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Here's Why You Should Add McKesson (MCK) to Your Portfolio

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McKessonCorporation (MCK - Free Report) is well-poised for growth, backed by strategic collaborations and strength in the Distribution Solutions segment. However, the company’s opioid-related litigation expenses are a potential threat.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have risen 18.8% year to date compared with the industry’s 37.4% growth. The S&P 500 Index has risen 12.4% in the same time frame.

McKesson is a healthcare services and information technology company with a market capitalization of $59.63 billion. Its earnings are anticipated to improve 10.7% over the next five years.

The company’s bottom line beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same once, delivering an average surprise of 8.1%. Its earnings yield of 6.1% compares favorably with the industry’s 5.2%.

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Key Growth Drivers

Strength in Biologics: Investors are optimistic about McKesson’s robust Biologics business. Independent specialty pharmacy, Biologics by McKesson, has been making impressive progress lately. Last month, the pharmacy was selected by GSK as a specialty pharmacy provider of OJJAARA (momelotinib).

Last month, Biologics was chosen by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. as a specialty pharmacy provider of VANFLYTA (quizartinib).

Strength in Distribution Market: McKesson is a major player in the pharmaceutical and medical supplies distribution market that raises investors’ optimism. The Distribution Solutions segment caters to a wide range of customers and businesses. It also stands to benefit from increased generic utilization and inflation in generics, driven by several patent expirations in the next few years and an aging population.

Per management, the uptick in the company’s U.S. Pharmaceutical and Medical-Surgical Solutions segments’ adjusted operating profit was driven by growth in the distribution of specialty products to providers and health systems, and distribution of ancillary supplies for the U.S. government’s COVID-19 vaccine program, respectively, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

Strong Q1 Results: McKesson’s robust first-quarter fiscal 2024 results buoy optimism. The company recorded strong top and bottom-line performances and strength in its U.S. Pharmaceutical, Medical-Surgical Solutions and Prescription Technology Solutions segments.

Downsides

Weak Trends: McKesson distributes generic pharmaceuticals, which are subject to price fluctuation. The Distribution Solutions segment continues to experience a weaker generic pharmaceutical pricing trend. Continued volatility, unfavorable pricing trends, reimbursement of generic drugs and significant fluctuations in the nature, frequency and magnitude of generic pharmaceutical launches could have an adverse impact on McKesson.

Stiff Competition: Distribution Solutions faces stiff competition both in terms of price and service from various full-line, short-line and specialty wholesalers, service merchandisers, self-warehousing chains, manufacturers engaged in direct distribution, third-party logistics companies and large-payer organizations. Moreover, MCK depends on fewer suppliers for its products. As a result, it is not in a position to negotiate pricing.

Estimates Trend

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2024 revenues is pegged at $303.85 billion, indicating a 10.9% increase from the previous year’s level. The same for adjusted earnings per share is pinned at $27.04, implying a 4.2% year-over-year improvement.

Other Stocks to Consider

Some other top-ranked stocks from the same medical industry are Align Technology (ALGN - Free Report) , CONMED (CNMD - Free Report) and Merit Medical Systems (MMSI - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Align Technology has an estimated long-term growth rate of 17.5%. Its earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same in one, delivering a negative average surprise of 1.76%.

ALGN’s shares haverallied 32.8% year to date.

CONMED has an estimated long-term growth rate of 27.9%. Its earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the same once, delivering a negative average surprise of 9.28%.

CNMD’s shares have risen 9.1% year to date.

Merit Medical Systems has an estimated long-term growth rate of 27.9%. MMSI’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 15.76%.

MMSI’s shares have lost 5.5% year to date.

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