Cencora to invest $1 billion on US drug distribution, posts upbeat 2026 forecast

Core Insights - Cencora plans to invest over $1 billion through 2030 to expand its U.S. distribution network, forecasting adjusted profit for next year above Wall Street expectations [1][3] Investment Plans - The company will build a second national distribution center in Harrison, Ohio, and expand sites in California and Alabama [1][2] - The Ohio hub will be 530,000 square feet and is expected to be operational by spring 2027, featuring advanced automation [2] - A new 430,000-square-foot distribution center in Fontana, California, will nearly double the size of the current site and is targeted to open by fall 2026 [3] Financial Performance - Cencora expects adjusted profit per share for 2026 to be between $17.45 and $17.75, slightly above analysts' expectations of $17.5 [3] - The company's U.S. Healthcare Solutions unit reported a 5.7% increase in sales to $75.79 billion for the quarter ended September 30, driven by strong prescription volumes of GLP-1 class drugs and specialty medicines [4] - Cencora reported fourth-quarter profit of $3.84 per share, exceeding analysts' estimates of $3.79 per share, with total sales of $83.73 billion, above the expected $83.46 billion [5]