This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Cencora has agreed to acquire EyeSouth Partners’ retina business for $1.1 billion as the drug distributor continues to expand its specialty medical arm. Once the transaction closes, EyeSouth’s physicians will join Cencora’s management services organization Retina Consultants of America, according to the Monday announcement. Cencora expects the ...

Drug distributor Cencora said on Monday it would buy the retina business of eye care network EyeSouth Partners for $1.1 billion, expanding its eye care unit. ...

This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. The finance chief of drug distributor Cencora is retiring this summer. James Cleary, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Cencora, will step down from his roles at the end of June, the drug distributor said Tuesday. He will officially retire from his roles on June 30, but remain at the company through the end of the year as an adviser. Th ...

Core Insights - The ongoing Iran war and rising oil prices are negatively impacting major stock indexes, with the S&P 500 hitting a low not seen since 2026 [1] - Karman Holdings (KRMN) is highlighted as a leading stock to watch, alongside Dell Technologies (DELL), General Dynamics (GD), Cardinal Health (CAH), and Ubiquiti Networks (UI) [1] Company Summaries Karman Holdings - Karman Holdings, a defense IPO, ended last week down 0.6% at $99.98 but remains above its 50-day moving average [1] - The company has a cup-with-handle base with a buy point of 107.56 on a weekly chart and 188.38 on a daily chart [1] - Karman reported third-quarter sales growth of 42% to $121.8 million and earnings rose 150% to $0.10 per share [1] - Analysts forecast revenue of $132.5 million and a 386% increase in earnings to $0.12 per share for the next report on April 14 [1] Dell Technologies - Dell stock rose 1.1% to $151.62, with a 3.5% increase in the last week [1] - The company reported a 45% year-over-year jump in earnings to an adjusted $3.89 per share and a 39% increase in sales to $33.38 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter [1] - For the current quarter, Dell forecasts adjusted earnings of $2.90 per share, up 87%, on sales of $35.2 billion, up 51% [1] General Dynamics - General Dynamics ended Friday down 1% to $351.52, with a 3.3% decline for the week [2] - The company has formed a flat base with a buy point of 369.70, but shares have dipped below the 50-day line [2] - Earnings are projected to rise 6% in 2026, accelerating to 11% growth in 2027 [2] Cardinal Health - Cardinal Health dipped 0.3% to $217.08, continuing to trade in a buy zone and holding support at its 50-day moving average [2] - The stock is about 1% above a traditional buy point of 214.93 from a flat base [2] - Cardinal Health has a strong 94 Composite Rating, a 91 Relative Strength Rating, and a 95 EPS Rating [2] Ubiquiti Networks - Ubiquiti Networks stock advanced 1.4% to $759.84, with shares gaining over 20% since the fiscal second-quarter results reported on February 6 [1] - Adjusted earnings jumped 70% to $3.88 per share, while sales increased 36% to $814.9 million [1] - The stock has a perfect 99 Composite Rating, a 95 Relative Strength Rating, and a 91 EPS Rating [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the investment strategy of Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust amidst market volatility due to geopolitical tensions, specifically the war in Iran, which has impacted oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields, leading to a global equities sell-off [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - Stock futures indicate a sharply lower open, with the S&P 500 expected to open 1.4% lower and the Nasdaq under greater pressure [1] - The turmoil has caused significant declines in global markets, with South Korea's Kospi experiencing its worst day in 19 months and European stocks also falling [1] Group 2: Investment Actions - The Charitable Trust plans to buy 55 shares of Alphabet at approximately $298, increasing its portfolio weighting in Alphabet to about 2% from 1.56% [1] - The Trust utilized a 15% cash position to initiate a new position in Cardinal Health, a defensive growth stock, which is less sensitive to international events [1] - Following a market recovery, the Trust sold about half of its remaining position in BlackRock to replenish cash reserves [1] Group 3: Company-Specific Insights - Alphabet's Google Search revenue is benefiting from artificial intelligence, with increased engagement from AI-powered queries [1] - Google Cloud is gaining market share, evidenced by a 55% year-over-year growth in its backlog, which reached $240 billion [1] - The article suggests that Alphabet has a clearer path to monetizing its capital expenditures compared to its hyperscale peers [1]

Group 1 - Cencora will merge its MWI Animal Health unit with Covetrus in a deal valued at $3.5 billion, creating a combined animal-health distribution and technology company [1] - Under the agreement, Cencora will receive $1.25 billion in cash at closing, $800 million in preferred equity, and $1.45 billion in common equity in the merged entity, while retaining a 34.3% non-controlling stake [1] - The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, with Cencora reaffirming its fiscal 2026 outlook and not expecting the deal to close before the end of its financial year in September 2026 [1]

Company Overview - Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is a major player in the pharmaceutical distribution sector, supplying branded, generic, and specialty medicines, as well as providing pharmacy and specialty drug services [2] - The company also manufactures and distributes medical and surgical products and procedure kits [2] Market Performance - Cardinal Health has been recognized as a leading stock among drug distributors, with a significant increase in stock value, being described as a "monster" in the industry [2] - The stock, along with competitors like Cencora and McKesson, saw an increase of over 40% last year, highlighting the strong performance of drug distributors despite negative perceptions of the pharmaceutical middleman [2] Investment Outlook - Jim Cramer expressed a positive outlook on Cardinal Health, suggesting that the stock could reach $300, indicating strong confidence in the company's future performance [1] - The company is noted for its strategic acquisitions, such as a recent purchase in the urology sector, which may enhance its market position [1]

Core Viewpoint - Brown Advisory Mid-Cap Growth Strategy underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, which increased approximately 3% in the third quarter of 2025 [1] Company Overview - Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is a healthcare services and products company with a market capitalization of $47.305 billion as of December 18, 2025, and its stock closed at $199.10 per share [2] - The one-month return for Cardinal Health, Inc. was -4.96%, while its shares gained 68.33% over the last 52 weeks [2] Performance and Strategy - In the third quarter of 2025, Cardinal Health, Inc. continues to benefit from rising demand for complex specialty and biologic therapies, expanding its value-added service offerings [3] - The company is also involved in adjacent markets such as third-party logistics and nuclear medicine, with its medical distribution business undergoing a turnaround under new management [3] Financial Highlights - Cardinal Health, Inc. reported a revenue increase of 22% year-over-year to $64 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 [4] - The number of hedge fund portfolios holding Cardinal Health, Inc. decreased from 59 to 55 in the third quarter [4]

US private equity firm SK Capital Partners is nearing a deal to acquire Swiss drug distribution company Swixx Biopharma, according to people familiar with the matter. https://t.co/WM4eWmvn11 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong Q1 results with all five operating segments showing double-digit profit growth, particularly in the pharma and specialty services business, which saw significant profit growth driven by strong demand, execution, and focus on specialty [4][5] - The guidance for fiscal year 2026 was raised to $9.65-$9.85, reflecting confidence in the business model despite regulatory changes [7][8] - The company is generating strong cash flow, raising adjusted free cash flow guidance to $3 billion-$3.5 billion for the year [59] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pharma and specialty services business, which is the largest segment, experienced outsized demand and strong execution, contributing to double-digit growth [4][5] - The "Other" segment, which includes at-home nuclear precision health and OptiFreight, reported 60% profit growth, with each business growing more than the long-term target of 10% [5] - The GMPD business, part of the turnaround strategy, showed positive profit and cash flow, successfully navigating tariff impacts [56] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing strong demand across various categories, including brand, generics, specialty, and consumer health, contributing to a robust performance [11] - The generic pipeline is expected to remain strong, with a significant number of pharmaceuticals going generic in the next five years [12] - The company anticipates a long-term growth rate of 2%-3% for generics, with recent performance tracking ahead of this expectation [35][38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on long-term investments and managing the business for future growth opportunities rather than short-term results [6] - The MSO strategy is differentiated from competitors by not being solely focused on pharmaceutical revenue, instead leveraging strengths in various specialties [20][21] - The company aims to build an ecosystem connecting suppliers and clinical practices, enhancing value across its portfolio [25][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating regulatory changes and maintaining profitability despite potential pressures from WAC reductions [14][19] - The company is optimistic about the future of its nuclear precision health business, which is expected to grow significantly due to innovations in radiopharmaceuticals [44][47] - The management highlighted the importance of compliance and scale in the at-home solutions business, positioning the company as a strong partner in the new regulatory environment [50][52] Other Important Information - The company is committed to returning at least $750 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends while exploring high ROI projects for capital deployment [60][62] - The GMPD business has successfully transitioned from negative to positive profit and cash flow, demonstrating effective management amid tariff challenges [56] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company view the impact of WAC reductions on its core distribution business? - Management acknowledged concerns but emphasized that distributors provide essential services and expect to be compensated accordingly, regardless of regulatory changes [14][15][19] Question: What differentiates the company's MSO strategy from competitors? - The company focuses on its strengths in various specialties and aims to build an ecosystem that connects suppliers and clinical practices, rather than solely relying on pharmaceutical revenue [20][21][25] Question: What is the outlook for the generics business? - Management noted strong demand and a robust pipeline of generics, with expectations of 2%-3% long-term growth, while recent performance has exceeded this [35][38]