TD Cowen has maintained a bullish stance on Cencora Inc (NYSE: COR), reiterating a Buy rating and a $271.00 price target for the company's stock.
The firm's analysis suggests that the recent decision by Evernorth to exclude the branded drug Humira from its commercial formulary starting in 2025 will have a negligible effect on Cencora's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal year 2025.
According to TD Cowen, the anticipated impact on Cencora's FY25 adjusted EPS is minimal, at a reduction of just $0.04 or 0.3% to their estimated $14.77.
This change is not expected to influence Cencora's financial guidance for FY25, which is set to be announced during the fourth fiscal quarter results in November.
The firm also emphasized the larger opportunities for distributors in the biosimilar market, which are more significant on the medical benefit side rather than the pharmacy benefit side, where margins are lower.
This context is particularly relevant for Cencora, given the upcoming changes in drug formularies.
In other recent news, Cencora appointed Frank Clyburn as an independent director to its Board of Directors. Clyburn, formerly CEO of International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. and Executive Vice President at Merck, brings extensive pharmaceutical industry experience to the board, which is expected to aid the company's growth strategies.
In financial developments, Cencora reported robust growth in its fiscal 2024 third quarter, with revenue surpassing $74 billion, marking an 11% year-over-year increase. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) also saw a significant rise of 14%, reaching $3.34. Based on these results, the company raised its full-year outlook, citing a successful pharmaceutical-centric strategy and commercial strength.
Cencora's OneOncology business was also highlighted for its performance and growth potential, which is expected to contribute positively to the EPS growth rate. Furthermore, the company's Good Neighbor Pharmacy network continued its streak of customer satisfaction, ranking first for the eighth consecutive year. In a show of financial strength, Cencora engaged in opportunistic share repurchases and reported a cash balance of $3.3 billion.
InvestingPro Insights
As Cencora Inc (NYSE:COR) continues to navigate the pharmaceutical landscape, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro provide a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position. Cencora's market capitalization stands at a robust $46.16 billion, reflecting investor confidence in the company's capabilities and growth prospects. With a P/E ratio of 25.37, the company is trading at a premium relative to its earnings, which may be justified by its consistent dividend growth, having raised dividends for 19 consecutive years, an InvestingPro Tip that highlights the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.
InvestingPro Data also indicates a solid revenue growth of 11.56% over the last twelve months as of Q3 2023, demonstrating Cencora's ability to expand its top line effectively. Moreover, the company's stock has experienced a significant 33.68% one-year price total return, showcasing the strong market performance and investor optimism surrounding its future. Another InvestingPro Tip points out that Cencora is a prominent player in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, which may offer additional stability and growth opportunities as the industry evolves.
For more detailed analysis and additional InvestingPro Tips, investors can visit https://www.investing.com/pro/COR, where 18 more tips are available, providing a comprehensive view of Cencora's investment potential and market dynamics.
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