9 billion in cash, acquiring around a 75% stake [5]. - Solaris Health is recognized as the leading urology multiservices organization (MSO) in the country, which Cardinal Health aims to integrate into its Specialty Alliance platform [3][5]. - The acquisition will be financed through cash on hand and new debt, with an expected closing by the end of the calendar year [5]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For fiscal Q4 2025, Cardinal Health reported revenue of just under $60.2 billion, which was flat year-over-year [6]. - Non-GAAP net income increased by 11% to $501 million, translating to $2.08 per share, surpassing analyst expectations [6]. - Analysts had projected revenue of $60.9 billion and adjusted net income of $2.03 per share [6]. Group 3: Future Guidance - Cardinal Health raised its adjusted earnings per share guidance for fiscal 2026 to a range of $9.30 to $9.50, up from the previous estimate of $9.10 to $9.30 [7]. - The low end of the new earnings guidance represents a 13% increase compared to the actual fiscal 2025 result [7]. - No revenue guidance was provided for the upcoming fiscal year [8].

Core Insights - Cardinal Health reported $60.16 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2025, a year-over-year increase of 0.5% and an EPS of $2.08 compared to $1.84 a year ago [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60.67 billion, resulting in a surprise of -0.84%, while the EPS exceeded the consensus estimate of $2.03 by +2.46% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions revenue was $55.37 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $55.86 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -0.4% [4] - Corporate revenue reported at -$21 million, better than the estimated -$21.65 million, but a significant year-over-year decrease of -12.5% [4] - Other revenue reached $1.61 billion, surpassing the average estimate of $1.57 billion, marking a substantial year-over-year increase of +37.3% [4] - Medical Products and Distribution revenue was $3.2 billion, in line with the average estimate of $3.21 billion, showing a year-over-year growth of +2.9% [4] Segment Profit Analysis - Segment profit for Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions was $535 million, slightly below the average estimate of $543.86 million [4] - Segment profit for Other was $160 million, exceeding the average estimate of $147.91 million [4] - Global Medical Products and Distribution segment profit was $70 million, above the average estimate of $65.48 million [4] Stock Performance - Cardinal Health's shares have returned -2.5% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - Cardinal Health reported quarterly earnings of $2.08 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 per share, and up from $1.84 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +2.46% [1] - The company posted revenues of $60.16 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.84%, but up from $59.87 billion year-over-year [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Cardinal shares have increased by approximately 33.3% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 8.4% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.17 on revenues of $57.99 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $9.21 on revenues of $248.27 billion [7] Group 3: Industry Context - The Medical - Dental Supplies industry, to which Cardinal belongs, is currently ranked in the top 37% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Pro-Dex, Inc., another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +2.2% [9]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health's multi-specialty management services organization (MSO), The Specialty Alliance, is set to acquire urology MSO Solaris Health, enhancing its capabilities in the urology sector [1][3] - The acquisition will be financed by Cardinal Health providing approximately $1.9 billion in cash, resulting in Cardinal Health owning about 75% of The Specialty Alliance post-acquisition [2] - The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the year [2] Company Expansion - The acquisition of Solaris Health will expand The Specialty Alliance's reach, building on previous acquisitions including Urology America, Potomac Urology, and Academic Urology & Urogynecology [3] - Solaris Health currently supports over 750 providers across 250 practice locations in 14 states, which will increase Cardinal Health's MSO platforms to approximately 3,000 providers in 32 states [3] Strategic Focus - Cardinal Health's CEO emphasized that accelerating specialty growth is a top priority, particularly in the urology specialty, which is viewed as attractive for the company [4] - The partnership with Solaris Health aims to enhance patient-centered care through a physician-led national platform, optimizing care delivery and improving patient access to specialized services [4] Financial Performance - Cardinal Health reported fourth quarter revenues of $60.2 billion, which remained relatively flat year over year, while fiscal year 2025 revenues were reported at $222.6 billion, reflecting a 2% decline from the previous fiscal year [5] - The company previously announced its GI Alliance MSO platform's agreements to acquire Urology America and Potomac Urology, furthering its strategy to support physician-led practices and improve patient outcomes [6]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health, Inc. reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.08, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.03 by 2.5% and reflecting a 13% year-over-year improvement [1] - The company raised its fiscal 2026 earnings guidance, anticipating adjusted EPS between $9.30 and $9.50, up from a previous outlook of $9.10-$9.30 [9] Revenue Details - Total sales for the quarter were flat year-over-year at $60.2 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8% [2] Segmental Analysis - **Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions**: Revenues were nearly flat at $55.4 billion year-over-year, but excluding the impact of a customer contract expiration, sales increased by 22% [3] - **Pharmaceutical Profit**: Totaled $535 million, an 11% increase from the previous year, driven by growth in brand and specialty products [4] - **Global Medical Products and Distribution**: Revenues reached $3.2 billion, up 3% year-over-year, with profits increasing from $47 million to $70 million [4] - **Other Segment**: Sales grew by 37% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, with profits rising 44% to $160 million [5] Margin Analysis - Gross profit increased by 17% year-over-year to $2.2 billion, with a gross margin of 3.7%, expanding approximately 50 basis points [6] Financial Update - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3.33 billion, down from $3.81 billion in the previous quarter, while net cash provided by operating activities was $2.91 billion compared to a net cash usage of $27 million in the prior year [8] 2026 Outlook - The company expects revenues from the Pharmaceutical segment to grow by 11-13% year-over-year, with segmental profit also anticipated to increase by 11-13% [9] - Medical segment revenues are estimated to grow by 2-4%, while the Other segment is projected to see revenue growth of 26-28% [10] Conclusion - Cardinal Health's fourth-quarter results showed mixed performance, with earnings exceeding estimates but revenues falling short. Profit growth was observed across all segments, particularly in Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, Global Medical Products, and the Other segment [11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 19% increase in operating earnings for Q4 and a 15% increase for the year [10] - EPS grew by 13% in Q4 and over 9% for the year [10] - Adjusted free cash flow for the year was $2.5 billion, exceeding expectations by $500 million [11] - Total company revenue was relatively flat at $60.2 billion, but increased by 21% when adjusting for contract expiration [12] - Gross profit grew 17% to $2.2 billion, with a gross margin improvement of approximately 50 basis points [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmaceutical segment revenue was flat at $55.4 billion, but increased by 22% excluding customer contract expiration [16] - The Pharma segment profit increased by 11% to $535 million, driven by brand and specialty pharmaceutical sales [16] - GMPD revenue grew 3% to $3.2 billion, with segment profit reaching $70 million, its highest quarter [18] - Other growth businesses reported a 37% revenue increase to $1.6 billion and a 44% profit increase to $160 million [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company saw strong pharmaceutical demand across all business areas, including brand, specialty, generics, and consumer health [16] - The At Home Solutions segment, including the ADS acquisition, experienced significant growth, contributing to overall revenue increases [20] - The nuclear and precision health solutions segment outpaced the market, with revenue growth over 30% [44] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving simplification and operational efficiencies while making strategic investments for growth [6] - The acquisition of Solaris Health is expected to enhance the company's position in the specialty market, particularly in urology [7][38] - The company aims to expand its distribution capabilities and modernize its technology platforms to enhance customer service [35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for fiscal year 2026, expecting EPS growth of 13% to 15% [23] - The company anticipates continued strong demand across its business segments, with a focus on customer experience as a key differentiator [34] - Management remains confident in the company's resilient business model amid regulatory changes and market dynamics [49] Other Important Information - The company completed four strategic acquisitions during the year, including Green Specialty and ADS [11] - The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter was 26.3%, slightly higher than the previous year [13] - The company plans to maintain a baseline of annual share repurchases at $750 million [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the updated guidance for the Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions division? - Management confirmed that the guidance was raised by $0.20, with half attributed to liability classification and the other half to higher expectations for Pharma and other businesses [54] Question: What are the drivers behind the increase in SG&A? - Management indicated that the majority of the SG&A increase is tied to recent acquisitions, with ongoing efforts to simplify and optimize operating costs [58] Question: Can you elaborate on the gross profit performance and margin expansion? - Management noted that the emphasis on specialty distribution and additional revenue streams from MSO acquisitions contributed positively to the overall gross profit profile [68] Question: What are the utilization trends in the GMPD segment? - Management stated that utilization remains consistent, with ongoing efforts to increase penetration of Cardinal Health branded products [73] Question: Can you provide insights on the Solaris acquisition and its impact? - Management highlighted that Solaris Health adds significant capabilities and revenue streams, enhancing the company's position in the urology market [81][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 19% increase in operating earnings for Q4 and a 15% increase for the year [9] - EPS grew by 13% in Q4 and over 9% for the year [9] - Adjusted free cash flow for the year was $2.5 billion, exceeding expectations by $500 million [10] - Total company revenue was $60.2 billion, relatively flat on a reported basis, but increased by 21% when adjusting for contract expiration [10][11] - Gross profit grew 17% to $2.2 billion, with a gross margin improvement of approximately 50 basis points [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmaceutical segment revenue was flat at $55.4 billion, but increased by 22% excluding customer contract expiration, driven by brand and specialty pharmaceutical sales [14] - The GMPD segment saw a 3% revenue increase to $3.2 billion, with segment profit reaching $70 million, its highest profit quarter [16] - Other growth businesses reported a 37% revenue increase to $1.6 billion, with segment profit increasing 44% to $160 million [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong pharmaceutical demand across all business areas, including brand, specialty, generics, and consumer health [14] - The At Home Solutions segment, including the ADS acquisition, saw significant growth, contributing to the overall revenue increase [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving simplification and operational efficiencies while making strategic investments for growth [5] - The acquisition of Solaris Health is expected to enhance the company's position in the specialty market, particularly in urology [6][35] - The company aims to expand its distribution capabilities and modernize its technology platforms to support long-term growth [33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for fiscal year 2026, expecting EPS growth of 13% to 15% [21] - The company remains confident in its resilient business model and ability to navigate regulatory changes [46] - Management highlighted strong demand across the business and a positive outlook for the upcoming fiscal year [62] Other Important Information - The company completed four strategic acquisitions during the year, including Green Specialty and At Home Solutions [10] - The ending cash balance for fiscal year 2025 was $3.9 billion, reflecting strong cash flow generation [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the updated guidance for the Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions division? - Management confirmed that the guidance was raised by $0.20, with half attributed to liability classification and the other half to higher expectations for Pharma and other businesses [50] Question: What are the drivers of the SG&A increase quarter over quarter? - Management indicated that the increase in SG&A was primarily due to recent acquisitions, with ongoing efforts to simplify and optimize operating costs [55] Question: Can you elaborate on the gross profit performance in the quarter? - Management noted that the margin expansion was driven by a favorable mix, particularly from specialty distribution and MSO acquisitions [66] Question: What are the utilization trends across the GMPD segment? - Management stated that utilization remains consistent, with ongoing efforts to increase penetration of Cardinal Health branded products [72] Question: What capabilities does Solaris Health bring to the company? - Management highlighted that Solaris Health adds over 750 providers and diverse revenue streams, enhancing the company's MSO structure [81]