AES Corp vs Cardinal Health Inc — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.72 (market cap $10.51B), while Cardinal Health Inc trades at $239.01 (market cap $55.55B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 5.3× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | CAH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $55.55B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $240.26 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $146.04 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $60.53B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 0.86% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $236.4, down 0.53% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings momentum after beating estimates for three consecutive quarters. The company reported $222.58B in revenue for 2025, with net income rising to $1.56B, and recently announced two home-care acquisitions to expand its at-Home Solutions segment. Analyst sentiment is positive, with a consensus price target of $262.80 and no sell ratings among 33 analysts.
The stock presents a favorable risk-reward profile with upside to the consensus target, supported by earnings beats and strategic growth initiatives. Key risks include high leverage with a debt-to-asset ratio of 16.09 in 2025 and thin net margins of 0.62%, which could pressure profitability if revenue growth slows or interest costs rise.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Cardinal Health is a leading pharmaceutical wholesaler, engaged in the sourcing and distribution of branded, generic, and specialty pharmaceutical products to pharmacies (retail chains, independent, and mail-order), hospitals networks, and healthcare providers. Along with AmerisourceBergen and McKesson, the three compose well over 90% of the U.S. pharmaceutical wholesale industry. Cardinal Health also supplies medical-surgical products and equipment to healthcare facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Read more on CAH →