12 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy for 2026

7. Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR)

1-Year Gain: 36.23%

Upside Potential: 15.51%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59

Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR) is one of the best healthcare stocks to buy for 2026. On January 29, Morgan Stanley upgraded Cencora Inc. (NYSE:COR) from Equalweight to Overweight and raised its price target to $400, citing the company’s strong position in specialty pharmaceuticals and its pending majority acquisition of OneOncology.

The firm also highlighted Cencora’s plans to divest non-core assets as a positive step, boosting its FY2026 U.S. Healthcare Solutions AOI growth forecast to 10.8% and International AOI growth to 7.0%, resulting in an EPS estimate of $17.63, slightly above consensus.

On January 16, Cencora Inc. entered into credit agreements totaling $4.5 billion. The company is to leverage the credit facility to finance the acquisition of OneOncology.

The credit agreements include a $1.5 billion term credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, consisting of two tranches of $500 million and $1.5 billion, maturing in 2 and 3 years, respectively. It has also secured a separate $3 billion term loan facility with Citibank as administrative agent.

Cencora is to use proceeds from the credit agreements to pay acquisition consideration for OneOncology, its debt, and cover other related fees and expenses. Funding under the agreements is contingent on the company completing the acquisition.

Following the credit agreements, Jefferies upgraded Cencora Inc. (NYSE:COR) to a Buy from a Hold and raised the price target to $440 from $330. The research firm has also touted the company’s strong execution record and its increased long-term plan as compelling investment factors.

Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR) is a pharmaceutical solutions company that connects drug manufacturers with healthcare providers, ensuring safe and efficient delivery of medicines and health products for humans and animals.