Fiscal 2027 first quarter
Filed Aug 5, 2026McKesson Reports Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Results and Raises Full Year Adjusted EPS Guidance
Revenue increased 8%, Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share increased 20%, and the company raised its fiscal 2027 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share guidance range to $44.20 to $45.00.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenuesGAAP | $105.4B | – | 8% |
| Net income attributable to McKesson CorporationGAAP | $614M | – | (22)% |
| Adjusted Earningsnon-GAAP | $1.18B | – | 14% |
| Earnings per diluted common share attributable to McKesson CorporationGAAP | $5.15 | – | (18)% |
| Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Sharenon-GAAP | $9.93 | – | 20% |
| Cash from operationsGAAP | used cash from operations of $220 million | – | – |
| Capital expendituresGAAP | $152M | – | – |
| Free Cash Flownon-GAAP | negative Free Cash Flow of $372 million | – | – |
| North American Pharmaceutical Segment Operating ProfitGAAP | $903M | – | – |
| North American Pharmaceutical Adjusted Segment Operating Profitnon-GAAP | $894M | – | 19% |
| Oncology & Multispecialty Segment Operating ProfitGAAP | $325M | – | – |
| Oncology & Multispecialty Adjusted Segment Operating Profitnon-GAAP | $405M | – | 41% |
| Prescription Technology Solutions Segment Operating ProfitGAAP | $226M | – | – |
| Prescription Technology Solutions Adjusted Segment Operating Profitnon-GAAP | $303M | – | 13% |
| Medical-Surgical Solutions Segment Operating ProfitGAAP | $122M | – | – |
| Medical-Surgical Solutions Adjusted Segment Operating Profitnon-GAAP | $195M | – | (20)% |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| North American PharmaceuticalIncreased prescription transaction volumes, including higher volumes from specialty products, partially offset by lower contributions from branded pharmaceuticals. | $86.8B | – | 5% |
| Oncology & MultispecialtyGrowth in provider solutions and specialty distribution, including contributions from acquisitions. | $14.2B | – | 33% |
| Prescription Technology SolutionsIncreased prescription volumes in third-party logistics and access solutions. | $1.6B | – | 9% |
| Medical-Surgical SolutionsGrowth across alternate sites of care, led by higher volumes of specialty pharmaceuticals. | $2.8B | – | 4% |
Fiscal 2027 full year outlook
- NoteAdjusted Earnings per Diluted Share: $44.20 to $45.00
- NoteAdjusted Earnings per Diluted Share guidance range indicates 13% to 15% growth compared to the prior year.
- NoteThe Company does not forecast GAAP earnings per diluted share.
Capital returns
- McKesson returned $2.6 billion of cash to shareholders.
- $2.5 billion of common stock repurchases
- $2.25 billion under the accelerated share repurchase program
- $102 million of dividend payments
- On July 21, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a 15% increase to its quarterly dividend from $0.82 per share to $0.94 per share.
- On June 1, 2026, McKesson sold an approximately 13% minority interest in its Medical-Surgical Solutions business to Apollo Funds for $1.25 billion.
What drove it
- Consolidated revenue growth was driven by North American Pharmaceutical and Oncology & Multispecialty, reflecting increased prescription volumes and specialty-product distribution.
- Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share growth was driven by strong operational growth led by North American Pharmaceutical and Oncology & Multispecialty, and a lower share count.
- North American Pharmaceutical adjusted segment operating profit benefited from specialty-product distribution to health systems and strategic accounts and the timing of new product launches.
- Oncology & Multispecialty adjusted segment operating profit benefited from provider solutions, specialty distribution, and acquisition contributions.
- Prescription Technology Solutions adjusted segment operating profit benefited from higher demand for access solutions.
Concerns
- GAAP earnings per diluted share decreased $1.10, primarily due to a redemption value adjustment of $293 million related to redeemable non-controlling interests for the Medical-Surgical Solutions segment.
- Medical-Surgical Solutions Adjusted Segment Operating Profit decreased 20%, driven by product mix and one-time administrative expenses, partially offset by contributions from the extended care channel.
- Lower contributions from branded pharmaceuticals partially offset revenue growth in North American Pharmaceutical.
- Free Cash Flow was negative Free Cash Flow of $372 million.
What to watch
- Execution of the planned separation of the Medical-Surgical Solutions segment, including the future standalone business named Wellverse.
- The effect of product mix and one-time administrative expenses on Medical-Surgical Solutions adjusted segment operating profit.
- Durability of specialty-product distribution, provider solutions, access solutions, and prescription-volume growth.
- Progress toward fiscal 2027 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share guidance of $44.20 to $45.00.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- During the first three months of the fiscal year, McKesson used cash from operations of $220 million.
- McKesson invested $152 million in capital expenditures, resulting in negative Free Cash Flow of $372 million.
- On June 9, 2026, McKesson established a secured Term Loan B facility of $2.25 billion in support of the planned separation of Medical-Surgical Solutions segment.
Analysis
McKesson reported a strong fiscal 2027 first quarter, with revenues of $105,380 million, up 8%, and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share of $9.93, up 20%. Revenue growth reflected increased prescription volumes and specialty-product distribution in North American Pharmaceutical and growth in provider solutions and specialty distribution in Oncology & Multispecialty. The company cited lower contributions from branded pharmaceuticals as a partial offset to consolidated growth.
Underlying segment performance was led by Oncology & Multispecialty, where revenue increased 33% and Adjusted Segment Operating Profit increased 41%. North American Pharmaceutical produced $86.8 billion of revenue, up 5%, while its Adjusted Segment Operating Profit increased 19%, supported by specialty distribution to health systems and strategic accounts and the timing of new product launches. Prescription Technology Solutions revenue increased 9% and Adjusted Segment Operating Profit increased 13%, driven by access-solutions demand.
GAAP profitability moved in the opposite direction from adjusted results. Net income attributable to McKesson Corporation was $614 million versus $784 million, while GAAP earnings per diluted share declined to $5.15 from $6.25. McKesson attributed the $1.10 per-share decline primarily to a $293 million redemption value adjustment related to redeemable non-controlling interests for Medical-Surgical Solutions. The prior-year comparison also included a pre-tax increase to the provision for bad debts of $189 million in North American Pharmaceutical related to the Rite Aid bankruptcy.
Medical-Surgical Solutions remains an important execution item. Its revenue increased 4%, but Adjusted Segment Operating Profit decreased 20% to $195 million because of product mix and one-time administrative expenses. During the quarter, McKesson sold an approximately 13% minority interest in the business to Apollo Funds for $1.25 billion, established a secured Term Loan B facility of $2.25 billion, and subsequently identified Wellverse as the name for the future standalone business.
Cash flow was negative in the period, as McKesson used cash from operations of $220 million and invested $152 million in capital expenditures, resulting in negative Free Cash Flow of $372 million. Capital returns remained substantial, with $2.6 billion of cash returned to shareholders, including $2.5 billion of common stock repurchases and $102 million of dividend payments. The Board also declared a 15% increase in the quarterly dividend from $0.82 per share to $0.94 per share.
Management raised fiscal 2027 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share guidance to $44.20 to $45.00 from $43.80 to $44.60 and stated that the new range indicates 13% to 15% growth compared with the prior year. The company does not forecast GAAP earnings per diluted share. The updated outlook is based on strong first-quarter performance, sustainable operational momentum, durability across the enterprise, and disciplined capital allocation, according to the CFO.
Management, verbatim
McKesson delivered a strong start to fiscal 2027, underscored by momentum across the enterprise and disciplined execution against our strategic priorities.
Brian Tyler, chair and chief executive officer
Our first quarter performance exceeded our expectations, highlighted by 20% growth in Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share.
Brian Tyler, chair and chief executive officer
The raise in full year Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share outlook reflects strong first quarter performance and sustainable operational momentum.
Kenny Cheung, executive vice president and chief financial officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating income and operating margin
- Operating expenses
- Income tax expense and tax rate
- Cash balance
- Debt balance
- GAAP and non-GAAP total operating-income comparisons
- Prior-year amounts for segment operating profit and adjusted segment operating profit
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics
- Revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, and tax-rate guidance
- GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance
AlphAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.