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McKesson Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 10% to $103.2 billion: Revenue was $103.2 billion, up 10%, driven by North American Pharmaceutical and by growth in oncology and multispecialty distribution, including acquisitions. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 39% to $9.86: Adjusted diluted EPS was $9.86 against $7.07, citing operating growth, acquisitions, net gains in Oncology & Multispecialty, and a lower tax rate. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised: The fiscal 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance range was raised $0.30 to $38.35 to $38.85, implying 16% to 18% growth over the prior year. Source
  • Oncology adjusted profit up 71%: Adjusted segment operating profit was $397 million, up 71%, helped by a net gain from the sale of an investment and market decisions within The US Oncology Network. Source
  • Quarterly free cash flow was $2.2 billion: Operating cash flow was $2.4 billion and capital expenditures were $196 million, giving free cash flow of $2.2 billion. Source
  • Norway retail and distribution sale agreed: McKesson agreed on August 4, 2025 to sell its Norway retail and distribution businesses; closing requires approvals. Source

“We remain confident in our ability to create value for our customers, partners, employees, and shareholders,”

Brian Tyler, chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS (full year) SourceFiscal 2026$38.35 to $38.85Raised from $38.05 to $38.55
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 202516% to 18%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance was raised by $0.30 to a range of $38.35 to $38.85. Source
  • New: Reportable segments and organizational structure changed, effective in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with prior periods recast to four segments. Source
  • New: McKesson agreed to sell its retail and distribution businesses in Norway, subject to closing conditions. Source
  • New: Long-term financial targets were updated and increased at the September 23, 2025 Investor Day. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 10% to $103.2 billion: Revenue was $103.2 billion, up 10%, driven by North American Pharmaceutical and by growth in oncology and multispecialty distribution, including acquisitions. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 39% to $9.86: Adjusted diluted EPS was $9.86 against $7.07, citing operating growth, acquisitions, net gains in Oncology & Multispecialty, and a lower tax rate. Source
  • GAAP EPS rose on prior-year charges: Diluted EPS was $8.92 against $1.87; the prior year included a $643 million Canadian businesses remeasurement charge and a $227 million business rationalization charge. Source
  • First-half revenue and profit rose: Six-month revenue rose 16% to $201.0 billion; six-month net income attributable to McKesson rose 64% to $1,894 million. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised: The fiscal 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance range was raised $0.30 to $38.35 to $38.85, implying 16% to 18% growth over the prior year. Source

Segments and regions

  • North American Pharmaceutical revenue up 8%: Segment revenue was $86.5 billion, up 8%, on higher prescription transaction volumes from retail national account customers and specialty products. Source
  • North American Pharmaceutical profit up 13%: Adjusted segment operating profit was $851 million, up 13%, from specialty distribution to health systems and new product launches. Source
  • Oncology and Multispecialty revenue up 32%: Segment revenue was $12.0 billion, up 32%, with acquisitions contributing alongside provider and specialty distribution growth. Source
  • Oncology adjusted profit up 71%: Adjusted segment operating profit was $397 million, up 71%, helped by a net gain from the sale of an investment and market decisions within The US Oncology Network. Source
  • Prescription Technology profit up 20%: Adjusted segment operating profit was $261 million, up 20%, on higher demand for access solutions. Source
  • Medical-Surgical adjusted profit up 2%: Adjusted segment operating profit was $249 million, up 2%, on operational efficiencies from cost optimization initiatives. Source

“Following our strong first half performance, sustained momentum across our portfolio, and confidence in the outlook for the remainder of the year, we are raising our fiscal 2026 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share guidance by $0.30”

Brian Tyler, chief executive officer

Products and customers

  • Medical-Surgical revenue flat on specialty mix: Medical-Surgical Solutions revenue was $2.9 billion, flat, as specialty pharmaceutical volumes rose and illness season and testing contributions declined. Source
  • Prescription volumes rose in logistics: Prescription Technology Solutions revenue was $1.4 billion, up 9%, on higher prescription volumes in third-party logistics and technology services. Source
  • PRISM Vision added Spokane eye clinic: On October 31, 2025, PRISM Vision Group added Spokane Eye Clinic in Washington, extending its footprint beyond the mid-Atlantic region. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted gross profit up 9%: Adjusted gross profit was $3,534 million, up 9%; six-month adjusted gross profit was $6,798 million, up 8%. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses down 1%: Adjusted operating expenses were $1,964 million, down 1% from $1,989 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted tax expense up 7%: Adjusted income tax expense was $273 million, up 7%, while management cited a lower tax rate among the EPS drivers. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell to $63 million: Restructuring, impairment, and related charges were $63 million, against $171 million a year earlier. Source

“These results reflect disciplined execution of our enterprise strategy - advancing growth in oncology and multispecialty and biopharma services.”

Brian Tyler, chief executive officer

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly free cash flow was $2.2 billion: Operating cash flow was $2.4 billion and capital expenditures were $196 million, giving free cash flow of $2.2 billion. Source
  • Six-month free cash flow was $1.1 billion: Six-month operating cash flow was $1.5 billion, with capital expenditures of $385 million. Source
  • Shareholder returns totaled $1.6 billion: Six-month returns comprised $1.4 billion of share repurchases and $179 million of dividend payments. Source
  • Quarterly dividend rose 15% to $0.82: Dividends declared per share were $0.82, up 15% from $0.71 a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisitions cost $3.4 billion in six months: Six-month cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $3.4 billion. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Norway retail and distribution sale agreed: McKesson agreed on August 4, 2025 to sell its Norway retail and distribution businesses; closing requires approvals. Source
  • Investor Day set higher long-term targets: The September 23, 2025 Investor Day highlighted growth-strategy progress and updated, increased long-term financial targets. Source
  • Growth pillars named as oncology and biopharma: Management named oncology and multispecialty and biopharma services as growth pillars, paired with disciplined execution. Source

Reporting basis and adjustments

  • No GAAP EPS forecast provided: The company gives no GAAP guidance, saying it cannot reconcile forward non-GAAP measures to GAAP without unreasonable effort. Source
  • Segment recast leaves EPS unchanged: The segment changes did not affect previously issued consolidated statements or historical EPS; segment history is recast.
  • Norway results reported within Other: Norway operations are included in Other on a retrospective basis under the new segment structure.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Investor events scheduled: Management will attend the UBS conference on November 10, 2025, the Evercore HealthCONx conference on December 4, 2025, and the J.P. Morgan conference from January 12 to 15, 2026. Source
  • Norway sale awaits required approvals: Closing of the Norway sale is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of required approvals; no closing date is given. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A $189 million pre-tax bad-debt provision relates to Rite Aid's bankruptcy, and management excludes it from adjusted results. Source
  • Demand: Lower contributions from illness season products and testing reduced Medical-Surgical Solutions results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management describes the $0.30 raise as building on the $0.80 increase announced at Investor Day. 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.