CAH vs HSIC

For growth investors, Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is the stronger pick with 4. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (13. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus Cardinal Health, Inc. at 28. 5x. On forward P/E, Henry Schein, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) delivered a total return of +232. 0%, compared to -14. 6% for Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAH returned +158. 8% versus HSIC's +5. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 0. 72β — meaning HSIC is approximately 11049% more volatile than CAH relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is pulling ahead at 4. 0% versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cardinal Health, Inc. grew EPS 87. 0% year-over-year, compared to 7. 2% for Henry Schein, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CAH leads at 7. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 0% net margin versus 0. 7% for Cardinal Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HSIC leads at 5. 7% versus 1. 0% for CAH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HSIC leads at 29. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Henry Schein, Inc.

(HSIC) trades at 13. 2x forward P/E versus 17. 1x for Cardinal Health, Inc. — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAH: 38. 0% to $253. 38.

In this comparison, CAH (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. HSIC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 1. 1% yield, +158. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +158. 8%, HSIC: +5. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

CAH pays a dividend while HSIC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.