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Cencora, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 1 lowered, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5.5 percent: Revenue was $85.9 billion, up 5.5 percent, mainly from a 5.0 percent rise in U.S. Healthcare Solutions and a 9.6 percent rise in International Healthcare Solutions. Source
  • U.S. segment revenue grew 5.0 percent: U.S. Healthcare Solutions revenue was $76.2 billion, up 5.0 percent, driven by overall market growth largely from unit volume growth. Source
  • International operating income fell 13.9 percent: International Healthcare Solutions revenue rose 9.6 percent to $7.6 billion, while segment operating income fell 13.9 percent to $142.2 million, mainly at the European distribution business. On a constant currency basis, operating income fell 17.0 percent. Source
  • Grocery and oncology customers lost: U.S. sales declined in part because of the losses of a grocery customer and an oncology customer. The oncology customer loss also reduced U.S. segment operating income. Source
  • Operating income growth range raised: Adjusted operating income growth guidance raised to 11.5% to 13.5%, primarily to reflect the OneOncology completion and U.S. Healthcare Solutions performance, plus improved results in Other. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance reaffirmed: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $17.45 to $17.75 was reaffirmed, reflecting OneOncology contributions, U.S. segment performance and improved results in Other. Source
  • OneOncology acquisition completed: Cencora completed the purchase of most of the equity it did not own in OneOncology. Management said the ownership cements its specialty MSO footprint and deepens physician partnerships. Source
  • Consulting services impairment recorded: A $249.5 million impairment was recorded on the U.S. Consulting Services business, which is classified as held for sale. Certain depreciable assets were fully impaired as of December 31, 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative $2.4 billion: Operating cash flow was negative $2.3 billion and capital expenditures were $119.4 million, giving free cash flow of negative $2.4 billion. Adjusted free cash flow was negative $2.4 billion after removing a $12.2 million antitrust gain. Source

“Our ownership of OneOncology cements our specialty MSO footprint and deepens our partnership with physicians leading in cancer care”

Robert P. Mauch, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted operating income growth Sourcefiscal 202611.5% to 13.5%Raised from 8% to 10%
Revenue growth (consolidated) Sourcefiscal 20267% to 9%Raised from 5% to 7%
Revenue growth (U.S. Healthcare Solutions) Sourcefiscal 20267% to 9%Raised from 5% to 7%
Revenue growth (International Healthcare Solutions) Sourcefiscal 20267% to 9%Raised from 6% to 8%
Revenue growth (Other) Sourcefiscal 20261% to 5%Raised from 0% to 4%
Adjusted operating income growth (U.S. Healthcare Solutions) Sourcefiscal 202614% to 16%Raised from 9% to 11%
Adjusted operating income growth (International Healthcare Solutions) Sourcefiscal 20265% to 8%Kept
Adjusted operating income growth (Other) Sourcefiscal 2026FlatRaised from 1% to 4% decline
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$17.45 to $17.75Kept
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal 2026$480M to $500MRaised from $315M to $335M
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026~20%Lowered from 20% to 21%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Sourcefiscal 2026195.5MRaised from ~194M
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026~$3.0BKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026~$900MKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted operating income growth range raised to 11.5% to 13.5% from 8% to 10%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Revenue growth ranges raised: consolidated 7% to 9% from 5% to 7%, with segment ranges also higher than prior quarter. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $17.45 to $17.75 reaffirmed, same range as prior quarter. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted free cash flow of about $3.0 billion and capital expenditures of about $900 million kept. Source
  • New: Cencora completed the acquisition of the majority of the equity interests it did not own in OneOncology, an oncology management services organization. Source
  • New: A $249.5 million impairment was recorded on assets of the U.S. Consulting Services business, which is classified as held for sale. Source
  • New: Businesses for which the company is exploring strategic alternatives are grouped together in Other, under the reporting structure beginning this quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5.5 percent: Revenue was $85.9 billion, up 5.5 percent, mainly from a 5.0 percent rise in U.S. Healthcare Solutions and a 9.6 percent rise in International Healthcare Solutions. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS rose 14.8 percent: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.87 against $2.50, up 14.8 percent. Operating income was $760.4 million, up 7.7 percent, after a $249.5 million impairment and an $86.8 million litigation credit. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 9.4 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $4.08 against $3.73, up 9.4 percent. Adjusted operating income was $1.1 billion, up 11.9 percent, and adjusted operating margin was 1.24 percent, up 8 basis points. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. segment revenue grew 5.0 percent: U.S. Healthcare Solutions revenue was $76.2 billion, up 5.0 percent, driven by overall market growth largely from unit volume growth. Source
  • U.S. segment operating income up 21.0 percent: Segment operating income rose to $831.3 million, supported by gross profit from the RCA acquisition and higher product sales, partly offset by higher operating expenses and the loss of an oncology customer. Source
  • International operating income fell 13.9 percent: International Healthcare Solutions revenue rose 9.6 percent to $7.6 billion, while segment operating income fell 13.9 percent to $142.2 million, mainly at the European distribution business. On a constant currency basis, operating income fell 17.0 percent. Source
  • Other revenue up, income down: Other revenue rose 6.3 percent to $2.1 billion on growth at MWI Animal Health and Profarma. Other operating income fell 6.1 percent to $91.4 million, mainly on lower income at consulting services businesses. Source

“As we continue to advance our leadership in specialty and execute our pharmaceutical-centric strategy, we are well positioned to drive continued value for all our stakeholders and deliver on our purpose”

Robert P. Mauch, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand, customers and products

  • Specialty and GLP-1 products drove U.S. sales: U.S. growth came from higher sales of specialty products to health systems and physician practices, and products labeled for diabetes or weight loss in the GLP-1 class. Source
  • Grocery and oncology customers lost: U.S. sales declined in part because of the losses of a grocery customer and an oncology customer. The oncology customer loss also reduced U.S. segment operating income. Source
  • Consulting lost a manufacturer program: Other operating income at consulting services businesses fell after the loss of a manufacturer customer program, and sales at those businesses declined. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose 44 basis points: Gross profit margin was 3.58 percent, up 44 basis points, driven by U.S. Healthcare Solutions gross margin, primarily from the RCA acquisition, and a larger LIFO credit. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 24.8 percent: Operating expenses were $2.3 billion, including a $249.5 million impairment and costs from the RCA acquisition, partly offset by an $86.8 million litigation and opioid-related credit. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses rose 21.7 percent: Adjusted operating expenses were $1.9 billion, up 21.7 percent, mainly from the RCA acquisition and to support revenue growth. Adjusted operating margin was 1.24 percent. Source
  • Interest expense up on RCA financing: Net interest expense was $72.4 million, up $44.5 million, from senior notes and a variable-rate term loan issued for RCA and lower interest income. Effective tax rate was 20.1 percent. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance update

  • Operating income growth range raised: Adjusted operating income growth guidance raised to 11.5% to 13.5%, primarily to reflect the OneOncology completion and U.S. Healthcare Solutions performance, plus improved results in Other. Source
  • Revenue growth ranges raised: Consolidated revenue growth is now 7% to 9%, up from 5% to 7%. Segment ranges were also raised: U.S. 7% to 9%, International 7% to 9%, and Other 1% to 5%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance reaffirmed: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $17.45 to $17.75 was reaffirmed, reflecting OneOncology contributions, U.S. segment performance and improved results in Other. Source
  • Segment profit and interest guidance: U.S. segment adjusted operating income growth is 14% to 16%, up from 9% to 11%. International stays at 5% to 8%. Net interest expense is now $480 million to $500 million, against $315 million to $335 million before. Source

Acquisitions and portfolio

  • OneOncology acquisition completed: Cencora completed the purchase of most of the equity it did not own in OneOncology. Management said the ownership cements its specialty MSO footprint and deepens physician partnerships. Source
  • Consulting services impairment recorded: A $249.5 million impairment was recorded on the U.S. Consulting Services business, which is classified as held for sale. Certain depreciable assets were fully impaired as of December 31, 2025. Source
  • Other grouping under strategic review: Other groups businesses for which the company is exploring strategic alternatives, including MWI Animal Health, Profarma, U.S. Consulting Services and parts of PharmaLex. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow was negative $2.4 billion: Operating cash flow was negative $2.3 billion and capital expenditures were $119.4 million, giving free cash flow of negative $2.4 billion. Adjusted free cash flow was negative $2.4 billion after removing a $12.2 million antitrust gain. Source
  • Cash balance fell with working capital: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased by $2.6 billion in the quarter. Changes in inventories used $3.5 billion of operating cash, partly offset by higher accounts payable. Source
  • Dividend declared, no buybacks: The board declared a $0.60 quarterly dividend, payable March 2, 2026. No common stock was repurchased in the quarter, against $385.5 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Dividend payment on March 2: The $0.60 quarterly dividend is payable March 2, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 13, 2026. Source
  • Investor conferences in March: Management will attend the Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference, March 8-11, 2026, and the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, March 10-12, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A $249.5 million impairment was recorded on assets of the U.S. Consulting Services business, which is classified as held for sale. Source
  • Operational: Segment operating income at the European distribution business declined, which lowered International Healthcare Solutions results. Source
  • Demand: Sales declined from the losses of a grocery customer and an oncology customer, which also reduced U.S. segment operating income. Source
  • Demand: Consulting services operating income declined after the loss of a manufacturer customer program. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the full adjusted diluted EPS guidance range of $17.45 to $17.75 for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Improved results in Other were attributed to certain depreciable assets being fully impaired as of December 31, 2025. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.