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CAH vs COR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Cardinal Health (CAH) vs. Cencora (COR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both CAH and COR operate as major pharmaceutical distributors in the healthcare sector, facing similar market dynamics but diverging in recent momentum.
- CAH reported Q3 fiscal 2026 earnings with an EPS beat and raised full-year guidance, despite a revenue miss, supporting stronger recent relative performance.
- COR anticipates Q2 earnings growth but has underperformed year-to-date, amid strategic acquisitions in specialty services.
- CAH trades at a lower P/E ratio (price-to-earnings, 29.85) compared to COR (36.49), suggesting relative value.
- Over the past year, CAH shares have risen about 47%, outperforming COR's roughly 8% gain.
- Analyst targets imply upside for both, with COR at higher potential (average ~$403) versus CAH (~$247).
Introduction
Cardinal Health (CAH) and Cencora (COR) are leading players in pharmaceutical distribution, a critical segment of healthcare logistics. This stock comparison examines their business models, recent market performance, and positioning amid evolving sector trends like specialty drug demand and supply chain pressures. Investors tracking healthcare distributors or seeking relative value in defensive stocks may find insights into momentum shifts, valuation trade-offs, and growth catalysts relevant for portfolio decisions in the current environment.
CAH Overview and Recent Performance
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) is a diversified healthcare services company focused on pharmaceutical distribution, medical products, and specialty solutions. In recent market activity, CAH shares have shown resilience, trading around $195 with a market cap of approximately $46 billion. The stock experienced volatility following Q3 fiscal 2026 earnings, which featured an EPS (earnings per share) beat of $3.17 versus estimates of $2.79, alongside raised full-year guidance, though revenue fell short at $60.94 billion. Sentiment has been buoyed by analyst optimism, including buy ratings and focus on specialty growth and margin strategies, despite broader pressures like tariff dynamics. The 52-week range spans $138 to $234, reflecting steady upward trend consistency.
COR Overview and Recent Performance
Cencora, Inc. (COR), formerly AmerisourceBergen, provides global pharmaceutical distribution and specialty logistics services. Recently, shares have traded near $304, with a market cap of about $59 billion, but lagged broader indices year-to-date by around 10%. Key developments include a $1.1 billion acquisition of EyeSouth Partners' retina business and a deal with CareMetx to expand patient services, signaling bets on high-growth specialty areas. Upcoming Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings on May 6 project 8.8% EPS growth to $4.81 and 7% revenue rise, though recent sessions saw declines amid market rotation. The 52-week range is $271 to $378, with mixed analyst views including market perform initiations.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both CAH and COR thrive on pharmaceutical wholesale, with exposure to generic drugs, specialty therapies, and hospital supplies, but COR emphasizes global scale while CAH leans into medical manufacturing. Growth drivers include rising demand for GLP-1 drugs and oncology, though COR’s acquisitions provide fresher catalysts versus CAH’s operational efficiencies. Recent momentum favors CAH, with superior one-year returns and earnings stability; COR faces short-term headwinds from revenue slowdowns. Risk factors overlap in regulatory scrutiny (e.g., opioid litigation) and supply chain disruptions, but CAH’s lower beta (0.41) signals less volatility. Market sentiment tilts positive for CAH post-earnings, while COR awaits results, highlighting trade-offs in stability versus expansion potential.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models currently lean toward CAH for its trend consistency, recent EPS beats, raised guidance, and relative outperformance in a choppy healthcare landscape. Factors like lower valuation multiples and positive analyst revisions bolster this positioning probabilistically over COR’s pending earnings and acquisition integration risks, though both remain viable amid sector tailwinds.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CAH is a Hold and COR is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CAH’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileCOR’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- CAH’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- COR’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CAH’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while COR’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CAH’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- COR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
CAH (@Medical Distributors) experienced а +4.61% price change this week, while COR (@Medical Distributors) price change was -1.48% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Distributors industry was +1.53%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -6.01%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.06%.
Reported Earning Dates
CAH is expected to report earnings on Aug 18, 2026.
COR is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Distributors (+1.53% weekly)Healthcare distribution market can be segmented into pharmaceutical product distribution services, medical device distribution services, and biopharmaceutical product distribution services. In addition to serving as intermediaries, many medical distributors also purchase and take legal ownership of pharmaceuticals and manage inventory and credit risk. According to a Deloitte report, pharmaceutical distributors’ core services of efficient product distribution, inventory management, financial risk management, and information-sharing generate $33 billion-$53 billion in value annually to the U.S. health care ecosystem. Some prominent players in the overall medical distribution industry include McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc. and Patterson Companies, Inc.
| CAH | COR | CAH / COR | |
| Capitalization | 53B | 53.9B | 98% |
| EBITDA | 3.27B | 5.03B | 65% |
| Gain YTD | 10.654 | -17.630 | -60% |
| P/E Ratio | 34.55 | 21.23 | 163% |
| Revenue | 251B | 329B | 76% |
| Total Cash | 3.94B | 2.18B | 181% |
| Total Debt | 8.92B | 12.4B | 72% |
CAH | COR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 39 | 36 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 69 Overvalued | 57 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 37 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 59 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 27 | 87 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 32 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
COR's Valuation (57) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry is in the same range as CAH (69) in the Medical Distributors industry. This means that COR’s stock grew similarly to CAH’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's Profit vs Risk Rating (6) in the Medical Distributors industry is in the same range as COR (37) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry. This means that CAH’s stock grew similarly to COR’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's SMR Rating (100) in the Medical Distributors industry is in the same range as COR (100) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry. This means that CAH’s stock grew similarly to COR’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's Price Growth Rating (18) in the Medical Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for COR (59) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry. This means that CAH’s stock grew somewhat faster than COR’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's P/E Growth Rating (27) in the Medical Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for COR (87) in the Real Estate Investment Trusts industry. This means that CAH’s stock grew somewhat faster than COR’s over the last 12 months.
| CAH | COR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 52% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 56% | 1 day ago 56% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 65% | 1 day ago 43% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 62% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 7 days ago 61% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 17 days ago 45% | 23 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 54% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 58% | 1 day ago 60% |
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CAH and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CAH has been closely correlated with MCK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 69% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CAH jumps, then MCK could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To CAH | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAH | 100% | -0.63% | ||
| MCK - CAH | 69% Closely correlated | -0.72% | ||
| COR - CAH | 58% Loosely correlated | -1.55% | ||
| HSIC - CAH | 20% Poorly correlated | -1.51% | ||
| FOCL - CAH | 9% Poorly correlated | +3.16% | ||
| YI - CAH | 3% Poorly correlated | -0.90% | ||
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COR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, COR has been closely correlated with MCK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 70% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if COR jumps, then MCK could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To COR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COR | 100% | -1.55% | ||
| MCK - COR | 70% Closely correlated | -0.72% | ||
| CAH - COR | 58% Loosely correlated | -0.63% | ||
| HSIC - COR | 20% Poorly correlated | -1.51% | ||
| FOCL - COR | 7% Poorly correlated | +3.16% | ||
| YI - COR | 1% Poorly correlated | -0.90% | ||
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