Cardinal Health Inc vs National Beverage Corp. — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $228.59 (market cap $53.89B), while National Beverage Corp. trades at $30.89 (market cap $2.89B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 18.6× National Beverage Corp.'s market cap, and Cardinal Health Inc pays a 0.89% dividend while National Beverage Corp. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | FIZZ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | $2.89B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $47.69 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $30.92 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | $2.60B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | — |
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.
FIZZ (National Beverage Corp.) trades at $31.13, down 7.95% over 24 hours, with a bearish technical signal and recent earnings misses in three of the last four quarters. The company reported $1.2B revenue and $186.82M net income for 2025, with strong profitability margins but a negative net cash flow of $133.21M. A special dividend of $3.25 per share was declared, payable July 30, 2026, providing a near-term catalyst.
Outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and dividend support value, but technical weakness and earnings misses signal caution. Risks include competitive pressures and consumer spending trends. Analyst consensus is cautious with 50% sell ratings. The stock presents a high-risk opportunity for dividend-focused investors amid volatility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →National Beverage Corp is one of the top 10 non-alcoholic beverage companies in the U.S. Its portfolio skews toward functional drinks (that is those purporting to offer health benefits) and is anchored by the popular LaCroix sparkling water trademark. Other offerings include Rip It energy drinks, Everfresh juices, and soda brands like Shasta and Faygo. The firm controls most of its production and distribution apparatus, with very little outsourcing. In terms of go-to-market, it uses warehouse distribution for big-box retailers, direct-store-delivery for convenience stores and other small outlets, and food-service distributors for the food-service channel (schools, hospitals, restaurants). It is controlled by chairman and CEO Nick Caporella, who owns over 73% of the common stock.
Read more on FIZZ →