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Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Cardinal Health and Palantir
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – February 20, 2026 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) and Palantir (PLTR - Free Report) .
Q4 Earnings: These Buy-Rated Stocks Crushed Expectations
The 2025 Q4 earnings cycle keeps rolling along, with a wide array of S&P 500 companies already delivering results. The period has yet again been one of resilience, with overall growth remaining strong.
But more specifically, this cycle, several buy-rated companies – Cardinal Health and Palantir– posted results that were notably strong.
Palantir Growth Remains Stellar
Palantir again continued to fire on all cylinders throughout the period, with overall sales of $1.4 billion flying 70% year-over-year. U.S. results were rock-solid again, underpinned by both commercial and government strength. Specifically, U.S. sales totaled $1.1 billion, growing 93% year-over-year and an even more impressive 28% sequentially.
Further, Palantir closed more than $4.2 billion of total contract value (TCV) overall, up more than 130% from the year-ago period. And its consumer base keeps snowballing, with customer count surging 34% from the year-ago period.
Shares have had a tough showing over recent weeks, with some profit-taking likely occurring after a massive run. While price action hasn’t been ideal, the company’s current fiscal year EPS outlook remains bullish, as shown below. The stock remains a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Cardinal Health Raises Guidance
Cardinal Health posted a double-beat relative to our consensus expectations, with sales soaring 18.8% from the year-ago period alongside a sizable 36.3% year-over-year growth rate in adjusted EPS.
Cardinal Health’s sales have seen great growth over recent periods after some stagnation throughout 2024.
Strength was primarily broad-based across its segments, with sales in Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Solutions climbing 19% year-over-year. Keep in mind that its Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Solutions accounts for the vast majority of its sales, contributing roughly 90%.
Cardinal Health raised its FY26 outlook following the strong quarter, now expecting adjusted EPS in a band of $10.15 - $10.35, with the midpoint suggesting 24.5% year-over-year growth. The updated outlook is reflected in positive earnings estimate revisions, as shown below. The stock sports a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Bottom Line
The 2025 Q4 earnings season continues to roll along, with the period largely positive and resilient.
And throughout the period, several buy-rated companies – Palantir and Cardinal Health – posted very strong quarterly results.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Cardinal Health and Palantir
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – February 20, 2026 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Cardinal Health (CAH - Free Report) and Palantir (PLTR - Free Report) .
Q4 Earnings: These Buy-Rated Stocks Crushed Expectations
The 2025 Q4 earnings cycle keeps rolling along, with a wide array of S&P 500 companies already delivering results. The period has yet again been one of resilience, with overall growth remaining strong.
But more specifically, this cycle, several buy-rated companies – Cardinal Health and Palantir– posted results that were notably strong.
Palantir Growth Remains Stellar
Palantir again continued to fire on all cylinders throughout the period, with overall sales of $1.4 billion flying 70% year-over-year. U.S. results were rock-solid again, underpinned by both commercial and government strength. Specifically, U.S. sales totaled $1.1 billion, growing 93% year-over-year and an even more impressive 28% sequentially.
Further, Palantir closed more than $4.2 billion of total contract value (TCV) overall, up more than 130% from the year-ago period. And its consumer base keeps snowballing, with customer count surging 34% from the year-ago period.
Shares have had a tough showing over recent weeks, with some profit-taking likely occurring after a massive run. While price action hasn’t been ideal, the company’s current fiscal year EPS outlook remains bullish, as shown below. The stock remains a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Cardinal Health Raises Guidance
Cardinal Health posted a double-beat relative to our consensus expectations, with sales soaring 18.8% from the year-ago period alongside a sizable 36.3% year-over-year growth rate in adjusted EPS.
Cardinal Health’s sales have seen great growth over recent periods after some stagnation throughout 2024.
Strength was primarily broad-based across its segments, with sales in Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Solutions climbing 19% year-over-year. Keep in mind that its Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Solutions accounts for the vast majority of its sales, contributing roughly 90%.
Cardinal Health raised its FY26 outlook following the strong quarter, now expecting adjusted EPS in a band of $10.15 - $10.35, with the midpoint suggesting 24.5% year-over-year growth. The updated outlook is reflected in positive earnings estimate revisions, as shown below. The stock sports a favorable Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Bottom Line
The 2025 Q4 earnings season continues to roll along, with the period largely positive and resilient.
And throughout the period, several buy-rated companies – Palantir and Cardinal Health – posted very strong quarterly results.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.
Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.