Cardinal Health Inc vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $237.88 (market cap $55.88B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $270.31 (market cap $61.93B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc and Nucor Corporation are close in size by market cap, and Cardinal Health Inc pays the higher dividend (0.86%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $55.88B | $61.93B |
Sector | Health | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $240.26 | $274.74 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $59.91B | $66.34B |
Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 0.82% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Cardinal Health (CAH) trades at $237.18, up 0.33% on the day, near its 52-week high. The stock shows bullish technical signals with consistent earnings beats, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.91 versus $2.42 expected. Revenue reached $222.58 billion in 2025, with net income margin improving to 0.67%. Positive sentiment is driven by strong Q4 2026 results and optimistic fiscal 2027 guidance highlighted by Reuters on August 11, 2026.
Outlook remains favorable with analyst consensus price target of $266.43 implying 12% upside. Key opportunities include pharmaceutical segment strength and dividend payments, while risks involve high debt levels and thin profit margins. The bullish analyst stance (54.55% buy ratings) supports growth potential, but investors should monitor cash flow volatility and competitive pressures.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $274.61, up 0.73% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a P/E of 21.7 and net income margin of 7.99%, supported by record steel shipments and higher prices. Recent news highlights its position near buy points and resilience in industrial demand.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus favoring buy ratings (59.37%) and a $279.63 price target. Risks include cyclical steel demand and tariff impacts, but earnings growth and institutional support provide upside potential for investors seeking exposure to industrial recovery.
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 →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →