Cardinal Health Inc vs Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $234.2 (market cap $55.88B), while Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $326 (market cap $12.92B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 4.3× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc pays the higher dividend (1.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | HII | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $55.88B | $12.92B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $240.26 | $453.73 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $265.40 |
Enterprise Value | $59.91B | $15.84B |
Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 1.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $235.3, down 0.79% on the day, but remains near its 52-week high. The stock exhibits a bullish technical signal with consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.91 versus $2.42 expected. Revenue for fiscal 2025 was $222.58 billion, with net income reaching $1.56 billion. Analyst consensus is strongly positive, with 18 buys and a $266.43 price target, reflecting confidence in the company's pharmaceutical and specialty business growth.
The outlook for CAH is favorable, driven by robust earnings performance and optimistic fiscal 2027 guidance. Key opportunities include sustained demand for specialty drugs and operational efficiency gains. Risks involve high debt levels, with a debt-to-asset ratio of 16.09 in 2025, and competitive pressures in the healthcare distribution sector. Investors should weigh strong analyst support against balance sheet leverage and market volatility.
HII trades at $326.80, down 1.21% over the past day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and key support at $326. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $5.27 EPS, beating estimates, with revenue growth of 10.9% year-over-year. Recent contract awards, including a $2.2 billion task order for surveillance and intelligence capabilities, highlight ongoing government demand. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 19.53 and P/S of 0.98, indicating reasonable pricing relative to earnings and sales.
The investment outlook is positive, driven by robust defense contracts and operational improvements, with a consensus price target of $359.67 suggesting 10% upside. Risks include dependence on U.S. military spending and potential political headwinds affecting naval budgets. Analyst sentiment is mixed but leans bullish, with 44% buy ratings. Overall, HII presents a solid opportunity in the defense sector, though investors should monitor contract execution and macroeconomic factors.
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 →Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →