Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH) shareholders elected all 11 director nominees and approved the company’s executive compensation and auditor proposals, according to preliminary results announced at its 2026 annual meeting.
Corporate Secretary Patrick Pope said the results remain subject to final tabulation and certification. Cardinal Health will report the final vote in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and post it on its investor relations website.
Approximately 203.8 million shares, representing about 88% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, were represented at the meeting, Pope said. Each director was elected to serve until the 2027 annual meeting and until a successor is elected and qualified.
Management reiterates business priorities
CEO Jason Hollar said Cardinal Health’s strategy remains focused on building its Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions business, accelerating other growth businesses and improving Global Medical Products and Distribution.
Specialty remains the company’s highest-priority area for investment, Hollar said. He pointed to expanded capabilities across specialty care, including services for specialty physicians and biopharmaceutical manufacturers.
The other businesses targeted for growth include at-Home Solutions, Nuclear and Precision Health Solutions and OptiFreight Logistics. Hollar said the company is investing in capabilities and capacity to support those businesses.
For Global Medical Products and Distribution, the improvement plan emphasizes growing Cardinal Health’s own brand, simplifying the business and improving operations, Hollar said. He cited a more resilient supply chain, improved customer service and a more efficient cost structure as part of the work underway.
Hollar did not repeat a financial update at the meeting, noting that Cardinal Health had reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 results the prior week. He directed shareholders to recent earnings materials and the annual report for details on performance and outlook.
Board addresses directors’ outside commitments
During the shareholder question-and-answer session, Head of Investor Relations David Frost relayed a question about whether directors serving on multiple boards have enough time to devote to Cardinal Health and whether they should be replaced.
Board Chair Pat Hemingway Hall said the Governance and Sustainability Committee reviews each director’s outside commitments and capacity annually as part of the renomination process. The review considers the nature and demands of those commitments, including leadership roles, as well as attendance, engagement and preparedness on Cardinal Health’s board and committees.
Hemingway Hall added that directors must give advance notice before accepting an invitation to join another board. Based on its review, she said, the board believes each nominee has the capacity to fulfill the role’s responsibilities.
Shareholders also approved, on an advisory basis, compensation for named executive officers and ratified Ernst & Young as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, according to the preliminary results.
About Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH)
Cardinal Health is a healthcare services and products company that distributes pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Its customers include pharmacies, hospitals, surgery centers, physician offices and other healthcare providers. The company’s businesses include pharmaceutical distribution and specialty services, as well as the sourcing and distribution of medical and surgical products. Its offerings support areas such as specialty medications, medication management and supply-chain operations. Cardinal Health traces its roots to a wholesale business founded in Ohio in 1971 and later expanded into pharmaceutical distribution.
