Cardinal Health Inc vs Core and Main Inc — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $236.82 (market cap $55.88B), while Core and Main Inc trades at $45.79 (market cap $8.73B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 6.4× Core and Main Inc's market cap, and Cardinal Health Inc pays a 0.86% dividend while Core and Main Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | CNM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $55.88B | $8.73B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $240.26 | $66.98 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $42.37 |
Enterprise Value | $59.91B | $11.02B |
Dividend Yield | 0.86% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $237.18, up 0.33% on the day, near its 52-week high. The stock shows bullish technical signals with consistent earnings beats, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.91 versus $2.42 expected. Revenue reached $222.58 billion in 2025, with net income margin improving to 0.67%. Positive sentiment is driven by strong Q4 2026 results and optimistic fiscal 2027 guidance highlighted by Reuters on August 11, 2026.
Outlook remains favorable with analyst consensus price target of $266.43 implying 12% upside. Key opportunities include pharmaceutical segment strength and dividend payments, while risks involve high debt levels and thin profit margins. The bullish analyst stance (54.55% buy ratings) supports growth potential, but investors should monitor cash flow volatility and competitive pressures.
Core & Main (CNM) trades at $45.85, down 0.97% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed moving averages. The company reported strong Q1 2026 earnings of $0.57 per share, beating estimates, and maintains solid fundamentals including a 23.73% ROE and 5.87% net margin. Recent news highlights institutional activity, such as California State Teachers Retirement System increasing its stake by 22.3% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-08-04).
The outlook is positive with analyst consensus at 57% buy ratings, supported by revenue growth to $7.6B in 2026 and expanding margins. Risks include high debt levels at $2.24B long-term and competitive pressures in the tools sector. Investors should monitor execution against FY26 guidance of $7.8–$7.9B revenue.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Core & Main is a leading US distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products. It provides essential infrastructure solutions to municipalities, private water companies, and contractors.
Read more on CNM →