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Cardinal Health stock climbs after mixed fiscal Q4 results
Cardinal Health had a 2.2% revenue miss, including a decline in its Global Medical Products and Distribution unit tied to tariff refunds and guidance for FY2027 profit at the lower end.
Cardinal Health’s shares surged to new highs after the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report for its 2026 fiscal year, despite mixed performance in the period, MarketBeat Ratings said. The stock was up more than 40% over the prior 12 months and was down from its 52-week high heading into the report, with concerns centered on valuation after the move in advance of results.
The earnings update included a 2.2% revenue miss. In its Global Medical Products and Distribution unit, revenue fell 2% year over year, and roughly 31 cents of earnings were attributed to a one-time net benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds. The company also flagged that multiple factors could cap full-year profit for that business in FY2027 toward the lower end of its range.
MarketBeat Ratings also pointed to investor positioning ahead of and around the report, noting that the stock rose nearly 30% in the three months leading into earnings and that institutional investors were net buyers in the quarter. Institutions bought more than $7.2 billion of the stock while selling about $8 million, reinforcing the idea that the shares were priced for strong outcomes even after the mixed figures.
The outlet described Cardinal Health’s role as a healthcare services and products firm positioned in the middle of the healthcare supply chain, linking patients, providers, payers, pharmacists, and manufacturers for care coordination. It noted the Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment as the largest part of the business, with $204.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025, alongside the GMPD unit that contributed the main downside in the quarter.