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Cardinal Health (CAH) Competitors

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$224.95 -1.39 (-0.61%)
Closing price 09/18/2026 03:59 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$225.92 +0.98 (+0.43%)
As of 09/18/2026 07:51 PM Eastern
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CAH vs. DXCM, MMSI, AMN, COR, and ELV

Should you buy Cardinal Health stock or one of its competitors? Cardinal Health's main competitors and comparable companies include DexCom (DXCM), Merit Medical Systems (MMSI), AMN Healthcare Services (AMN), Cencora (COR), and Elevance Health (ELV). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "healthcare" sector.

How does Cardinal Health compare to DexCom?

DexCom (NASDAQ:DXCM) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) are both large-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, media sentiment and profitability.

97.8% of DexCom shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.2% of Cardinal Health shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of DexCom shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cardinal Health shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

In the previous week, DexCom had 8 more articles in the media than Cardinal Health. MarketBeat recorded 20 mentions for DexCom and 12 mentions for Cardinal Health. Cardinal Health's average media sentiment score of 0.83 beat DexCom's score of 0.43 indicating that Cardinal Health is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
DexCom
7 Very Positive mention(s)
4 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Cardinal Health
7 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

DexCom presently has a consensus price target of $89.08, indicating a potential downside of 0.30%. Cardinal Health has a consensus price target of $266.56, indicating a potential upside of 18.50%. Given Cardinal Health's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Cardinal Health is more favorable than DexCom.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
DexCom
1 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
21 Buy rating(s)
2 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.92
Cardinal Health
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
16 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.84

DexCom has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its share price is 42% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cardinal Health has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its share price is 49% less volatile than the broader market.

Cardinal Health has higher revenue and earnings than DexCom. Cardinal Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than DexCom, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
DexCom$4.66B7.23$836.30M$2.5335.32
Cardinal Health$254.25B0.21$1.71B$7.2331.11

DexCom has a net margin of 20.12% compared to Cardinal Health's net margin of 0.67%. DexCom's return on equity of 35.94% beat Cardinal Health's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
DexCom20.12% 35.94% 14.75%
Cardinal Health 0.67%-98.53%4.69%

Summary

DexCom beats Cardinal Health on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Cardinal Health compare to Merit Medical Systems?

Merit Medical Systems (NASDAQ:MMSI) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) are both healthcare companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, media sentiment, profitability, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and risk.

Merit Medical Systems currently has a consensus price target of $100.00, suggesting a potential upside of 17.14%. Cardinal Health has a consensus price target of $266.56, suggesting a potential upside of 18.50%. Given Cardinal Health's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Cardinal Health is more favorable than Merit Medical Systems.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Merit Medical Systems
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
8 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.83
Cardinal Health
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
16 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.84

Merit Medical Systems has a net margin of 9.22% compared to Cardinal Health's net margin of 0.67%. Merit Medical Systems' return on equity of 13.75% beat Cardinal Health's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Merit Medical Systems9.22% 13.75% 8.10%
Cardinal Health 0.67%-98.53%4.69%

99.7% of Merit Medical Systems shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.2% of Cardinal Health shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Merit Medical Systems shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cardinal Health shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Cardinal Health has higher revenue and earnings than Merit Medical Systems. Cardinal Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Merit Medical Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Merit Medical Systems$1.52B3.36$128.49M$2.4235.28
Cardinal Health$254.25B0.21$1.71B$7.2331.11

In the previous week, Cardinal Health had 12 more articles in the media than Merit Medical Systems. MarketBeat recorded 12 mentions for Cardinal Health and 0 mentions for Merit Medical Systems. Merit Medical Systems' average media sentiment score of 1.85 beat Cardinal Health's score of 0.83 indicating that Merit Medical Systems is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Merit Medical Systems Very Positive
Cardinal Health Positive

Merit Medical Systems has a beta of 0.49, meaning that its stock price is 51% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cardinal Health has a beta of 0.51, meaning that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Merit Medical Systems beats Cardinal Health on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Cardinal Health compare to AMN Healthcare Services?

AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AMN) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, media sentiment and valuation.

In the previous week, Cardinal Health had 2 more articles in the media than AMN Healthcare Services. MarketBeat recorded 12 mentions for Cardinal Health and 10 mentions for AMN Healthcare Services. Cardinal Health's average media sentiment score of 0.83 beat AMN Healthcare Services' score of 0.55 indicating that Cardinal Health is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
AMN Healthcare Services
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Cardinal Health
7 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Cardinal Health has higher revenue and earnings than AMN Healthcare Services. AMN Healthcare Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cardinal Health, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
AMN Healthcare Services$2.73B0.48-$95.70M$2.6812.73
Cardinal Health$254.25B0.21$1.71B$7.2331.11

AMN Healthcare Services presently has a consensus target price of $36.00, indicating a potential upside of 5.53%. Cardinal Health has a consensus target price of $266.56, indicating a potential upside of 18.50%. Given Cardinal Health's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Cardinal Health is more favorable than AMN Healthcare Services.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
AMN Healthcare Services
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50
Cardinal Health
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
16 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.84

99.2% of AMN Healthcare Services shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.2% of Cardinal Health shares are held by institutional investors. 1.1% of AMN Healthcare Services shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cardinal Health shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

AMN Healthcare Services has a beta of 0.38, indicating that its stock price is 62% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cardinal Health has a beta of 0.51, indicating that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the broader market.

AMN Healthcare Services has a net margin of 3.06% compared to Cardinal Health's net margin of 0.67%. AMN Healthcare Services' return on equity of 19.92% beat Cardinal Health's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
AMN Healthcare Services3.06% 19.92% 5.93%
Cardinal Health 0.67%-98.53%4.69%

Summary

Cardinal Health beats AMN Healthcare Services on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Cardinal Health compare to Cencora?

Cencora (NYSE:COR) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) are both large-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, media sentiment, analyst recommendations and valuation.

In the previous week, Cencora had 2 more articles in the media than Cardinal Health. MarketBeat recorded 14 mentions for Cencora and 12 mentions for Cardinal Health. Cardinal Health's average media sentiment score of 0.83 beat Cencora's score of 0.82 indicating that Cardinal Health is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Cencora
7 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
5 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Cardinal Health
7 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

97.5% of Cencora shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.2% of Cardinal Health shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Cencora shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cardinal Health shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Cencora has a beta of 0.57, suggesting that its share price is 43% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cardinal Health has a beta of 0.51, suggesting that its share price is 49% less volatile than the broader market.

Cencora pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Cardinal Health pays an annual dividend of $2.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Cencora pays out 17.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cardinal Health pays out 28.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Cencora has increased its dividend for 15 consecutive years and Cardinal Health has increased its dividend for 29 consecutive years. Cardinal Health is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Cencora presently has a consensus target price of $370.85, suggesting a potential upside of 20.16%. Cardinal Health has a consensus target price of $266.56, suggesting a potential upside of 18.50%. Given Cencora's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Cencora is more favorable than Cardinal Health.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Cencora
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
13 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.81
Cardinal Health
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
16 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.84

Cardinal Health has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Cencora. Cencora is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cardinal Health, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Cencora$321.33B0.18$1.55B$13.4622.93
Cardinal Health$254.25B0.21$1.71B$7.2331.11

Cencora has a net margin of 0.79% compared to Cardinal Health's net margin of 0.67%. Cencora's return on equity of 125.45% beat Cardinal Health's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Cencora0.79% 125.45% 4.18%
Cardinal Health 0.67%-98.53%4.69%

Summary

Cencora beats Cardinal Health on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Cardinal Health compare to Elevance Health?

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) and Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) are both large-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, media sentiment, valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Elevance Health has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cardinal Health has a beta of 0.51, suggesting that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the broader market.

Elevance Health pays an annual dividend of $6.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Cardinal Health pays an annual dividend of $2.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Elevance Health pays out 30.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Cardinal Health pays out 28.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Elevance Health has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years and Cardinal Health has increased its dividend for 29 consecutive years.

Elevance Health has a net margin of 2.47% compared to Cardinal Health's net margin of 0.67%. Elevance Health's return on equity of 14.64% beat Cardinal Health's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Elevance Health2.47% 14.64% 5.22%
Cardinal Health 0.67%-98.53%4.69%

89.2% of Elevance Health shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.2% of Cardinal Health shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Elevance Health shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cardinal Health shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, Cardinal Health had 4 more articles in the media than Elevance Health. MarketBeat recorded 12 mentions for Cardinal Health and 8 mentions for Elevance Health. Cardinal Health's average media sentiment score of 0.83 beat Elevance Health's score of 0.76 indicating that Cardinal Health is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Elevance Health
3 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
3 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Cardinal Health
7 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Elevance Health has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Cardinal Health. Elevance Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cardinal Health, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Elevance Health$199.13B0.45$5.66B$22.5018.25
Cardinal Health$254.25B0.21$1.71B$7.2331.11

Elevance Health presently has a consensus target price of $440.90, indicating a potential upside of 7.35%. Cardinal Health has a consensus target price of $266.56, indicating a potential upside of 18.50%. Given Cardinal Health's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Cardinal Health is more favorable than Elevance Health.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Elevance Health
0 Sell rating(s)
8 Hold rating(s)
15 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.65
Cardinal Health
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
16 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.84

Summary

Elevance Health beats Cardinal Health on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding CAH and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NYSE and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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CAH vs. The Competition

MetricCardinal HealthHealthcare Providers & Services IndustryHealthcare SectorNYSE Exchange
Market Cap$52.42B$9.75B$7.24B$23.10B
Dividend Yield0.92%2.62%2.57%3.62%
P/E Ratio31.1134.09275.4928.21
Price / Sales0.214.98646.0120.34
Price / Cash14.57121.7676.2536.36
Price / Book-19.345.3010.464.67
Net Income$1.71B$313.45M$3.49B$1.07B
7 Day Performance-4.09%1.65%0.59%-1.64%
1 Month Performance-1.75%-0.85%-1.74%-3.60%
1 Year Performance50.41%16.30%18.13%8.41%

Cardinal Health Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
CAH
Cardinal Health
4.7252 of 5 stars
$224.95
-0.6%
$266.56
+18.5%
+50.4%$52.42B$254.25B31.1163,900
DXCM
DexCom
2.9372 of 5 stars
$87.90
flat
$88.71
+0.9%
+32.5%$33.17B$4.66B34.7411,000
MMSI
Merit Medical Systems
3.4763 of 5 stars
$89.60
flat
$100.00
+11.6%
+2.2%$5.35B$1.52B37.027,500
AMN
AMN Healthcare Services
1.7979 of 5 stars
$33.80
flat
$31.43
-7.0%
+82.1%$1.31B$2.73B12.612,664
COR
Cencora
4.9053 of 5 stars
$330.52
-0.1%
$370.85
+12.2%
+6.3%$63.15B$321.33B24.5651,000

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This page (NYSE:CAH) was last updated on 9/20/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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