Cardinal Health Inc vs CVS Health Corp — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $229 (market cap $53.89B), while CVS Health Corp trades at $104.03 (market cap $135.48B). The key difference: CVS Health Corp is far larger — about 2.5× Cardinal Health Inc's market cap, and CVS Health Corp pays the higher dividend (2.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | CVS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | $135.48B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $106.18 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $58.75 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | $202.02B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 2.51% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
CVS Health trades at $105.9, up 1.68% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support (84.6% buy ratings). The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.57 versus $2.18 expected. Revenue growth remains robust, reaching $402.07B in 2025, though net margins are thin at 0.72%. Recent news highlights a settlement with the FTC advancing prescription drug affordability initiatives.
The outlook is positive given earnings momentum and strategic positioning in healthcare services, but risks include regulatory pressures and margin compression. The consensus price target of $110.62 suggests modest upside from current levels, supported by dividend payments and institutional confidence.
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 →Following its acquisition of Aetna in late 2018, CVS Health now provides an even more integrated healthcare-services offering for its members. Legacy CVS combined both the largest pharmacy benefit manager, processing over 2 billion adjusted claims annually, and a sizable pharmacy operation, including nearly 10,000 retail pharmacy locations primarily in the U.S. Adding a managed-care organization with 24 million medical members gives the company a strong position in the insurance industry and should help CVS better control overall healthcare costs for its clients.
Read more on CVS →