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Cencora (COR)
NYSE:COR
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Cencora (COR) AI Stock Analysis

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COR

Cencora

(NYSE:COR)

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Neutral 59 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
$303.00
▲(4.48% Upside)
Cencora's overall stock score reflects strong earnings performance and raised guidance, which are significant positives. However, high leverage, declining free cash flow, and valuation concerns weigh on the score. Technical indicators suggest a neutral trend, adding moderate support to the stock's outlook.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Cencora's strong revenue and gross profit growth indicate robust demand for its services, enhancing its market position and supporting long-term business expansion.
U.S. Healthcare Solutions Success
The success in the U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment highlights Cencora's ability to capitalize on domestic market opportunities, strengthening its competitive edge.
Increased Fiscal Guidance
Raising fiscal guidance reflects management's confidence in the company's growth trajectory, suggesting sustained operational strength and strategic execution.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can limit financial flexibility and increase vulnerability to interest rate hikes, potentially impacting long-term financial stability.
Declining Free Cash Flow
Declining free cash flow growth may constrain the company's ability to invest in growth initiatives and meet debt obligations, affecting future expansion.
International Segment Challenges
Challenges in the international segment could hinder global expansion efforts and reduce overall profitability, impacting long-term growth prospects.

Cencora (COR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Cencora Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCencora, Inc. sources and distributes pharmaceutical products. Its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment distributes pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. The company also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers; clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support services; data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers; and pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and other products to the companion animal and production animal markets. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; and provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics. The company's International Healthcare Solutions segment offers international pharmaceutical wholesale and related service, and global commercialization services; and distributes pharmaceuticals, other healthcare products, and related services to pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals primarily in Europe. This segment also provides specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry. The company was formerly known as AmerisourceBergen Corporation and changed its name to Cencora, Inc. in August 2023. Cencora, Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyCencora generates revenue through multiple key streams, primarily by offering logistics and distribution services to pharmaceutical companies. The company charges fees for warehousing, inventory management, and transportation of pharmaceutical products. Additionally, Cencora earns revenue by providing regulatory compliance consulting services, assisting clients in navigating the complex landscape of drug approval and safety regulations. Significant partnerships with major pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare institutions also bolster its earnings, as these collaborations often lead to long-term contracts and recurring revenue. Furthermore, Cencora may benefit from value-added services, such as temperature-controlled shipping and real-time tracking solutions, which command premium pricing.

Cencora Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Cencora demonstrated strong financial performance and raised its fiscal guidance due to excellent execution in its U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment. However, challenges in the International Healthcare Solutions segment and increased net interest expenses pose concerns. Despite these challenges, the positive aspects significantly outweigh the negative, particularly due to strong specialty performance and increased revenue and profit.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Cencora delivered strong performance with adjusted operating income growth of 21% and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 20% for the third quarter of fiscal 2025.
Increased Fiscal 2025 Guidance
Due to strong performance, Cencora raised its fiscal 2025 EPS guidance to a range of $15.85 to $16, representing growth of 15% to 16%.
U.S. Healthcare Solutions Segment Success
U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment operating income increased by 29%, driven by growth in specialty sales to physician practices and health systems.
Revenue and Gross Profit Growth
Consolidated revenue was $80.7 billion, up 9%, with consolidated gross profit at $2.9 billion, up 21%.
Strong Specialty Leadership
Cencora is strengthening its leadership in specialty through enhancing capabilities with Retina Consultants of America (RCA), supporting innovation in retina treatments.
Negative Updates
International Healthcare Solutions Segment Challenges
International Healthcare Solutions operating income was down 13% on an as-reported basis, driven by continued softness in higher-margin global specialty logistics and consulting businesses.
Increased Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense increased by $50 million versus the prior year quarter, primarily due to the $3.3 billion in debt raised to finance a portion of the RCA acquisition.
Moderation in GLP-1 Sales Growth
GLP-1 sales increased by 19% year-over-year, indicating a deceleration in growth compared to previous periods.
Company Guidance
During the Cencora Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Results call, the company announced a strong performance with adjusted operating income growth of 21% and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 20%. In response to their outperformance, particularly in the U.S. segment, Cencora raised its fiscal 2025 guidance, now expecting EPS to range from $15.85 to $16, representing a growth of 15% to 16%. The consolidated revenue for the quarter stood at $80.7 billion, up 9%, driven by robust growth in the U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment. The company also reported a consolidated gross profit of $2.9 billion, marking a 21% increase. Operating expenses rose by 21% to $1.8 billion, largely due to the acquisition of Retina Consultants of America (RCA) and efforts to support revenue growth. The effective income tax rate was slightly down to 20.7% from 21.0% in the previous year. Cencora also maintained its full-year adjusted free cash flow guidance of $2 billion to $3 billion, with a year-to-date adjusted free cash flow of approximately $100 million.

Cencora Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cencora shows steady revenue growth and operational improvements, but faces challenges with high leverage and declining free cash flow. Profitability margins are improving but remain low, reflecting industry pressures. The high debt levels pose risks, especially in a rising interest rate environment.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Cencora has shown consistent revenue growth over the years, with a TTM revenue growth rate of 2.07%. However, the gross profit margin and net profit margin remain relatively low at 3.29% and 0.55% respectively, indicating tight margins typical in the distribution industry. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved slightly, reflecting better operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The company's balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 7.76, which poses a significant leverage risk. Although the return on equity is positive at 2.41%, the equity ratio is low, indicating a heavy reliance on debt financing. This could be a potential risk if interest rates rise or if the company faces cash flow challenges.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cencora's cash flow statement reveals a concerning decline in free cash flow growth at -68.07% TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low at 0.08, suggesting limited cash generation relative to net income. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains strong at 0.87, indicating that the company is still generating cash from its operations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue316.65B293.96B262.17B238.59B213.99B189.89B
Gross Profit9.70B8.70B7.76B7.60B6.27B4.79B
EBITDA4.01B3.36B3.41B3.11B2.91B-4.73B
Net Income1.90B1.51B1.75B1.70B1.54B-3.41B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets73.96B67.10B62.56B56.56B57.34B44.27B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.23B3.13B2.59B3.39B2.55B4.60B
Total Debt8.24B4.39B4.79B5.70B6.68B4.12B
Total Liabilities71.75B66.31B61.89B56.49B56.75B45.11B
Stockholders Equity1.98B645.94M522.00M-211.56M223.35M-1.02B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.14B3.00B3.45B2.21B2.23B1.84B
Operating Cash Flow1.74B3.48B3.91B2.70B2.67B2.21B
Investing Cash Flow-4.90B-618.10M-2.60B-368.44M-6.14B-379.87M
Financing Cash Flow1.98B-2.33B-2.22B-1.75B1.95B-603.62M

Cencora Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price290.00
Price Trends
50DMA
292.71
Negative
100DMA
291.44
Negative
200DMA
271.25
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.02
Positive
RSI
45.32
Neutral
STOCH
30.85
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For COR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 290 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 294.95, below the 50-day MA of 292.71, and above the 200-day MA of 271.25, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.02 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 45.32 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.85 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for COR.

Cencora Risk Analysis

Cencora disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cencora reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Cencora Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
8.34B22.1311.29%2.29%14.98%
66
Neutral
87.43B28.05-160.85%0.42%20.35%11.96%
61
Neutral
35.88B23.30-56.13%1.35%-1.94%85.70%
59
Neutral
$56.50B29.98130.60%0.75%11.56%5.31%
43
Neutral
401.67M-0.33428.07%-17.10%-2720.40%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
COR
Cencora
290.00
63.41
27.98%
CAH
Cardinal Health
148.37
38.68
35.26%
HSIC
Henry Schein
68.39
-4.07
-5.62%
MCK
McKesson
693.45
184.09
36.14%
OMI
Owens & Minor
4.96
-10.85
-68.63%
PDCO
Patterson Companies
31.33
9.64
44.44%

Cencora Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Cencora Amends Credit Agreements for Enhanced Flexibility
Positive
Sep 9, 2025

On September 5, 2025, Cencora, Inc. amended its Term Credit Agreement, originally dated November 26, 2024, to adjust the maturity date to October 1, 2027, and modify the interest rate structure based on public debt ratings. Additionally, Cencora amended its Money Market Facility Agreement to allow borrowings up to $750 million during certain periods, enhancing its financial flexibility. These amendments are likely to impact Cencora’s operational strategies and financial positioning, offering greater adaptability in managing its credit facilities.

The most recent analyst rating on (COR) stock is a Hold with a $306.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cencora stock, see the COR Stock Forecast page.

Legal Proceedings
Cencora Settles Stockholder Derivative Action for $111.3M
Neutral
Sep 3, 2025

On September 3, 2025, Cencora announced a court-approved agreement to resolve a stockholder derivative action filed by the Lebanon County Employees’ Retirement Fund and Teamsters Local 443 Health Services & Insurance Plan. The complaint, initiated on December 30, 2021, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty related to the oversight of Cencora’s controlled substance diversion control programs. The settlement, reached after a successful mediation, involves insurance carriers paying Cencora $111.3 million, excluding legal fees, without any admission of liability from the defendants. This resolution marks a significant step in addressing claims against the company’s management and could impact its financial standing and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (COR) stock is a Hold with a $306.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cencora stock, see the COR Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Cencora Appoints New Chairman Effective October 2025
Positive
Aug 27, 2025

On August 27, 2025, Cencora announced the appointment of D. Mark Durcan as the new Chairman of the Board, effective October 1, 2025. Durcan, who has been a director since 2015 and Lead Independent Director since March 2023, will succeed Steven H. Collis, who will retire at the end of the fiscal year. This leadership transition is expected to support Cencora’s continued growth and leadership in the healthcare industry, leveraging Durcan’s extensive experience in strategic planning and technological innovation.

The most recent analyst rating on (COR) stock is a Hold with a $300.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Cencora stock, see the COR Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 17, 2025