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CAH vs MCK
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Cardinal Health (CAH) vs. McKesson (MCK) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CAH has delivered stronger year-to-date and one-year returns than MCK, with the former up approximately 15.9% YTD and 55.5% over the past year versus MCK’s 6.2% YTD and 31.6% one-year gains.
- Both companies operate as leading pharmaceutical and medical-product distributors, with MCK generally larger in scale by revenue and market capitalization.
- Recent market activity shows CAH positioned ahead of its fiscal Q4 2026 earnings release, while MCK reported solid fiscal Q1 2027 results with revenue growth and raised full-year guidance.
- Analyst consensus for CAH reflects a Strong Buy rating with price targets above recent levels, supported by expected revenue and earnings expansion.
- MCK highlighted an 8% revenue increase and 20% rise in adjusted earnings per share in its latest quarter, accompanied by a 15% dividend increase.
- Sector exposure and operational focus remain closely aligned, creating trade-offs primarily around relative momentum, valuation, and near-term catalysts.
Introduction
Cardinal Health (CAH) and McKesson (MCK) represent two of the largest players in the U.S. healthcare distribution sector. Both companies serve as critical intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain, managing the sourcing, warehousing, and delivery of medications and medical products to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers. Investors and traders focused on defensive healthcare exposure, supply-chain resilience, or relative performance within the providers-and-services industry may find this comparison relevant. The analysis examines recent stock behavior, operational highlights, and positioning within the current market environment using observable data from financial reporting and market activity.
CAH Overview and Recent Performance
Cardinal Health operates as a global healthcare services and products company, focusing on pharmaceutical distribution, specialty solutions, and medical products. In recent market activity, CAH shares have demonstrated notable strength, advancing roughly 15.9% year-to-date and more than 55% over the trailing twelve months, outpacing the broader S&P 500. The stock has traded near $236 in early August 2026 sessions amid anticipation of fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2026 results scheduled for release on August 11. Analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus, with expectations for revenue near $65.6 billion and earnings per share of $2.42 in the upcoming report. Sentiment has benefited from sustained operating momentum and efficiency improvements across core segments, supporting relative outperformance versus sector peers in recent weeks.
MCK Overview and Recent Performance
McKesson functions as a major pharmaceutical distributor and healthcare solutions provider, with significant operations in oncology, specialty pharmaceuticals, and biopharma services. Recent market activity reflects measured gains, with shares advancing approximately 6.2% year-to-date and 31.6% over the past year while trading near $870. The company reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 results showing consolidated revenue of $105.4 billion, an 8% increase, and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $9.93, up 20% year-over-year. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance and approved a 15% quarterly dividend increase. Performance has been supported by strength in specialty and multispecialty segments, contributing to stable sentiment despite more modest year-to-date price appreciation relative to broader market benchmarks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both Cardinal Health (CAH) and McKesson (MCK) maintain core business models centered on pharmaceutical and medical-product distribution, exposing them to similar industry dynamics such as drug pricing pressures, regulatory changes, and volume trends in healthcare utilization. MCK typically operates at larger scale, reflected in higher absolute revenue and market capitalization. Recent momentum favors CAH on a relative basis, with superior year-to-date and one-year returns driven by consistent operational execution and upcoming earnings visibility. MCK has demonstrated strength through explicit earnings beats and guidance raises in its latest quarter, alongside shareholder returns via dividend growth. Risk factors for both include exposure to healthcare policy shifts and supply-chain disruptions, though MCK’s broader specialty focus may offer incremental diversification. Market sentiment appears constructive for each, with institutional interest evident in trading patterns, yet trade-offs emerge around valuation multiples and the timing of near-term catalysts.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including trend consistency, relative price performance, and near-term catalysts, Tickeron’s AI may currently assign a modest probabilistic edge to Cardinal Health (CAH) over McKesson (MCK). Stronger year-to-date and one-year returns, combined with positioning ahead of earnings, contribute to this assessment, though McKesson’s recent results and raised guidance provide counterbalancing support. Outcomes remain subject to evolving market conditions and company-specific developments.
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.
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 Buy and MCK 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 whileMCK’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- CAH’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- MCK’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MCK’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CAH’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MCK’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
CAH (@Medical Distributors) experienced а -2.70% price change this week, while MCK (@Medical Distributors) price change was -1.69% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical Distributors industry was -12.62%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -13.83%, and the average quarterly price growth was -25.12%.
Reported Earning Dates
CAH is expected to report earnings on Oct 30, 2026.
MCK is expected to report earnings on Nov 03, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Medical Distributors (-12.62% 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 | MCK | CAH / MCK | |
| Capitalization | 53.8B | 99.9B | 54% |
| EBITDA | 3.27B | 7.18B | 46% |
| Gain YTD | 13.325 | 4.640 | 287% |
| P/E Ratio | 31.98 | 22.98 | 139% |
| Revenue | 251B | 403B | 62% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 3.98B | - |
| Total Debt | 8.92B | 8.61B | 104% |
CAH | MCK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 74 | 71 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 68 Overvalued | 11 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 16 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 22 | 45 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 64 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 27 | 75 |
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.
MCK's Valuation (11) in the Medical Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CAH (68). This means that MCK’s stock grew somewhat faster than CAH’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's Profit vs Risk Rating (5) in the Medical Distributors industry is in the same range as MCK (16). This means that CAH’s stock grew similarly to MCK’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's SMR Rating (100) in the Medical Distributors industry is in the same range as MCK (100). This means that CAH’s stock grew similarly to MCK’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's Price Growth Rating (22) in the Medical Distributors industry is in the same range as MCK (45). This means that CAH’s stock grew similarly to MCK’s over the last 12 months.
CAH's P/E Growth Rating (18) in the Medical Distributors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MCK (64). This means that CAH’s stock grew somewhat faster than MCK’s over the last 12 months.
| CAH | MCK | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 39% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 33% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 41% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 37% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 40% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 66% | 4 days ago 66% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 47% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 74% |
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MCK and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MCK has been closely correlated with COR. These tickers have moved in lockstep 72% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if MCK jumps, then COR could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MCK | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCK | 100% | -2.51% | ||
| COR - MCK | 72% Closely correlated | -1.32% | ||
| CAH - MCK | 68% Closely correlated | -1.25% | ||
| HKPD - MCK | 10% Poorly correlated | +1.50% | ||
| HSIC - MCK | 6% Poorly correlated | -0.68% | ||
| YI - MCK | 4% Poorly correlated | -3.63% | ||
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