Cardinal Health's stock surged 5.35% during intraday trading on Thursday, following the release of its fiscal second-quarter 2026 results that significantly exceeded analyst expectations.

The pharmaceutical distributor reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.63, beating the consensus estimate of $2.36. Quarterly revenue reached $65.6 billion, surpassing expectations of $64.14 billion and representing a 19% year-over-year increase. The company's pharmaceutical and specialty solutions segment was a key driver, with revenue jumping 19% to $60.7 billion due to strong brand and specialty pharmaceutical sales growth.

Cardinal Health also raised its fiscal year 2026 guidance for non-GAAP diluted EPS to a range of $10.15 to $10.35, up from its previous outlook. Analysts attribute the strong performance to robust demand for high-margin specialty medicines that treat complex conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases, positioning the company for continued growth in the specialty drug market.