Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is well poised for growth backed by diversified product portfolio, acquisition-driven strategy and robust pharmaceutical segment. However, integration risks remain a concern.
The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Price Performance
Shares of Cardinal Health have gained 5.6%, underperforming the industry’s growth of 18.2% on a year-to-date basis. Further, the stock fell short of the S&P 500 Index’s rally of 16%.
What’s Weighing on the Stock?
Given the acquisition-driven strategy followed by the company, integration risks tend to follow.
Moreover, intense competition in each of the business segments poses a concern for Cardinal Health.
Factors to Bolster Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health’s Medical and Pharmaceutical offerings provide the company a competitive edge in the niche space. It offers industry expertise and an expanding portfolio of safe products.
The company follows an acquisition-driven strategy and continues to remain committed toward investment in key growth businesses to gain market traction and bolster profits.
The company’s Pharmaceutical segment boasts of being the second largest pharmaceutical distributor in the United States. The segment’s products and services consist of pharmaceutical distribution, manufacturer and specialty services, and nuclear and pharmacy services. These in turn are anticipated to drive the company’s performance in the quarters ahead.
Which Way Are Estimates Headed?
For 2019, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $144.82 billion, indicating an improvement of 5.9% from the year-ago period. For adjusted earnings per share, the same stands at $5.10, suggesting growth of 2% from the year-ago reported figure.
Key Picks
Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSII) , Oxford Immunotec Global PLC (NASDAQ:OXFD) and Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Cardiovascular Systems has earnings growth rate for fiscal fourth quarter of 2019 of 33.3%.
Oxford Immunotec has a long-term earnings growth rate of 25%.
Haemonetics has a long-term earnings growth rate 13.5%.
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Oxford Immunotec Global PLC (OXFD): Free Stock Analysis Report
Haemonetics Corporation (HAE): Free Stock Analysis Report
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSII): Free Stock Analysis Report
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH): Free Stock Analysis Report
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