Cencora (COR) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: CORAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

COR AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Cencora (COR) is a major global healthcare solutions provider specializing in pharmaceutical distribution and commercialization services. In FY2025, the company generated $321.33B in revenue and $1.55B in net income, delivering a 5-year revenue CAGR of 11.1%. Trading at a forward P/E of 15.7x, it maintains low profit margins characteristic of medical distribution alongside strong return on equity.

Market cap
$65.06B
Revenue (TTM)
$332.77B
P/E
25.3x
fwd 15.7x
1Y return
7.6%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$367.67
7.8% vs last close

Bull case

  • Revenue has scaled consistently at an 11.1% 5-year CAGR, reaching $321.33B in FY2025.
  • Cencora trades at a forward P/E of 15.7x and a PEG ratio of 0.65, both below its sector peers.
  • The company produced $3.21B in free cash flow in FY2025 while reducing share count by 8.2% over 5 years.

Bear case

  • Profit margins are exceptionally thin, highlighted by a FY2025 net margin of 0.5% and a TTM operating margin of 1.4%.
  • Total debt of $11.72B significantly exceeds cash of $2.82B, resulting in a high debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84.
  • Stock performance has lagged the broader market over the past year, gaining 7.6% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500.

What Cencora does

Cencora, Inc., formerly AmerisourceBergen Corporation, operates through two primary segments: U.S. Healthcare Solutions and International Healthcare Solutions. Its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment distributes pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, home healthcare supplies, plasma, injectables, vaccines, and veterinary products. It serves acute care hospitals, retail and mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, oncologists, and dialysis clinics, while also offering pharmacy management, clinical trial support, packaging, and data analytics. Its International Healthcare Solutions segment operates primarily in Europe, providing pharmaceutical wholesale distribution, global commercialization services, and specialized transportation and logistics solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Growth and profitability

Cencora expanded revenue from $213.99B in FY2021 to $321.33B in FY2025, achieving a 5-year revenue CAGR of 11.1%. Revenue grew 9.3% in FY2025, following a 12.1% increase in FY2024. Despite substantial top-line scale, profit margins remain thin; gross margin was 3.2% in FY2025, operating margin was 1.1%, and net margin was 0.5%. Over the same period, EPS rose from $9.26 in FY2021 to $15.99 in FY2025, aided by share reductions. In the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $332.77B with an operating margin of 1.4% and EPS of $13.47. In the latest quarter, revenue grew 5.1% year-over-year while earnings expanded 11.9%.

COR income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Cencora held $2.82B in cash and short-term investments against $11.72B in total debt, leaving net debt at $8.91B. Shareholders' equity was $3.05B against total assets of $83.81B, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84 and a current ratio of 0.93. Cash generation remained solid in FY2025, with $3.88B in operating cash flow and $3.21B in free cash flow. Capital deployment in FY2025 included $668.0M for capital expenditures, $435.5M for share buybacks, and $437.1M for dividends, contributing to an 8.2% reduction in share count over 5 years.

COR balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Cencora trades at a trailing P/E of 25.3x and a forward P/E of 15.7x, compared to medians of 28.9x and 16.6x for its S&P 500 Healthcare peers. Its enterprise value stands at $68.50B, with an EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 13.2x versus the peer median of 15.7x. The company's price-to-sales ratio is 0.2x, below the peer median of 3.4x, reflecting high revenue volume and low margin profile. Over the past year, Cencora stock delivered a 7.6% return, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, but its 5-year gain of 198.9% outperformed the index's 83.0% return.

COR key metrics →

COR dividend

Cencora pays a forward annual dividend of $2.40 per share, representing a 0.70% dividend yield at its last close of $340.92. The dividend is distributed quarterly with a payout ratio of 14.0%. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 26 years, recording a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 5.8%. Its most recent ex-dividend date was August 14, 2026.

COR dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 7 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, and 4 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $367.67, representing a 7.8% upside from the last close of $340.92. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $17.88 on revenue of $337.03B. For next fiscal year, analysts forecast EPS of $19.75 and revenue of $351.68B. Cencora has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings release scheduled for November 4, 2026.

COR forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Operating with a low current ratio of 0.93 leaves limited buffer for working capital fluctuations.
  • With a TTM profit margin of only 0.8%, small changes in drug pricing or procurement costs can significantly pressure net earnings.
  • Net debt of $8.91B requires sustained cash generation to support interest obligations and ongoing capital allocation.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this COR AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Cencora (COR). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: COR income statement, COR balance sheet, COR key metrics, COR analyst forecast, COR chart. See the COR stock overview for the latest quote and news.

COR AI stock analysis FAQ

What was Cencora's revenue in the most recent fiscal year?

Cencora generated $321.33B in revenue in FY2025, which represented a 9.3% increase over the prior fiscal year.

What dividend does Cencora pay?

Cencora pays an annual forward dividend of $2.40 per share, yielding 0.70% with a payout ratio of 14.0%. It has paid consecutive dividends for 26 years.

How do analysts view COR stock?

Among analysts covering the stock, 10 rate it as a Strong Buy or Buy and 4 rate it as a Hold, with a mean price target of $367.67.

When is Cencora's next earnings report?

Cencora is scheduled to report its next quarterly financial results on November 4, 2026.

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