Shares of Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from analysts covering the stock, according to Marketbeat.com. The consensus target price set by these analysts stands at $373.25. This assessment comes from a total of thirteen analysts, with four rating the stock as a hold, eight issuing buy ratings, and one giving a strong buy rating.

Analysts have been actively revising their recommendations on Cencora. On December 8, Barclays initiated coverage with an “overweight” rating and set a price objective of $400.00. Following this, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its target from $344.00 to $417.00 in a report published on November 11. Similarly, Wells Fargo & Company adjusted its price target from $354.00 to $405.00 on the same day. Evercore ISI also set a target price of $400.00 with an “outperform” rating on November 6, while UBS Group raised their target from $380.00 to $415.00 on November 7.

Recent Financial Performance

Cencora’s most recent financial results, posted on November 5, revealed an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.84 for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $3.79 by $0.05. The company reported a return on equity of 227.15% and a net margin of 0.48%. Revenue for the quarter reached $83.73 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $83.36 billion. This represents a 5.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year, during which the firm earned $3.34 per share.

Looking ahead, Cencora has set its guidance for fiscal year 2026 at an EPS between $17.450 and $17.75. Analysts project that Cencora will achieve an average EPS of $15.37 for the current year.

Dividend Increase and Insider Activity

On December 1, Cencora announced an increase in its quarterly dividend, now set at $0.60 per share, up from $0.55. Shareholders of record on November 14 received this dividend, which translates to an annualized total of $2.40 and a yield of 0.7%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands at 30.19%.

In other corporate news, Silvana Battaglia, Executive Vice President, sold 1,677 shares on December 19 at an average price of $345.00, totaling $578,565.00. After this transaction, Battaglia retained 18,796 shares, valued at approximately $6,484,620, reflecting an 8.19% decrease in ownership. Additionally, Robert P. Mauch, the Chief Executive Officer, sold 5,097 shares on October 20 for $1,665,699.60. Following this sale, Mauch holds 37,940 shares worth about $12,398,792, marking an 11.84% reduction in his holdings.

Over the last three months, insiders have sold a total of 20,317 shares valued at $7,009,260, with insiders currently owning 10.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Holdings

Institutional investors have been active in adjusting their positions in Cencora. Vestcor Inc. increased its stake by 0.5% during the third quarter, now holding 5,196 shares valued at $1,624,000. Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings by 1.3% to 2,383 shares worth $745,000. Other notable investors include Security Financial Services Inc., which grew its stake by 2.6%, and Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC, which increased its holdings by 31.4%.

Approximately 97.52% of Cencora’s stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds, reflecting strong confidence in the company’s future performance.

Cencora, Inc. operates as a global healthcare services and pharmaceutical distribution company, providing comprehensive solutions across the pharmaceutical supply chain. Its core activities include drug distribution and specialty pharmacy services, alongside logistics and cold-chain management to support complex therapies. The company also offers a variety of commercial and patient-focused services for pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers.

The latest AP Top 25 poll for men’s college basketball has revealed significant shifts as teams enter the 2026 calendar year. Following a brief hiatus, the rankings show the Nebraska Cornhuskers climbing from No. 13 to No. 10, while the Michigan State Spartans have dropped from No. 9 to No. 12. The top 10 remains largely unchanged, with Houston and Gonzaga swapping positions, and BYU making a one-spot gain. Notably, Florida and USC have fallen out of the rankings, making way for SMU and UCF, both of which secured impressive victories over North Carolina and Kansas, respectively.

Top Teams and Notable Performances

The Arizona Wildcats remain at the top of the poll with a perfect record of 14-0. They are among six unbeaten teams in Division I basketball this season. Their current win streak ties for the third longest in program history, a remarkable feat achieved alongside their impressive historical streaks in 2013-14, 1931-32, and 2012-13. The Wildcats are set to face Kansas State on January 3 at 21:00 EST.

The Michigan Wolverines sit at No. 2, also with an unblemished record of 13-0. They have achieved a remarkable milestone by defeating three AP-ranked teams this season, all by margins exceeding 30 points. This achievement marks them as the first team in AP history to accomplish three consecutive 30-point victories against ranked opponents. Their next game is on January 2 against Penn State at 19:00 EST.

The Iowa State Cyclones hold the third position with a record of 14-0, matching their best start in program history. Their current win streak is the second longest active streak in Division I, only behind Nebraska’s 18 consecutive victories. Iowa State will face Baylor on January 3 at 20:00 EST.

Meanwhile, the UConn Huskies have moved to fourth with a record of 14-1. They are currently on a 10-game winning streak, their longest since winning 13 consecutive games to secure the national championship in 2023-24. UConn’s next matchup is against Providence on January 3 at 17:00 EST.

The fifth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers boast a record of 13-1, with player Braden Smith recently breaking the Big Ten career assists record. Purdue will play against Washington on January 3 at 20:30 EST.

Key Changes and Upcoming Matches

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have made headlines by winning their first home game against an AP-ranked team since defeating Kansas in 1991. Their 14-0 record is the longest active streak in Division I. Nebraska’s next game will be against Ohio State on January 8 at 18:30 EST.

Conversely, the Michigan State Spartans have seen a decline following their loss to Nebraska, marking their record at 12-2. Despite this, player Jaxon Kohler has established a new record for the longest double-double streak in Michigan State history. They will look to bounce back against USC on January 8 at 20:30 EST.

The Kansas Jayhawks, ranked 22nd with a record of 10-4, have also faced challenges this season. Player Darryn Peterson has made an impressive impact with 103 points in just 128 minutes of play. Kansas will take on TCU on January 3 at 20:00 EST.

As the season progresses, fans will be watching closely to see how these teams perform in their upcoming games and how the rankings will continue to shift in the competitive landscape of college basketball.

Research analysts at Jones Trading have initiated coverage on Armata Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, according to a report released on March 4, 2024. The firm has assigned a “buy” rating for the stock, along with a price target of $15.00. This target suggests a potential upside of approximately 129.71% from the stock’s last closing price.

Stock Performance and Market Activity

During midday trading on March 4, Armata Pharmaceuticals’ stock experienced a slight decline, falling $0.03 to reach $6.53. The trading volume was reported at 6,693 shares, compared to the average volume of 15,917 shares. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated significantly, recording a fifty-two week low of $0.90 and a high of $16.34. Currently, Armata Pharmaceuticals holds a market capitalization of $237.76 million, a PE ratio of -4.03, and a beta value of 1.29. The stock’s fifty-day and two-hundred-day simple moving averages stand at $6.16 and $3.96, respectively.

Recent institutional activity highlights a notable interest in Armata Pharmaceuticals. GSB Wealth Management LLC disclosed that it acquired a new position in the company during the second quarter, purchasing 30,000 shares valued at approximately $57,000. Following this transaction, GSB Wealth Management holds a 0.08% stake in Armata Pharmaceuticals, while institutional investors collectively own 3.57% of the company’s stock.

Company Overview and Strategic Focus

Armata Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing targeted bacteriophage therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The company employs a proprietary platform that utilizes naturally occurring viruses that selectively infect and destroy bacterial pathogens. This innovative approach addresses the growing issue of drug-resistant strains that pose significant challenges in both hospital and community settings.

Armata’s pipeline includes phage-based candidates aimed at key pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia and infections in cystic fibrosis patients, as well as Staphylococcus aureus and other priority pathogens. The company’s research and development efforts are critical in the fight against antibiotic resistance, which remains a major public health concern globally.

As Armata Pharmaceuticals continues to advance its clinical programs, the recent endorsement from Jones Trading may provide additional momentum for its stock performance in the near future. Investors and market analysts will be closely monitoring the company’s progress and the impact of its innovative therapies on the healthcare landscape.

Czechia triumphed over Canada with a score of 6-4 on March 24, 2024, securing a place in the World Junior Hockey Championship final against Sweden. This match, held in St. Paul, Minnesota, marked the first all-European final since 2016, showcasing the rising talent in European hockey.

With just 1:14 remaining in the game, Tomas Poletin scored a pivotal goal, deflecting the puck off his skate to give Czechia the lead. Earlier in the match, Porter Martone had tied the game for Canada, a team that has won the championship 20 times. The victory for Czechia continues a trend, as they have eliminated Canada in the tournament for three consecutive years.

Vaclav Nestrasil, a player for Czechia and first-round draft pick by Chicago, expressed the team’s determination, stating, “Obviously we wanted this win, because you heard them in the media… We wanted to keep their ego down, and we did that. I think we were better.”

Czechia’s scoring was led by Vojtech Cihar, who netted two goals, while Maxmilian Curran, Adam Titlbach, and Adam Benak also contributed to the scoreboard. Goaltender Michal Orsulak made 20 saves, demonstrating solid performance under pressure. Coach Patrik Augusta praised his team’s hunger, stating, “The guys just showed that they are a team. They showed a lot of character and a lot of will.”

Canada’s scoring included goals from Tij Iginla, Zayne Parekh, and Cole Reschny, while Jack Ivankovic made 31 saves. Reflecting on the loss, Canadian coach Dale Hunter acknowledged the emotional toll, remarking, “They’re down. That’s hockey. Be a pro about it.”

In a notable moment, Canada’s Michael Hage was awarded a penalty shot but failed to convert after being tripped by Orsulak. Hage commented, “I had an empty net… I just thought he bit so hard I’d try the same thing.”

Earlier in the day, Sweden advanced to the final by defeating Finland 4-3 in a thrilling shootout. Anton Frondell scored the decisive goal in the eighth round after Sweden’s previous attempts fell short. “I blacked out,” Frondell said about his winning shot. “It was an amazing feeling… happy the last one went in.”

The final match is set to take place on March 25, 2024, where Czechia and Sweden will each aim for their third World Junior Championship title. Czechia previously won in 2000 and 2001, while Sweden’s victories came in 1981 and 2012. Both teams are prepared for a fierce competition, reflecting on their respective journeys through the tournament.

Finland and Canada will face off in the third-place game, each aiming to secure a medal despite their recent disappointments. As McKenna stated, “Very tough, but doing it for Canada. We’ve got to regroup to be ready.”

This year’s tournament has showcased the growing competitiveness in international junior hockey, and the final promises to be an exciting confrontation between two strong teams.