British American Tobacco PLC vs Cardinal Health Inc — how do they compare? British American Tobacco PLC trades at $59.33 (market cap $124.84B), while Cardinal Health Inc trades at $228.69 (market cap $53.89B). The key difference: British American Tobacco PLC is far larger — about 2.3× Cardinal Health Inc's market cap, and British American Tobacco PLC pays the higher dividend (5.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BTI | CAH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $124.84B | $53.89B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $66.70 | $239.71 |
52-Week Low | $50.39 | $146.04 |
Enterprise Value | $166.06B | $58.87B |
Dividend Yield | 5.74% | 0.89% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
British American Tobacco (BTI) trades at $58.95, down 1.78% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. Fundamentally, the company maintains strong profitability with 30.32% net income margin and attractive valuation at 12.79 P/E ratio. Recent earnings show beats in Q2 and Q4 2025, though Q4 2024 missed expectations. The company is undergoing restructuring with 5,500 job cuts announced in June 2026 to streamline operations and reduce costs.
BTI presents a compelling value opportunity with strong dividend yield and improving earnings trajectory, though facing regulatory headwinds and declining cigarette volumes. The stock's current valuation appears attractive relative to historical levels, supported by robust cash flow generation and strategic pivot toward smoke-free products. Key risks include ongoing regulatory pressures and consumer shift away from traditional tobacco products.
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $233.66, down 0.91% in the last session, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $3.17 surpassing expectations. Revenue reached $222.58 billion in 2025, though net margins remain thin at 0.62%. Recent news highlights growth potential in medical supplies, with earnings results for fiscal 2026 due August 11.
The outlook for CAH is positive, driven by earnings momentum and sector tailwinds, but risks include high leverage with debt-to-asset ratio at 16.09% and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $248 price target, suggesting 6% upside. Investors should weigh solid operational cash flow against negative shareholder equity and investing outflows.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Following the acquisition of Reynolds American, British American Tobacco is neck-and-neck with Philip Morris International to be the largest listed global tobacco company--slightly larger than PMI on net revenue, but slightly smaller on total tobacco volume. British American's Global Drive Brands are Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Rothmans, and it also owns Newport and Camel in the U.S. The firm also sells vapor e-cigarettes, including its Vype brand, heated tobacco, with Glo, as well as roll- your-own and smokeless tobacco products. The company holds 31% of ITC Limited, the leading Indian cigarette-maker.
Read more on BTI →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 →