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MCK McKesson Corporation - Fundamental Analysis

BULLISH
MCK Stock | Fundamental Analysis & Investment Insights
NYSE Healthcare Medical Distribution
Current Price
$842.09
Analyst Target
$929.36
+10.4% Upside
52W High
$867.63
52W Low
$558.13

At a glance

Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.

Updated Nov 16, 2025
Market cap
$104.45B
P/E
26.32
ROE
N/A
Profit margin
1.0%
Debt/Equity
N/A
Dividend yield
0.39%

AI Analysis

Powered by advanced machine learning algorithms

Confidence Score
88%
Analysis Accuracy
McKesson Corporation (MCK) presents a compelling investment case supported by robust earnings acceleration, consistent top-line growth, and strong analyst conviction, despite operating in a low-margin, capital-intensive distribution model. The stock has delivered exceptional long-term returns with a 373% five-year gain, underpinned by disciplined execution and favorable healthcare logistics tailwinds. While valuation appears stretched on P/E and the balance sheet lacks transparency, MCK trades at a significant discount to peers on price-to-sales and exhibits superior earnings momentum, with YoY EPS growth nearing 40%. Notably, insider selling raises caution, but the broader fundamental trajectory and sector positioning support continued outperformance.

Key Strengths

Exceptional earnings growth: 377% YoY and 360.6% QoQ earnings growth reflect strong operational leverage and cost discipline.
Consistent earnings beat record: 22 out of 25 quarters beat estimates, with 10+ consecutive beats and an average surprise of +8.9% over the last five quarters.
Attractive valuation relative to sector: P/S of 0.27 is dramatically below sector average of 1.0+ and peer group, suggesting significant undervaluation on revenue basis.
Strong analyst price target: $929.36 implies 10.4% upside, supported by 14 analysts maintaining a 'buy' consensus.
Superior long-term price performance: +373% 5Y return outpaces all listed peers, including high-growth medtech and pharma names.

Key Risks

Extremely low profitability: 1.04% net margin and 1.37% operating margin reflect razor-thin returns typical of distribution, limiting downside protection.
Severe financial opacity: Missing key metrics (EV, debt, cash, shares outstanding) raises transparency concerns and impedes accurate credit and valuation analysis.
Negative Price/Book ratio (-60.05): Suggests accumulated losses or negative equity, a serious red flag for financial stability and accounting integrity.
Poor liquidity profile: Current ratio of 0.88 and quick ratio of 0.47 indicate potential working capital strain, common in inventory-heavy distributors.
Aggressive insider selling: $49.87M in sales over 6 months, including CEO transactions, signals lack of confidence at the top despite strong results.
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$929.36
+10.4% above current price

Performance Snowflake

Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories

Overall
75
Strong
Value
78
Future
92
Past
86
Health
52
Dividend
68
AI Verdict
McKesson earns a strong overall score due to exceptional earnings momentum, sector-leading revenue growth, and compelling relative valuation on P/S, offset by weak margins, financial opacity, and bearish insider activity. The stock trades below its 52-week high with strong analyst upside, positioning it for further gains if execution continues and balance sheet clarity improves.
Key drivers: Explosive earnings growth and consistency, Deep valuation discount on revenue basis vs peers, Analyst confidence and price target upside
Confidence
88%
Value
78/100

MCK is dramatically cheaper than peers on price-to-sales and forward P/E, even though it grows earnings faster than BMY, CI, SYK, and PFE, making it an outlier value opportunity in healthcare.

Positives
  • P/S of 0.27 is among the lowest in healthcare, offering significant margin of safety on revenue
  • Forward P/E of 22.88 is below sector average of 38.95 despite superior earnings growth
Watchpoints
  • Negative P/B of -60.05 indicates severe balance sheet deterioration or accounting issues
  • Lack of EV/EBITDA and debt data prevents accurate enterprise valuation
Future
92/100

With EPS growing nearly 40% YoY and price momentum strong across 1Y (+38.6%) and 3Y (+141.7%) horizons, MCK’s future trajectory is among the most favorable in the sector, supported by structural demand for pharmaceutical distribution.

Positives
  • 377% YoY and 360.6% QoQ earnings growth signal accelerating profitability
  • Revenue growth of 10.1% aligns with sector average and exceeds large-cap pharma peers like Pfizer
Watchpoints
  • Sustainability of triple-digit earnings growth is questionable given base effects and low margins
  • Distribution margins may compress under pricing pressure from payers and providers
Past
86/100

McKesson has delivered one of the most consistent earnings beat streaks in healthcare, combined with top-tier stock performance over 5Y and 3Y, validating long-term execution despite operating in a low-margin industry.

Positives
  • 22 out of 25 quarters beat EPS estimates, including 10 consecutive beats from 2023–2024
  • 5-year share price return of +373% demonstrates exceptional compounding and investor confidence
Watchpoints
  • Profit margins have remained stubbornly below 1.5%, indicating limited pricing power
  • One-sided earnings surprises pre-2023 suggest possible conservative guidance
Health
52/100

MCK’s financial health is concerning due to poor liquidity and lack of transparency, especially compared to peers like CI and PFE with clearer capital structures and stronger balance sheets.

Positives
  • ROA of 4.78% exceeds sector average for capital-intensive distributors and is stable
  • No reported cash burn or liquidity crisis despite low current and quick ratios
Watchpoints
  • Current ratio of 0.88 and quick ratio of 0.47 indicate tight liquidity and high reliance on receivables
  • Missing debt, equity, and cash data prevents accurate solvency assessment
Dividend
68/100

While the dividend is well-covered and poses no risk to capital allocation, the ultra-low yield limits appeal to income-focused investors, especially compared to higher-yielding peers like BMY and PFE.

Positives
  • Low payout ratio of 9.22% ensures high sustainability and room for future increases
  • Annual dividend of $3.28 provides income with minimal impact on cash flow
Watchpoints
  • Dividend yield of 0.39% is negligible for income investors
  • No 5-year yield history or growth trend data available

Stock Price & Analyst Targets

Real-time price movements and analyst price targets

Current Price
$842.09
Analyst Target
$929.36
Upside/Downside
+10.4%

Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers

Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for MCK and closest competitors.

Updated 2025-11-14
Company 5Y 3Y 1Y 6M 1M 1W
MCK
McKesson Corporation
Primary
+373.0% +141.7% +38.6% +16.5% +6.3% -1.2%
HCA
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Peer
+225.1% +111.6% +37.9% +22.4% +12.5% -0.8%
BMY
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Peer
-12.1% -30.1% -16.3% +2.5% +7.0% -0.1%
CI
The Cigna Group
Peer
+34.3% -6.9% -15.2% -15.2% -8.5% +1.9%
COR
Cencora, Inc.
Peer
+271.1% +143.6% +50.2% +25.1% +13.4% +0.5%

Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.

Historical Performance Trends

Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns

Revenue & Net Income

Profit & Operating Margins

Return on Equity (ROE)

Quarterly Revenue Growth

Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)

Valuation Metrics

Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators

P/E Ratio
26.32
Forward P/E
22.88
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
-60.05
P/S Ratio
0.27
EV/Revenue
0.29
EV/EBITDA
17.07
Market Cap
$104.45B

Profitability

Profit margins and return metrics

Profit Margin 1.04%
Operating Margin 1.37%
Gross Margin 3.44%
ROE N/A
ROA 4.78%

Growth

Revenue and earnings growth rates

Revenue Growth +10.1%
Earnings Growth +377.0%
Q/Q Revenue Growth N/A
Q/Q Earnings Growth +360.6%

Financial Health

Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics

Debt/Equity
N/A
Current Ratio
0.88
Weak
Quick Ratio
0.47
Poor
Cash/Share
$32.44

Quarterly Earnings History

EPS performance vs analyst estimates

2026-02-04
$N/A
2025-11-05
$9.86
+8.9% surprise
2025-08-06
$8.26
+1.4% surprise
2025-05-08
$10.12
+3.0% surprise

Healthcare Sector Comparison

Comparing MCK against 23 companies in the Healthcare sector (10 bullish, 13 neutral, 0 bearish)
P/E Ratio
26.32
This Stock
vs
37.07
Sector Avg
-29.0% (Discount)
Profit Margin
1.04%
This Stock
vs
13.56%
Sector Avg
-92.3% (Weaker)
Revenue Growth
10.1%
This Stock
vs
11.02%
Sector Avg
-8.3% (Slower)
Current Ratio
0.88
This Stock
vs
1.95
Sector Avg
-54.8% (Weaker)

Similar Companies

Peer comparison within the same industry

Company AI Rating Market Cap P/E ROE Profit Margin Price
MCK
McKesson Corporation
BULLISH $104.45B 26.32 -% 1.0% $842.09
HCA
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
BULLISH $108.0B 18.28 -% 8.5% $472.65
BMY
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
NEUTRAL $99.0B 15.71 33.8% 12.6% $46.65
CI
The Cigna Group
BULLISH $72.36B 11.93 15.5% 2.3% $269.66
COR
Cencora, Inc.
NEUTRAL $70.85B 45.47 123.8% 0.5% $361.94

Recent Insider Trading

Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months

Date Insider Position Transaction Shares Value
2025-11-07 RUTLEDGE NAPOLEON B JR Officer Sale 329 $283,476
2025-08-22 TYLER BRIAN SCOTT Chief Executive Officer Sale 11,930 $8,418,166
2025-08-15 TYLER BRIAN SCOTT Chief Executive Officer Sale 11,930 $8,085,677
2025-08-08 RUTLEDGE NAPOLEON B JR Officer Sale 329 $218,347
2025-07-30 LERMAN BRADLEY E Director Stock Award 301 -
2025-07-30 MARTINEZ MARIA N. Director Stock Award 301 -
2025-07-30 CARUSO DOMINIC J Director Stock Award 301 -
2025-07-30 WILSON - THOMPSON KATHLEEN Director Stock Award 301 -
2025-07-11 TYLER BRIAN SCOTT Chief Executive Officer Sale 19,371 $13,716,411
2025-06-10 TYLER BRIAN SCOTT Chief Executive Officer Gift 4,000 -
2025-06-06 TYLER BRIAN SCOTT Chief Executive Officer Sale 19,370 $13,673,864
2025-05-30 RODGERS THOMAS L Officer Sale 2,891 $2,058,912
2025-05-28 VITALONE BRITT J Chief Financial Officer Sale 1,878 $1,348,235
2025-05-28 RODGERS THOMAS L Officer Sale 510 $366,134
2025-05-28 RUTLEDGE NAPOLEON B JR Officer Sale 95 $68,201
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects

Wall Street Analysts

Professional analyst ratings and price targets

Consensus
BUY
14 analysts
Wells Fargo
2025-11-10
Maintains
Equal-Weight Equal-Weight
UBS
2025-11-06
Maintains
Buy Buy
Baird
2025-11-06
Maintains
Outperform Outperform
Morgan Stanley
2025-11-06
Maintains
Overweight Overweight
UBS
2025-10-27
Maintains
Buy Buy
Jefferies
2025-10-14
Maintains
Buy Buy
JP Morgan
2025-09-26
Maintains
Overweight Overweight
Evercore ISI Group
2025-09-24
Maintains
Outperform Outperform
TD Cowen
2025-09-24
Maintains
Buy Buy
Citigroup
2025-09-24
Maintains
Buy Buy