CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 1,157,679	$ 419,826
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, including amounts charged to cost of goods sold	143,604	171,789
Amortization, including amounts charged to interest expense	66,564	100,040
Provision for doubtful accounts	22,144	10,892
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes	(21,568)	24,949
Share-based compensation	45,763	37,869
LIFO expense (credit)	37,134	(69,834)
Impairment of PharMEDium assets	361,652	570,000
Gain on sale of an equity investment		(13,692)
Other	(11,312)	(11,610)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(2,052,216)	(880,805)
Inventories	(152,359)	(420,190)
Income tax receivable	693,635	(522)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,580	(17,436)
Accounts payable	2,395,847	1,350,728
Accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other liabilities	(305,170)	(169,716)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	995,707	1,103,332
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(144,382)	(161,488)
Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired	0	(52,398)
Cost of equity investments	(30,580)	0
Other	7,162	2,659
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(167,800)	(211,227)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Senior notes and other loan borrowings	46,396	439,181
Senior notes and other loan repayments	(46,146)	(456,591)
Borrowings under revolving and securitization credit facilities	87,954	541,066
Repayments under revolving and securitization credit facilities	(87,257)	(539,673)
Purchases of common stock	(407,152)	(347,959)
Exercises of stock options	76,757	37,590
Cash dividends on common stock	(170,541)	(170,428)
Tax withholdings related to restricted share vesting	(9,585)	(5,667)
Other	(589)	(6,390)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(510,163)	(508,871)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	317,744	383,234
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,374,194	2,492,516
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 3,691,938	$ 2,875,750