COR vs HSIC vs MCK vs CAH

For growth investors, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the stronger pick with 12.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). McKesson Corporation (MCK) offers the better valuation at 19. 2x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cencora, Inc. (COR) a "Buy" — based on 46 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, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the cheapest at 19.

2x versus Cencora, Inc. at 32. 8x. On forward P/E, Henry Schein, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McKesson Corporation wins at 0. 43x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +270.

4%, compared to -14. 6% for Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +339. 0% 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), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

02β versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 0. 72β — meaning HSIC is approximately -4519% more volatile than MCK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 77% versus 6% for Cencora, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is pulling ahead at 12.

4% 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 5. 7% for Cencora, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MCK leads at 13. 4% 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. 5% for Cencora, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 43x versus Henry Schein, Inc. 's 4. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. 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 COR: 54. 5% to $403. 29.

In this comparison, CAH (1.

1% yield), COR (0. 9% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. HSIC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cencora, Inc.

(COR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 00), 0. 9% yield, +276. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (COR: +276. 7%, 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.

COR, CAH pay a dividend while HSIC, MCK do 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.