CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 1,444,947	$ 721,828
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, including amounts charged to cost of goods sold	215,195	246,290
Amortization, including amounts charged to interest expense	93,758	137,835
Provision for doubtful accounts	25,409	15,045
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes	(7,199)	44,681
Share-based compensation	57,579	48,431
LIFO expense (credit)	43,195	(79,747)
Impairment of PharMEDium assets	361,652	570,000
Gain on sale of an equity investment	0	(13,692)
Loss on early retirement of debt	22,175	0
Other, net	10,241	(11,603)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(436,237)	(672,742)
Inventories	(910,828)	(280,148)
Income tax receivable	(590,165)	522
Prepaid expenses and other assets	28,757	(5,787)
Accounts payable	824,105	964,667
Accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, and other liabilities	(274,776)	(14,379)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	907,808	1,671,201
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(251,101)	(230,767)
Cost of acquired companies, net of cash acquired	0	(64,044)
Cost of equity investments	(34,830)	0
Other, net	7,824	(2,222)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(278,107)	(297,033)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Senior notes and other loan borrowings	590,106	479,365
Senior notes and other loan repayments	(568,032)	(480,718)
Borrowings under revolving and securitization credit facilities	116,946	607,815
Repayments under revolving and securitization credit facilities	(149,980)	(736,955)
Payment of premium on early retirement of debt	(21,448)	0
Purchases of common stock	(420,449)	(522,778)
Exercises of stock options	137,748	54,860
Cash dividends on common stock	(256,764)	(255,064)
Tax withholdings related to restricted share vesting	(9,660)	(5,959)
Other	(2,090)	(7,691)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(583,623)	(867,125)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	46,078	507,043
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,374,194	2,492,516
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 3,420,272	$ 2,999,559