Core Insights - The analyst has shifted from a bullish stance to a "Hold" rating on McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) over the last few quarters, indicating a cautious outlook on the stock's performance [1]. Group 1: Company Analysis - The analysis emphasizes a focus on high-quality companies that can outperform the market in the long run due to competitive advantages and high defensibility [1]. - The analyst's expertise includes a background in sociology, with a Master's Degree emphasizing organizational and economic sociology, which may influence the analytical approach [1]. Group 2: Market Focus - The analysis is primarily focused on companies in European and North American markets, without restrictions on market capitalization, covering both large-cap and small-cap companies [1].

Company Performance - McKesson's stock closed at $724.11, down 1.53% from the previous session, which is less than the S&P 500's loss of 0.07% [1] - Over the past month, McKesson's shares have appreciated by 3.83%, outperforming the Medical sector's loss of 1.3% and lagging behind the S&P 500's gain of 3.94% [1] Earnings Estimates - McKesson is expected to report earnings of $8.25 per share on August 6, 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 4.7% [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is projected at $96.08 billion, indicating a 21.18% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2] Full-Year Projections - The full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates for McKesson are earnings of $37.25 per share and revenue of $405.91 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +12.71% and +13.05%, respectively [3] Analyst Sentiment - Recent changes to analyst estimates for McKesson indicate evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions suggesting optimism about the business outlook [3][4] Zacks Rank - McKesson currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate shifting 0.16% upward over the past month [5] Valuation Metrics - McKesson's Forward P/E ratio is 19.74, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 18.21 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.47, while the Medical - Dental Supplies industry average PEG ratio is 1.67 [6] Industry Context - The Medical - Dental Supplies industry, part of the Medical sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 29, placing it in the top 12% of over 250 industries [7]

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]

Core Insights - Dividend investing is gaining traction in the first half of 2025 due to market volatility and uncertainty, despite U.S. stocks nearing record highs driven by optimism in trade talks, corporate earnings, and AI momentum [1] - Stocks with a history of dividend growth tend to outperform in volatile markets, providing a more stable investment option compared to high-yield stocks [2][4] Dividend Growth Stocks - Five dividend growth stocks identified as solid investment choices for the second half of 2025 are Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM), NetEase Inc. (NTES), Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN), UGI Corporation (UGI), and McKesson Corporation (MCK) [3][9] - These stocks meet strict criteria for dividend, sales, and earnings growth, showing positive earnings revisions and strong Growth Scores [9] Investment Rationale - Stocks with a strong history of dividend growth are typically mature companies, providing a hedge against economic and political uncertainties [4] - These companies exhibit superior fundamentals, including sustainable business models, profitability, rising cash flows, and strong balance sheets, indicating potential for future dividend increases [5] Performance Metrics - Selected stocks have shown a 5-Year Historical Dividend Growth greater than zero, indicating a solid dividend growth history [6] - Additional criteria include positive historical sales and earnings growth, as well as expected future earnings growth, which supports sustained dividend payments [7] Valuation and Ranking - Stocks are evaluated based on Price/Cash Flow ratios being less than the industry average, indicating undervaluation [8] - The selected stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 over the past year and hold Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), suggesting strong market performance potential [8][10]

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]