CAH vs. SOLV: Cardinal Health vs. Solventum Stock Comparison
How do Cardinal Health (CAH) and Solventum (SOLV) 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 Solventum (SOLV) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but CAH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while SOLV is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.
Cardinal Health (CAH) carries decades of public-market history since August 4, 1983, while Solventum (SOLV) listed on March 26, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the CAH side.
| Profile Item | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Cardinal Health, Inc. | Solventum Corporation |
| 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 Supplies |
| Market Capitalization | 62.80 billion USD | 15.36 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 4, 1983 | March 26, 2024 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 35.44% | 25.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.52% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 43.73% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.91% | 30.06% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.49 | 0.62 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -20.95% | -39.98% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.77M | 1.05M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.20 | 0.72 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.90 | 1.08 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Solventum (SOLV) earns 3.19% 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
- --
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.19%
- Max
- 47.61%
- Q3
- 14.36%
- Median
- 5.45%
- SOLV
- 3.19%
- Q1
- -10.67%
- Min
- -47.01%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.71% and Solventum (SOLV) at 1.91% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
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%
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 29.35%
- Q3
- 9.33%
- Median
- 2.18%
- SOLV
- 1.91%
- Q1
- -6.29%
- Min
- -28.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Cardinal Health (CAH) at 1.34% and Solventum (SOLV) at 6.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
6.82%
- Max
- 35.43%
- Q3
- 14.14%
- SOLV
- 6.82%
- Median
- 6.81%
- Q1
- -0.28%
- Min
- -16.29%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 3.19% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.72% | 2.29% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 0.71% | 1.91% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 1.34% | 6.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 3.90% | 55.13% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Cardinal Health (CAH) at 14.23% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Solventum (SOLV) at 0.86% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Solventum (SOLV) at 221.74% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Cardinal Health (CAH) at 12.09%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.23% | 0.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.44% | 0.79% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 12.09% | 221.74% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 93.37% | 4.51% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Cardinal Health (CAH) at 0.89 and Solventum (SOLV) at 1.03 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
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
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.03
- Max
- 7.59
- Q3
- 4.00
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.37
- SOLV
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Solventum (SOLV) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10 against its industry range, while Cardinal Health (CAH) reports no figure this period.
CAH
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
- CAH
- --
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.10
- Max
- 1.88
- SOLV
- 1.10
- Q3
- 0.91
- Median
- 0.58
- Q1
- 0.16
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.89 | 1.03 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 1.10 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.81 | 4.66 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Solventum (SOLV) 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%
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- SOLV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Solventum (SOLV) 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%
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
0.00%
- SOLV
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Solventum (SOLV) at 101.55 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for SOLV’s trailing earnings.
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
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
101.55
- SOLV
- 101.55
- Max
- 80.41
- 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 Solventum (SOLV) at 1.88 prices around its industry’s middle — CAH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
1.88
- Max
- 8.80
- Q3
- 4.32
- Median
- 2.13
- SOLV
- 1.88
- 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 Solventum (SOLV) reports 3.20, 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
SOLV
Health Care Equipment & Services industry group
3.20
- Max
- 11.68
- Q3
- 6.12
- SOLV
- 3.20
- Median
- 3.00
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- -1.31
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CAH | SOLV |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 35.15 | 101.55 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.24 | 1.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -20.84 | 3.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 7.99% | 1.31% |