Trailing Dividend / Share
$2.04
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) Dividend History
Income profile from 1986 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
1.1%
Payout Ratio
31.6%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
20 years
CAH Dividend Income Check
Safety
31.6% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
20 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 3.8% and trend is rising.
CAH Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield1.1%
Trailing DPS$2.04
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout31.6%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout10.9%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak20 years
3Y CAGR0.9%
5Y CAGR0.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)3.8%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield1.7%
Total Shareholder Yield2.8%
1Y Total Return27.6%
5Y Total Return256.4%
Div Contribution (5Y)17.7%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$35,63910Y ago$27,44620Y ago$46,860
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). CAH's recent 5Y regime has been stronger than its full 10Y period, so 5Y can appear higher than 10Y.
CAH Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (41 years of payments)
CAH Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Cardinal Health, Inc. distributes 31.6% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 10.9%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
CAH has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 0.9% and 5-year CAGR of 0.9%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, CAH returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 1.1% dividend yield, 1.7% buyback yield, 2.8% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 3.8% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 256.4%, with dividends contributing 17.7% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $27,446 today.
CAH Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$10.01
Avg/Payment$0.5007
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2026Latest | $0.5107 | — | 96.35% | Apr 15, 2026 |
| Jan 2, 2026 | $0.5107 | — | 99.05% | Jan 15, 2026 |
| Oct 1, 2025 | $0.5107 | — | 1.29% | Oct 15, 2025 |
| Jul 1, 2025 | $0.5107 | ↑ +1.0% | 1.23% | Jul 15, 2025 |
| Apr 1, 2025 | $0.5056 | — | 1.47% | Apr 15, 2025 |
| Jan 2, 2025 | $0.5056 | — | 1.71% | Jan 15, 2025 |
| Oct 1, 2024 | $0.5056 | — | 1.82% | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Jul 1, 2024 | $0.5056 | ↑ +1.0% | 2.05% | Jul 15, 2024 |
CAH Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#6 yield in peer group
Div Yield
1.1%
#6 of 7
Safety
Sustainable
31.6% payout
Streak
20Y
0.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.8%
#6 of 7
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAHCardinal Health, Inc… | $45.1B | 1.1% | 31.6% | 20 | Sustainable |
 MCKMcKesson Corporation | $91.1B | 0.4% | 10.5% | 17 | Sustainable |
3rd  NXSTNexstar Media Group,… | $6.0B | 2.8% | 1.6% | 0 | Sustainable |
 JNJJohnson & Johnson | $541.3B | 2.2% | 84.1% | 36 | Watch |
1st  PFEPfizer Inc. | $150.8B | 6.5% | 1.3% | 15 | Sustainable |
 ABTAbbott Laboratories | $150.0B | 2.5% | 28.6% | 11 | Sustainable |
2nd  BDXBecton, Dickinson an… | $52.4B | 2.9% | 71.3% | 1 | Watch |
CAH Annual Dividend History (1986–2026)
41 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.02 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1.9% |
| 2025 | $2.03 | 34.4% | 4 | $6.45 | 31.5% | 3.17x | 3.8% |
| 2024 | $1.51 | -24.3% | 3 | $3.45 | 43.8% | 2.28x | 2.9% |
| 2023 | $2.00 | 1.0% | 4 | $1.26 | 158.5% | 0.63x | 3.8% |
| 2022 | $1.98 | 1.0% | 4 | $-3.34 | — | — | 3.7% |
| 2021 | $1.96 | 1.0% | 4 | $2.08 | 94.1% | 1.06x | 3.7% |
| 2020 | $1.94 | 1.0% | 4 | $-12.60 | — | — | 3.7% |
| 2019 | $1.92 | 1.5% | 4 | $4.53 | 42.4% | 2.36x | 3.6% |
| 2018 | $1.89 | 3.0% | 4 | $0.81 | 233.5% | 0.43x | 3.6% |
| 2017 | $1.84 | 5.9% | 4 | $4.03 | 45.6% | 2.19x | 3.5% |
Full CAH Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
See CAH's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonCAH — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CAH stock.
How much dividend does CAH pay per share?
Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $2.04 per share, with a current dividend yield of +1.1%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is CAH's next ex-dividend date?
CAH's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. CAH typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is CAH's dividend safe?
CAH's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +31.6% and FCF payout ratio of +10.9%. With 20 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is CAH a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Cardinal Health, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 20 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +0.9%, demonstrating modest dividend growth.
How often does CAH pay dividends?
Cardinal Health, Inc. pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $2.04 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 40+ years from 1986 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in CAH grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in CAH five years ago would be worth approximately $35,639 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is CAH's yield on cost for long-term holders?
CAH's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +3.8% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +1.1% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.