Cardinal Health Inc vs Nutrien Ltd — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $234.27 (market cap $55.88B), while Nutrien Ltd trades at $67.01 (market cap $32.05B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Nutrien Ltd pays the higher dividend (3.27%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | NTR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $55.88B | $32.05B |
Sector | Health | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $240.26 | $83.94 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $53.64 |
Enterprise Value | $59.91B | $43.86B |
Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 3.27% |
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.
Nutrien (NTR) trades at $66.85, up 0.81% today, with a bearish technical signal despite neutral oscillators. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed EPS estimates but beat on revenue, driven by higher potash prices. The company maintains a stable dividend of $0.55 per share and shows improving net income margins, though cash flow trends have weakened. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $76.17 price target, highlighting structural advantages in nitrogen assets.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and analyst support suggest upside, but technical weakness and volatile earnings pose risks. Key opportunities include exposure to agricultural cycles and cost advantages; risks involve input cost pressures and execution challenges in a competitive fertilizer market.
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 →Created in 2018 as a result of the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium, Nutrien is the world's largest fertilizer producer by capacity. Nutrien produces the three main crop nutrients--nitrogen, potash, and phosphate--although its main focus is potash, where it is the global leader in installed capacity with roughly 20% share. The company is also the largest agricultural retailer in the United States, selling fertilizers, crop chemicals, seeds, and services directly to farm customers through its brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms.
Read more on NTR →