Cardinal Health Inc vs Smith & Nephew plc — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $228.8 (market cap $53.89B), while Smith & Nephew plc trades at $30.06 (market cap $12.40B). The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc is far larger — about 4.3× Smith & Nephew plc's market cap, and Smith & Nephew plc pays the higher dividend (2.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | SNN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | $12.40B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $38.70 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $28.73 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | $15.17B |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 2.62% |
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.
SNN trades at $31.08, up 1.24% with a bullish technical signal. The company shows improving fundamentals with 2024 revenue of $5.81B and net income of $412M, while recent earnings beat expectations. Strong cash flow generation and new product launches in robotics and wound care support growth. Analyst consensus is mixed with 27% buy ratings but majority holds.
Outlook remains positive with projected revenue growth and margin expansion, though recent earnings misses and elevated valuation metrics pose risks. The stock's technical strength and fundamental recovery present opportunity, but investor caution is warranted given mixed analyst sentiment and competitive pressures in medical technology.
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 →Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →