COR
HealthcareCencora, Inc. · Medical - Distribution · $61B
What is Cencora, Inc.?
Cencora, Inc. is a large-cap pharmaceutical distribution company operating across the United States and internationally. It connects drug manufacturers with pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers at scale.
Cencora generates revenue by sourcing and distributing pharmaceutical products — including generics, injectables, specialty drugs, and over-the-counter items — to a broad network of customers. These include retail pharmacies, hospital systems, mail-order pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and medical clinics. Beyond distribution, the company provides pharmacy management consulting, clinical trial support, data analytics for manufacturers, and veterinary pharmaceutical products for both companion and production animals.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Cencora has grown into one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in the world.
- Generic and specialty pharmaceutical distribution
- Plasma, vaccines, and blood product logistics
- Pharmacy management and staffing consulting
- Clinical trial and commercialization support services
- Veterinary pharmaceutical and diagnostic products
Is COR a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates COR as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed picture across its five quality pillars.
Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot in COR's profile, rated Good — suggesting the market may not be pricing in excessive optimism for this distributor. Quality, Moat, and Growth all land at Neutral, indicating a stable but undifferentiated business without standout competitive advantages or accelerating expansion.
The Risk pillar is rated Weak, which is the most notable drag on COR's composite score and warrants attention from investors evaluating downside scenarios.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does COR pay dividends?
Yes — Cencora, Inc. pays a dividend.
Cencora pays a regular dividend, consistent with its position as a mature, large-cap healthcare distributor generating recurring cash flows. The dividend reflects management's confidence in the stability of its distribution model. Investors seeking income alongside healthcare sector exposure may find this cadence relevant, though the Risk pillar rating suggests reviewing the broader financial profile before relying on dividend continuity.
When does COR report earnings?
Cencora reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed large-cap equities.
The company's quarterly results tend to reflect the steady, volume-driven nature of pharmaceutical distribution — revenue is generally consistent, though margins in this sector are characteristically thin. Pillar ratings suggest growth has been present but not exceptional relative to healthcare peers.
For the most recent quarter's results and upcoming reporting dates, visit Cencora's official investor relations page.
COR Price History
+166.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Cencora, Inc.?
Based on Cencora, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
COR Long-term Outlook
With Growth and Quality both rated Neutral, Cencora's near-term trajectory appears steady rather than accelerating. The Weak Risk rating introduces meaningful uncertainty around the outlook, particularly given the regulatory and reimbursement pressures common in pharmaceutical distribution. The Good Valuation rating suggests the stock is not priced for aggressive growth, which may limit downside if fundamentals remain stable but also caps upside if conditions deteriorate.
Growth drivers
- Expanding specialty pharmaceutical and oncology distribution volumes
- International healthcare solutions segment broadening revenue base
- Growing demand for veterinary and animal health pharmaceutical products
Key risks
- Thin distribution margins vulnerable to pricing pressure from manufacturers and customers
- Regulatory and reimbursement changes affecting pharmaceutical supply chains
- Elevated risk profile flagged by the UQS Risk pillar rating
COR vs Peers
Cencora competes in the highly concentrated pharmaceutical distribution sector alongside a small number of large national players.
Cardinal Health operates across both pharmaceutical distribution and medical products manufacturing, giving it a broader product footprint than Cencora's distribution-focused model.
McKesson is the largest pharmaceutical distributor in the US and has expanded aggressively into oncology and technology-enabled healthcare services.
Henry Schein focuses on distributing healthcare products to dental and medical practitioners, serving a more specialized customer base than Cencora's broad institutional and retail network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cencora do?
Cencora sources and distributes pharmaceutical products — including generics, specialty drugs, vaccines, and over-the-counter items — to hospitals, retail pharmacies, clinics, and long-term care facilities. It also provides pharmacy consulting, clinical trial support, and veterinary pharmaceutical products through its international and domestic segments.
Does COR pay dividends?
Yes, Cencora pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with its profile as a mature, cash-flow-generating pharmaceutical distributor. Investors should review the full financial profile — including the Risk pillar rating — before drawing conclusions about dividend sustainability.
When does COR report earnings?
Cencora reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed large-cap companies. For exact upcoming reporting dates and the most recent quarterly results, check Cencora's investor relations page directly.
Is COR a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates COR as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is rated Good, but the Risk pillar is rated Weak, and Quality, Moat, and Growth are all Neutral. Whether that profile suits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is COR overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for COR is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at an extreme premium relative to its fundamentals. However, valuation alone does not determine investment quality — the Weak Risk rating and Neutral growth profile are also relevant context.
How does COR compare to its competitors?
Cencora operates alongside Cardinal Health and McKesson in the highly concentrated US pharmaceutical distribution market. McKesson is the largest by scale, while Cardinal Health has a broader product manufacturing presence. Cencora differentiates through specialty pharmaceutical distribution and its international segment. UQS Score comparisons across these tickers are available on each company's page.
What is COR's market cap bracket?
Cencora is classified as a large-cap company, reflecting its significant scale as one of the leading pharmaceutical distributors in the United States and internationally.
Who founded Cencora?
Cencora was founded in 1995. The company was originally known as AmeriSourceBergen before rebranding to Cencora in 2023. Founding and corporate history details are widely available through public sources and the company's own investor relations materials.
Is COR a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, COR's UQS Score of Below Average reflects a business with stable but undifferentiated characteristics. The Neutral Moat rating suggests limited structural advantages that would protect returns over time, while the Weak Risk pillar introduces uncertainty. Long-term investors should weigh these factors carefully using the full Pro analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of Cencora?
Cencora's scale in pharmaceutical distribution — particularly in specialty drugs and oncology — provides some operational leverage. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Neutral, indicating that these advantages are not yet translating into a clearly differentiated competitive position relative to sector peers.
What sector does COR belong to?
Cencora operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically within pharmaceutical distribution and related services. It serves a wide range of healthcare customers including hospitals, retail pharmacies, clinics, and animal health markets across the US and internationally.
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Pro Analysis
COR — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 17.0 | 0.0 | 46.0 | 0.0 | 36.9 | 0.0 | -26.8 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | 43.8 | 36.7 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 73.1 | +0.2 |
| Jul 25, 2026 | 43.6 | 36.7 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 71.5 | -0.1 |
| Jul 24, 2026 | 43.7 | 36.9 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 72.3 | -0.2 |
| Jul 23, 2026 | 43.9 | 36.9 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 73.0 | +0.1 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | 43.8 | 36.9 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 72.8 | -0.1 |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 43.9 | 36.9 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 73.3 | +0.1 |
| Jul 18, 2026 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 72.7 | -0.1 |
| Jul 17, 2026 | 43.9 | 36.8 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 73.2 | -0.2 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | 44.1 | 37.0 | 46.0 | 43.5 | 23.3 | 74.6 | +0.2 |
COR — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 0.0/100 (25%)Cencora, Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 0.0/100 (20%)Cencora, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Risk
— 36.9/100 (15%)Cencora, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 0.0/100 (15%)Cencora, Inc. appears expensively valued relative to its fundamentals and growth prospects.
Moat
— 46/100 (25%)Cencora, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for COR.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the COR UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Cencora, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Cencora, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Cencora, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.