Cardinal Health Inc vs QUALCOMM, Inc. — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $230 (market cap $53.89B), while QUALCOMM, Inc. trades at $176.24 (market cap $187.72B). The key difference: QUALCOMM, Inc. is far larger — about 3.5× Cardinal Health Inc's market cap, and QUALCOMM, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | $187.72B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $251.10 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $124.07 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | $193.19B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 2.07% |
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.
Qualcomm (QCOM) trades at $183.98, down 2.74% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company maintains strong profitability with 54.8% gross margins and 22.31% net income margin, though revenue growth has been modest. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.65 surpassing the $2.56 estimate. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $222.53 price target, representing 21% upside potential from current levels.
Qualcomm faces near-term headwinds from smartphone market softness but is successfully diversifying into automotive and AI data centers. The stock offers value at 19.15x P/E with strong cash flow generation, though competition from Nvidia in PC chips presents execution risk. With 42.65% of analysts rating it Buy and solid balance sheet fundamentals, QCOM presents a compelling long-term opportunity despite technical weakness.
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 →Qualcomm develops and licenses wireless technology and designs chips for smartphones. The company's key patents revolve around CDMA and OFDMA technologies, which are standards in wireless communications that are the backbone of all 3G and 4G networks. The firm is a leader in 5G network technology as well. Qualcomm's IP is licensed by virtually all wireless device makers. The firm is also the world's largest wireless chip vendor, supplying nearly every premier handset maker with leading-edge processors. Qualcomm also sells RF-front end modules into smartphones and chips into automotive and Internet of Things markets.
Read more on QCOM →