Group 1 - McKesson has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.47, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy from 17 brokerage firms, with 76.5% of recommendations being Strong Buy [2][5][14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McKesson's earnings has increased by 0.2% over the past month to $37.25, reflecting analysts' growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects [13] - McKesson currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting a positive outlook for the stock based on earnings estimate revisions [14] Group 2 - Brokerage analysts tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their recommendations, with five "Strong Buy" ratings for every "Strong Sell," which may mislead investors [6][10] - The ABR is based solely on brokerage recommendations and may not be timely, while the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model that quickly reflects earnings estimate revisions, making it a more reliable indicator of near-term stock performance [9][12] - The Zacks Rank maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns, ensuring a proportional application across all stocks for which analysts provide earnings estimates [11]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools to enhance stock market investment confidence and knowledge [1][2] - The Zacks Style Scores serve as complementary indicators to the Zacks Rank, helping investors select stocks with high potential for market outperformance [3][8] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Zacks Style Scores categorize stocks into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [4][5][6][7] - Each stock is rated from A to F based on its characteristics, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4] Value Score - Focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [4] Growth Score - Evaluates a company's financial health and future growth potential through earnings, sales, and cash flow analysis [5] Momentum Score - Targets stocks with upward or downward price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate shifts [6] VGM Score - Combines Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores to provide a comprehensive assessment of stocks [7] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to identify winning stocks, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8][9] Stock Recommendation: McKesson Corporation - McKesson Corporation, a healthcare services and IT company, holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, indicating strong growth potential [13] - The company is projected to have a year-over-year earnings growth of 12.7% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions [14]

Core Viewpoint - McKesson's stock performance has lagged behind the broader market, with upcoming earnings expected to show growth in both EPS and revenue compared to the previous year [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - McKesson is scheduled to report earnings on August 6, 2025, with a forecasted EPS of $8.33, reflecting a 5.71% increase year-over-year [2]. - Revenue is projected to be $95.77 billion, indicating a 20.79% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2]. - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are estimated at $37.23 per share and revenue at $405.85 billion, representing increases of 12.65% and 13.03% respectively from the prior year [3]. Analyst Estimates - Recent revisions in analyst estimates suggest confidence in McKesson's business performance and profit potential [3]. - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has increased by 0.09% over the past month, and McKesson currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5]. Valuation Metrics - McKesson is trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 19.55, which is higher than the industry average of 17.95, indicating a premium valuation [6]. - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.45, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.68, suggesting a favorable growth outlook relative to its valuation [7]. Industry Context - The Medical - Dental Supplies industry, which includes McKesson, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 23, placing it in the top 10% of over 250 industries [8].

Core Insights - Corporate leadership is experiencing a significant transformation with an increase in women leading publicly traded companies, resulting in market-beating performance and innovative growth strategies [2][4] - Gender-diverse leadership is being recognized by financial markets, with ESG-focused funds prioritizing companies with women in executive roles, indicating a shift towards inclusive leadership driving sustainable growth [4] Company Highlights - **Accenture (ACN)**: Under Julie Sweet's leadership, Accenture made a $3 billion investment in AI, doubling its AI workforce and restructuring its growth model to enhance innovation and brand leadership [3] - **The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (EL)**: Rashida La Lande's appointment as executive vice president and Global General Counsel in 2024 strengthened the company's legal and compliance frameworks during a transformation period [3] - **Adobe Inc. (ADBE)**: Lara Balazs, as chief marketing officer, has significantly enhanced Adobe's brand and marketing strategy, contributing to strong financial performance with adjusted EPS of $5.08 in Q1 2025, up from $4.48 year-over-year [9][10] - **McKesson Corporation (MCK)**: Michele Lau's role as chief legal officer has been pivotal in navigating regulatory scrutiny and managing complex litigation, with her compensation reflecting a strategic alignment with shareholder value [12][13] - **Centene Corporation (CNC)**: Sarah M. London has transformed Centene's operations since becoming CEO in March 2022, leading to $163 billion in revenues in 2024 and serving nearly 28 million members [15][16] - **Bumble Inc. (BMBL)**: Whitney Wolfe Herd's leadership has driven Bumble's brand identity and strategic shifts, including a workforce reduction aimed at achieving $40 million in annual cost savings, with improved revenue guidance for Q2 2025 [19][20] Investment Opportunities - Companies led by women, such as Adobe, McKesson, Centene, and Bumble, are positioned as attractive investment opportunities due to their strong leadership and strategic vision, indicating potential for long-term success [6]

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are increasingly focused on identifying stocks with above-average financial growth, which can lead to solid returns, but finding such stocks is challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - McKesson is identified as a promising growth stock, supported by a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company has a historical EPS growth rate of 16%, with projected EPS growth of 12.6% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 1.3% [5] - McKesson's sales are expected to grow by 13% this year, compared to the industry average of 1.1% [7] Group 2: Key Metrics - The asset utilization ratio for McKesson is 4.95, indicating that the company generates $4.95 in sales for every dollar in assets, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 0.72 [6] - The current-year earnings estimates for McKesson have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 0.1% over the past month [9] Group 3: Investment Potential - McKesson has achieved a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Growth Score of A, indicating its potential as an outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors [11]

The Medical group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has McKesson (MCK) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Medical peers, we might be able to answer that question.McKesson is one of 998 companies in the Medical group. The Medical group currently sits at #6 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual s ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools to help investors make informed decisions and invest confidently in the stock market [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that assist investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market within 30 days, rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [4] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings and cash flow [5] - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends by evaluating recent price changes and earnings estimate shifts [6] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive assessment of stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8][9] - Investors are encouraged to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal returns [11] Stock Highlight: McKesson Corporation - McKesson Corporation, a healthcare services and IT company, holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [13] - The company is projected to experience year-over-year earnings growth of 12.6% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions from analysts [14]

Core Viewpoint - Growth stocks are appealing due to their potential for above-average financial growth, but identifying strong candidates can be challenging due to associated risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - McKesson (MCK) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock, possessing a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank [2] - The company has a historical EPS growth rate of 16%, with projected EPS growth of 12.5% this year, surpassing the industry average of 8.2% [4] Group 2: Key Growth Metrics - The asset utilization ratio for McKesson is 4.95, indicating that the company generates $4.95 in sales for every dollar in assets, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.77 [5] - McKesson's sales are expected to grow by 13% this year, compared to the industry average of 3.2% [6] Group 3: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There is a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for McKesson, with the current-year earnings estimates increasing by 1.7% over the past month [7] Group 4: Investment Positioning - McKesson has achieved a Growth Score of A and a Zacks Rank of 2, positioning it well for potential outperformance in the growth stock category [9]

Company Performance - McKesson (MCK) has returned approximately 26.6% since the beginning of the calendar year, outperforming the Medical sector, which has lost about 4.9% on average [4] - McKesson holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, with the consensus estimate for full-year earnings having increased by 1.4% over the past quarter [3] - McKesson belongs to the Medical - Dental Supplies industry, which includes 14 companies and currently ranks 84 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with this group having lost about 1.9% year-to-date [5] Industry Comparison - The Medical sector consists of 999 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 4, which is based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector [2] - Another stock in the Medical sector, Adagene Inc. Sponsored ADR (ADAG), has a year-to-date return of 4.8% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with its consensus EPS estimate increasing by 7.9% over the past three months [4][5] - The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, which includes Adagene, has 503 stocks and is ranked 75, with this industry having moved -2.9% since the beginning of the year [6]

Core Insights - McKesson (MCK) and Cardinal Health (CAH) are major players in the U.S. healthcare distribution sector, benefiting from consistent demand and long-term industry trends [1][2] - Investors are evaluating which company presents a stronger investment opportunity amid evolving healthcare regulations and inflationary pressures [2] Financial Performance - McKesson reported Q4 fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $10.12, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.81 by 3.2%, with a year-over-year improvement of 63.8% [3] - Cardinal Health reported Q3 fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.35, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.15 by 9.3%, with a year-over-year increase of 12.4% [4] Estimates Comparison - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McKesson's fiscal 2026 sales and EPS indicates a year-over-year improvement of 12.4% and 12.3%, respectively, with EPS estimates improving by 1.4% over the past 60 days [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cardinal Health's 2025 sales suggests a year-over-year decline of 1.7%, while EPS is expected to improve by 7.8%, with EPS estimates increasing by 2.3% over the past 30 days [8] Strategic Positioning - McKesson's diversification into higher-margin areas such as oncology and biopharma services supports margin stability and positions the company well for future growth [11] - McKesson's recent earnings report highlighted solid revenue growth, stable margins, and robust free cash flow, alongside consistent shareholder returns through share repurchases and dividend increases [12] - Cardinal Health is focusing on efficiency gains and cost controls while expanding its higher-growth medical segment, which is expected to drive growth [15] - Cardinal Health's first-quarter performance showed strong revenue growth and improving profitability due to effective cost-saving initiatives [16] Price Performance - Year-to-date, McKesson shares have increased by 25.7%, while Cardinal Health shares have surged by 29.2%, driven by rising demand for drug retailing, particularly GLP-1 drugs [17] Investment Outlook - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), complicating the investment decision [18] - McKesson's style score of 'A' indicates strong growth prospects and attractive valuation, while Cardinal Health's style score of 'C' reflects attractive valuation but lower growth potential [19] - Based on growth estimates and style scores, McKesson is viewed as a better investment choice at present [19]