Cardinal Health said Tuesday it has raised its fiscal 2026 outlook, pointing to continued growth in its specialty drug business and expanded services for pharmacies and patients.
The Dublin, Ohio-based healthcare distributor said it now expects fiscal 2026 earnings of at least $10 a share, up from its earlier forecast range of $9.65 to $9.85. The company disclosed the update ahead of its presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
CEO Jason Hollar said the higher outlook reflects steady performance across the company’s operations, including pharmaceutical distribution, specialty services, and home-based care.
Cardinal Health said its specialty business, which focuses on complex and high-cost therapies, is expected to generate more than $50 billion in revenue in fiscal 2026. The company attributed the growth to demand for specialty drug distribution and expanded services for drug manufacturers and provider networks.
Within that segment, Cardinal Health highlighted growth in its patient support operations, which help drugmakers manage access, reimbursement, and enrollment for specialty medicines. The company said those programs now support more than 1 million patients, including large manufacturer programs tied to treatments for chronic and complex conditions.
The company also said it completed updates to its manufacturer distribution agreements related to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The changes affect certain branded pharmaceuticals beginning in 2026. Cardinal Health said the transitions were completed before the program took effect Jan. 1.
In addition, Cardinal Health announced a new program aimed at simplifying how patients receive diabetes supplies. The initiative, called ContinuCare Pathway, is designed to help pharmacies refer patients to home delivery for products such as continuous glucose monitors that are often covered under medical insurance rather than pharmacy benefits.
As part of that rollout, Publix Super Markets has enrolled 1,400 pharmacies in the program, Cardinal Health said. The company added that the service now reaches more than 11,000 retail and grocery pharmacies nationwide.
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