McKesson Climbs 0.80% Despite 99th-Ranked Trading Volume as Institutional Confidence and Dividend Hike Fuel Long-Term Optimism

McKesson (MCK) closed on August 8, 2025, with a 0.80% increase, marking a modest rise in a subdued trading session. The stock’s trading volume dropped by 39.82% to $0.87 billion, ranking it 99th in daily trading activity among listed equities. This decline in liquidity highlights reduced short-term investor engagement despite the price gain.

Recent developments indicate growing institutional confidence in the stock. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. acquired 16,506 shares in the first quarter, while Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. and LPL Financial LLC increased holdings by 54.0% and 12.8%, respectively. These moves underscore institutional recognition of McKesson’s long-term value proposition, particularly in its healthcare distribution and technology segments.

The company’s commitment to shareholder returns was reaffirmed with a quarterly dividend hike to $0.82 per share, a 15.5% increase from the prior rate. Analysts from Bank of America and Evercore ISI raised price targets to $800, reflecting optimism about McKesson’s operational performance and strategic positioning in the healthcare sector. This aligns with its recent quarterly revenue growth of 23.4% year-over-year, driven by expanded operations in pharmaceutical and medical-surgical solutions.

Insider transactions included sales by two executive vice presidents, reducing their holdings by 32.26% and 53.19%, respectively. While these sales may signal individual portfolio adjustments, corporate insiders still retain 0.08% ownership, indicating continued alignment with long-term company interests.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day has delivered a 166.71% return since 2022, significantly outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This highlights the effectiveness of liquidity-focused momentum strategies in volatile markets, as demonstrated by McKesson’s inclusion in high-volume trading activity despite its recent volume decline.