Here's Why You Should Retain Cencora Stock in Your Portfolio Now

Core Insights - Cencora, Inc. (COR) is positioned for growth due to a strong U.S. Healthcare Solutions business and new product launches, although competition remains a concern [1][8] - The company's shares have increased by 13.4% over the past six months, outperforming the industry gain of 12.1% and the S&P 500 Index increase of 13.6% [1] Company Overview - Cencora is one of the largest pharmaceutical service companies globally, focusing on drug distribution and related services to lower healthcare costs and enhance patient outcomes, with a market capitalization of $67.15 billion [2] Financial Performance - The bottom line for Cencora is expected to improve by 11.9% over the next five years, with earnings surpassing estimates in the last four quarters, averaging a surprise of 5.51% [3] Positive Growth Drivers - Cencora benefits from sustained pharmaceutical utilization trends, particularly in specialty drugs for oncology and retina, supported by favorable demographics and ongoing pharmaceutical innovations [4] - As a leading distributor aligned with top manufacturers, Cencora is well-positioned for long-term organic operating income growth of 6-9% [5] - The expansion into management services organizations (MSOs) enhances growth and strategic positioning, allowing for higher-value services and reinforcing Cencora's pharmaceutical-centric strategy [6] Market Dynamics - The rising adoption of biosimilars in the Part B market is a significant profitability driver, generating higher margins than branded products, which supports operating income expansion [10] - Strong physician adoption in oncology and retina reinforces the benefits of biosimilars, positioning Cencora to capitalize on ongoing innovation and product transitions [11] Challenges - The international segment is experiencing declines due to reduced clinical trial activity and a slower recovery in biotech services, with operating income down 2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 [12] - Although GLP-1 sales remain strong, growth has moderated to 19%, and the loss of a low-margin grocery-channel customer is impacting revenue growth, leading to a revised U.S. revenue outlook [13] Estimate Trends - There has been a positive estimate revision trend for fiscal 2026, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings increasing from $17.59 to $17.62 per share, and first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues expected to improve by 5.4% year-over-year [14]