Cardinal Health Inc vs Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $234.16 (market cap $55.88B), while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd trades at $18.93 (market cap $8.59B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 6.5× Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd's market cap, and Cardinal Health Inc pays a 0.86% dividend while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | NCLH | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $55.88B | $8.59B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $240.26 | $26.94 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $14.79 |
Enterprise Value | $59.91B | $23.40B |
Dividend Yield | 0.86% | — |
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.
NCLH trades at $18.93, up 2.05% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a P/E of 11.33 and net income margin of 7.49%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $0.48 per share, though revenue growth faces headwinds from high costs. Analyst consensus is a buy with a $20.73 price target, but news highlights concerns over fuel expenses and demand.
The outlook is mixed: valuation metrics suggest upside potential, but risks from macroeconomic pressures and execution challenges persist. Investors may find opportunity if turnaround plans gain traction, yet volatility from operational costs and travel demand fluctuations warrants caution for near-term performance.
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 →Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's third-largest cruise company by berths (at more than 62,000), operating 29 ships across three brands (Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas), offering both freestyle and luxury cruising. The company has redeployed its entire fleet as of May 2022. With eight passenger vessels on order among its brands through 2027 (representing 20,000 incremental berths), Norwegian is increasing capacity faster than its peers, expanding its brand globally. Norwegian sailed to around 500 global destinations before the pandemic.
Read more on NCLH →