Morgan Stanley Raises Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) Price Target After Strong Q2

Core Viewpoint - Cardinal Health, Inc. is recognized as one of the 12 unstoppable dividend stocks to buy according to analysts, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's performance and growth potential [1]. Financial Performance - Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Cardinal Health from $245 to $255, maintaining an Overweight rating, following strong second-quarter results that improved the stock's risk-reward profile [2]. - Cardinal Health raised its 2026 profit outlook after reporting quarterly results that exceeded expectations, driven by solid demand for specialty medicines, resulting in a stock price increase of over 9% [3]. - The company reported quarterly revenue of $65.63 billion, surpassing analysts' average estimate of $64.14 billion, with adjusted profit at $2.63 per share, exceeding estimates of $2.36 [6]. Industry Trends - Drug distributors, including Cardinal Health, are benefiting from increased demand for higher-margin treatments for complex conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases, supported by the rollout of biosimilars linked to blockbuster drugs that have lost patent protection [4]. - Companies in this sector are expanding into specialty medicines through acquisitions of cancer center operators, diversifying beyond traditional drug distribution while strengthening core operations [5]. Company Strategy - Cardinal Health's CEO Jason Hollar indicated that while GLP-1 drugs contribute to revenue, they are not expected to significantly impact earnings in the near term, with adoption remaining slow but anticipated to accelerate over time [5].