Cardinal Health Inc vs Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Cardinal Health Inc trades at $228.82 (market cap $53.89B), while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $83.46. The key difference: Cardinal Health Inc pays a 0.89% dividend while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Cardinal Health Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAH | XLP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $53.89B | — |
Sector | Health | — |
52-Week High | $239.71 | $90.00 |
52-Week Low | $146.04 | $75.61 |
Enterprise Value | $58.87B | — |
Dividend Yield | 0.89% | — |
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.
XLP (Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF) trades at $84.58, up 0.55% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF holds 36 consumer staples stocks and offers a 2.6% dividend yield. Analyst consensus is strongly positive with 100% buy ratings. Recent news highlights XLP's defensive characteristics amid market uncertainty, with retail sales hitting 12-month highs supporting the sector.
XLP presents a defensive investment opportunity with stable dividend income and low volatility characteristics. The fund's concentrated portfolio of essential consumer goods companies provides resilience during market downturns. Key risks include sector rotation away from defensive stocks and potential margin pressure from inflation. Current technical strength and positive analyst sentiment support near-term upside potential.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes companies that have been identified as Consumer Staples companies by the GICS®. It is non-diversified.
Read more on XLP →