Principal Financial Group Inc. Boosts Position in Cencora, Inc. $COR

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group raised its stake in Cencora by 1.9% to 252,956 shares, worth about $85.44 million, representing roughly 0.13% ownership.
• Cencora missed Q2 estimates (EPS $4.75 vs. $4.82; revenue $78.36B vs. $81.09B) and saw a selloff to a 52‑week low, but management raised FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $17.65–$17.90 and authorized a $1 billion buyback.
• The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share (annualized $2.40, ~0.9% yield), while analysts hold a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating with a target price near $398.17.

Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR - Free Report) by 1.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 252,956 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,794 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.13% of Cencora worth $85,436,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of COR. Oakworth Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cencora in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Archer Investment Corp increased its holdings in Cencora by 134.3% in the 4th quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 82 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Cencora in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Cencora in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC bought a new stake in Cencora during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.52% of the company's stock.

Cencora Stock Performance

NYSE:COR opened at $253.20 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.62. Cencora, Inc. has a 12-month low of $244.82 and a 12-month high of $377.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $330.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $342.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $49.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.64.

Cencora (NYSE:COR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported $4.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.82 by ($0.07). Cencora had a return on equity of 176.54% and a net margin of 0.50%.The business had revenue of $78.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $81.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.42 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Cencora has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.650-17.900 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Cencora, Inc. will post 17.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cencora Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Cencora's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.85%.

Cencora News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Cencora this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised full‑year adjusted EPS guidance and authorized buyback — management bumped FY2026 adjusted EPS to $17.65–$17.90 and approved a $1 billion repurchase program, which supports shareholder returns and offsets some concerns about near‑term sales. Cencora raises annual profit forecast despite quarterly miss
• Positive Sentiment: Margin expansion and specialty wins — adjusted gross margins expanded ~45 bps, driven in part by the OneOncology integration and strong international operating income, signaling progress toward higher‑margin services. Cencora lifts 2026 outlook after OneOncology-fueled earnings jump
• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly dividend declared — board approved a $0.60 per‑share quarterly dividend (ex‑dividend May 15), modest yield but adds to cash return profile for income‑oriented shareholders.
• Neutral Sentiment: Top‑line growth but below expectations — revenue rose ~3.8% YoY to ~$78.4B, demonstrating underlying growth yet missing consensus and leaving investors focused on mix and client dynamics. Cencora Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings and revenue miss drove the selloff — adjusted EPS $4.75 missed expectations (~$4.80) and revenue missed estimates, prompting heavy investor selling and a sharp share decline. Cencora (COR) Misses Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue guidance trimmed vs. Street — management’s revenue range came in below consensus, citing slower U.S. Healthcare Solutions sales, branded‑drug price cuts and lower volumes to a large mail‑order client. That downgrade to top‑line expectations is weighing on the stock. Cencora Shares Drop on Revenue Outlook Cut
• Negative Sentiment: Operational headwinds and market worries — reports note negative operating cash flow, customer losses, and margin pressure from GLP‑1 related mix; visible insider selling has also added to investor caution. Cencora Stock (COR) Opinions on Q2 Earnings Release
• Negative Sentiment: Technicals and sentiment: stock hit a fresh 52‑week low amid the reaction, increasing short‑term downside risk until clarity on U.S. segment recovery and cash‑flow stabilization. Cencora hits 52-week low after guidance cut

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on COR shares. Leerink Partners reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Cencora in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Robert W. Baird set a $415.00 price objective on shares of Cencora in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Evercore set a $360.00 price objective on shares of Cencora in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Cencora from $405.00 to $429.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Cencora from $417.00 to $419.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $398.17.

About Cencora

Cencora NYSE: COR is a global healthcare services and pharmaceutical distribution company that provides end-to-end solutions across the pharmaceutical supply chain. The company's core activities include wholesale drug distribution, specialty drug distribution, and the operation of specialty pharmacies, complemented by logistics, cold-chain management and other fulfillment services designed to support complex and temperature-sensitive therapies.

Beyond physical distribution, Cencora offers a range of commercial and patient-focused services for pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers.

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