CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does CARDINAL HEALTH INC Do?
Cardinal Health, Inc. operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceutical and Medical. The Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare and consumer products. The segment also provides services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers for specialty pharmaceutical products; operates nuclear pharmacies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; repackages generic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter healthcare products; and offers medication therapy management and patient outcomes services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and payers, as well as provides pharmacy management services to hospitals. The Medical segment manufactures, sources, and distributes Cardinal Health branded medical, surgical, and laboratory products and devices that include exam and surgical gloves; needles, syringe and sharps disposals; compressions; incontinences; nutritional delivery products; wound care products; single-use surgical drapes, gowns, and apparels; fluid suction and collection systems; urology products; operating room supply products; and electrode product lines. The segment also distributes a range of national brand products, including medical, surgical, and laboratory products; provides supply chain services and solutions to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and other healthcare providers; and assembles and sells sterile, and non-sterile procedure kits. It has a collaboration agreement with Journey Biosciences, Inc. Cardinal Health, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) is classified as a large-cap stock in the Consumer Staples sector, specifically within the Wholesale industry. The company is led by CEO Jason M. Hollar and employs approximately 46,500 people, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. With a market capitalization of $49.9B, CAH is one of the prominent companies in the Consumer Staples sector.
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) Stock Rating — Hold (April 2026)
As of April 2026, CARDINAL HEALTH INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 43.6/100 and 3 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CAH ranks #1,496 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Consumer Staples sector, CARDINAL HEALTH INC ranks #54 of 180 stocks, placing it in the upper half of its Consumer Staples peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
CAH Stock Price and 52-Week Range
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) currently trades at $215.52. The stock lost $0.28 (0.1%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CAH is $230.81, which means the stock is currently trading -6.6% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $120.72, putting the stock 78.5% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 1.3M shares, reflecting moderate market activity.
Is CAH Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) carries a value factor score of 44/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 27.30x, compared to the Consumer Staples sector average of 33.11x — a discount of 18%. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.21x, compared to 0.35x for the average Consumer Staples stock. On an enterprise value basis, CAH trades at 18.87x EV/EBITDA, versus 6.93x for the sector.
Overall, CAH's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
CARDINAL HEALTH INC Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) earns a quality factor score of 26/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 3.2% versus the sector average of 3.1%.
On a margin basis, CARDINAL HEALTH INC reports gross margins of 3.7%, compared to 26.2% for the sector. The operating margin is 1.1% (sector: 2.9%). Net profit margin stands at 0.8%, versus 1.6% for the average Consumer Staples stock. Revenue growth is running at 25.5% on a trailing basis, compared to 3.1% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.
CAH Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
Balance sheet data for CAH is evaluated through our stability factor. The current ratio is 0.91x, which may signal near-term liquidity tightness.
CAH has a beta of 0.33, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for CARDINAL HEALTH INC is 86/100, indicating low-volatility characteristics and consistent price behavior that appeals to risk-averse investors.
CARDINAL HEALTH INC Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, CARDINAL HEALTH INC reported revenue of $239.78B. Net income for the quarter was $1.83B. Gross margin was 3.7%. Operating income came in at $2.65B.
In Q2 2026, CARDINAL HEALTH INC reported revenue of $65.63B. Net income for the quarter was $471M. Gross margin was 3.6%. Revenue grew 18.8% year-over-year compared to Q2 2025. Operating income came in at $707M.
In Q1 2026, CARDINAL HEALTH INC reported revenue of $64.01B and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.89. Net income for the quarter was $454M. Gross margin was 3.6%. Revenue grew 22.4% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $668M.
In FY 2025, CARDINAL HEALTH INC reported revenue of $222.58B and earnings per share (EPS) of $6.48. Net income for the quarter was $1.57B. Gross margin was 3.7%. Revenue grew -1.9% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $2.27B.
Over the past 8 quarters, CARDINAL HEALTH INC has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $226.83B to $239.78B. Investors analyzing CAH stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
CAH Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among growth-oriented companies in the Wholesale industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Consumer Staples dividend stocks may want to explore other Consumer Staples stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
CAH Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) has a momentum factor score of 65/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 25/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 21/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.
CAH vs Competitors — Consumer Staples Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Consumer Staples sector, CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) ranks #54 out of 180 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CAH in the upper half of all Consumer Staples stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include Ituran Location & Control Ltd. (ITRN) with a score of 60.3/100, DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. (DAR) with a score of 52.9/100, Bunge Global SA (BG) with a score of 53.0/100, SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC (JBSS) with a score of 54.1/100, and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) with a score of 52.2/100.
Comparing CAH against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CAH vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how CARDINAL HEALTH INC stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
CAH Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy CAH? — Investment Thesis Summary
CARDINAL HEALTH INC presents a balanced picture with arguments on both sides. The quality score of 26/100 flags below-average profitability. Price momentum is positive at 65/100, suggesting the trend favors buyers. Low volatility (stability score 86/100) reduces downside risk.
In summary, CARDINAL HEALTH INC (CAH) earns a Hold rating with a composite score of 43.6/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CAH stock.
Related Resources for CAH Investors
Explore more research and tools: CAH vs S&P 500 comparison, top Consumer Staples stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CAH head-to-head with peers: CAH vs ITRN, CAH vs DAR, CAH vs BG.