CAH vs. ISRG: Cardinal Health vs. Intuitive Surgical Stock Comparison
How do Cardinal Health (CAH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Cardinal Health (CAH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but CAH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while ISRG is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
| Profile Item | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cardinal Health, Inc. | Intuitive Surgical Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Health Care Equipment & Services | Health Care Equipment & Services |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Health Care Distributors | Health Care Equipment |
| Market Capitalization | 62.80 billion USD | 159.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 4, 1983 | June 16, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 35.44% | -17.61% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.52% | 19.20% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 43.73% | 4.85% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) has an aggressive beta of 1.41, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Cardinal Health (CAH) is defensive at 0.49 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.91% | 35.53% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.49 | 1.41 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -20.95% | -49.88% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.77M | 2.43M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.20 | -0.62 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.90 | -0.83 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) earns 17.93% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Cardinal Health (CAH) has no ROE this period.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
- CAH
- --
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
17.93%
- Max
- 47.61%
- ISRG
- 17.93%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 25.54% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.71%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.71%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- CAH
- 0.71%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
25.54%
- Max
- 29.35%
- ISRG
- 25.54%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 33.29% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Cardinal Health (CAH) at 1.34%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.34%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- CAH
- 1.34%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
33.29%
- Max
- 35.43%
- ISRG
- 33.29%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 17.93% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.72% | 11.86% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 0.71% | 25.54% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.34% | 33.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 3.90% | 66.64% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 20.51% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Cardinal Health (CAH) at 14.23% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ISRG.
EPS Growth
Both Cardinal Health (CAH) at 12.09% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 22.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.23% | 20.51% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.44% | 17.39% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 12.09% | 22.59% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 93.37% | 29.19% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 3.33 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.89 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CAH.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.89
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- CAH
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.30
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.33
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- ISRG
- 3.33
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Neither Cardinal Health (CAH) nor Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
- CAH
- --
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
- ISRG
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.89 | 3.33 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.81 | -0.90 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cardinal Health (CAH) reports a yield of 0.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.77%
- CAH
- 0.77%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- ISRG
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cardinal Health (CAH) reports a payout of 26.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
26.56%
- CAH
- 26.56%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- ISRG
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.77% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.56% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Cardinal Health (CAH) at 35.15 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 54.75 sits in the richer quartile — ISRG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
35.15
- Max
- 80.41
- Q3
- 47.62
- CAH
- 35.15
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
54.75
- Max
- 80.41
- ISRG
- 54.75
- Q3
- 47.62
- Median
- 29.93
- Q1
- 21.19
- Min
- 4.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.24 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 13.82 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.24
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- CAH
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.03
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
13.82
- ISRG
- 13.82
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Cardinal Health (CAH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -20.84, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports 9.82, ranking against industry peers normally.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
-20.84
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
- CAH
- -20.84
ISRG
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
9.82
- Max
- 11.68
- ISRG
- 9.82
- Q3
- 6.12
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CAH | ISRG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.15 | 54.75 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.24 | 13.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -20.84 | 9.82 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 7.99% | 2.15% |