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
0.9%
Payout Ratio
31.6%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
40 years
CAH Dividend Income Check
Safety
31.6% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
40 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 3.8% and trend is rising.
CAH Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield0.9%
Trailing DPS$2.04
FrequencyQuarterly
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout31.6%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout10.9%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak40 years
3Y CAGR0.9%
5Y CAGR0.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)3.8%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield1.5%
Total Shareholder Yield2.4%
1Y Total Return35.3%
5Y Total Return313.5%
Div Contribution (5Y)17.9%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$41,35310Y ago$31,53820Y ago$55,713
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
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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 40 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: 0.9% dividend yield, 1.5% buyback yield, 2.4% 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 313.5%, with dividends contributing 17.9% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $31,538 today.
CAH Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Quarterly
TTM Total$10.04
Avg/Payment$0.5019
Latest Change+1.0%
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2026Latest | $0.5158 | ↑ +1.0% | 92.34% | Jul 15, 2026 |
| Apr 1, 2026 | $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 |
CAH Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#6 yield in peer group
Div Yield
0.9%
#6 of 7
Safety
Sustainable
31.6% payout
Streak
40Y
0.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.4%
#7 of 7
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAHCardinal Health, Inc… | $52.2B | 0.9% | 31.6% | 40 | Sustainable |
 MCKMcKesson Corporation | $90.2B | 0.4% | 8.0% | 18 | Sustainable |
2nd  NXSTNexstar Media Group,… | $5.0B | 3.4% | 1.6% | 13 | Sustainable |
 JNJJohnson & Johnson | $550.4B | 2.1% | 84.1% | 56 | Watch |
1st  PFEPfizer Inc. | $143.5B | 6.8% | 1.3% | 15 | Sustainable |
 ABTAbbott Laboratories | $153.7B | 2.5% | 28.6% | 43 | Sustainable |
3rd  BDXBecton, Dickinson an… | $52.2B | 2.9% | 71.3% | 42 | Watch |
CAH Annual Dividend History (1986–2026)
41 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.54 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2.9% |
| 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% |
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Full Stock Analysis
Deep dive into CAH consensus models and risk factors.
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Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
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Historical Returns
40+ years return with dividends reinvested.
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DCA Calculator
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Peer Comparison
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CAH — 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 +0.9%. Payments are made Quarterly.
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 Quarterly.
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 40 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is CAH a Dividend Aristocrat?
Yes, Cardinal Health, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Aristocrat with 40 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 Quarterly. 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 $41,353 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 +0.9% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.