Walgreen Boots Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walgreens is launching Nice! For You, a new tier of its popular owned grocery brand, Nice!, to help customers make healthier food and beverage choices. The new line features over 150 products without artificial flavors, sweeteners, synthetic dyes, or high-fructose corn syrup. Many options are also organic and gluten-free.

Nice! For You aims to support customers' journeys to healthier lifestyles while maintaining Walgreens' commitment to high-quality, great-tasting products at competitive prices. The portfolio includes a wide range of items such as jerky, oatmeal, nuts, trail mixes, dried fruit, coffee, frozen foods, beverages, and various grocery staples.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has appointed Dr. William H. Shrank to its board of directors. Dr. Shrank brings significant healthcare strategy and policy expertise, having held leadership roles at Humana, CVS Health, and Andreesen Horowitz. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as WBA focuses on strategic turnaround and enhancing its community pharmacy value. CEO Tim Wentworth and Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina expressed confidence that Dr. Shrank's experience will be instrumental in driving long-term value for stakeholders.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, consistent with the previous quarter. The dividend will be payable on September 12, 2024, to shareholders recorded by August 21, 2024. Walgreens Boots Alliance and its predecessor, Walgreen Co., have sustained a remarkable streak of paying dividends over 367 consecutive quarters, equivalent to 91 years.

Walgreens announced its sponsorship for the second consecutive year at the Friends for Life (FFL) conference hosted by Children with Diabetes (CWD). The event, taking place from July 9-14 in Orlando, Fla, aims to provide education and support to families living with type 1 diabetes. Walgreens will showcase a range of diabetes management products, including blood glucose meters, A1C test kits, and first-aid essentials, and highlight its use of Instacart's Scan & Pay technology for convenient purchasing. Key speakers include Tracey D. Brown, Walgreens EVP and chief customer officer, and Shauna Markes-Wilson, director of pharmacy and retail operations. The event will also focus on clinical trials and recruiting healthcare professionals.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reported its fiscal 2024 third-quarter results, revealing a complex financial landscape. The company posted a Q3 earnings per share (EPS) of $0.40, up from $0.14 in the previous year, but adjusted EPS decreased by 36.6% to $0.63 due to lower sale-leaseback gains and a challenging U.S. retail environment. Sales grew 2.6% year-over-year to $36.4 billion. However, fiscal 2024 adjusted EPS guidance has been lowered to $2.80-$2.95, reflecting ongoing challenges in the pharmacy sector and U.S. consumer market.

WBA is finalizing a multiyear footprint optimization program to close underperforming U.S. stores and plans to enhance the U.S. Retail Pharmacy experience. Despite a 2.3% increase in U.S. Retail Pharmacy sales to $28.5 billion, adjusted operating income declined by 47.9%, impacted by reimbursement pressures. The International segment saw a 2.8% sales increase to $5.7 billion, while U.S. Healthcare sales rose by 7.6% to $2.1 billion.

Year-to-date results show a 6.2% sales increase to $110.1 billion, but WBA faced a net loss of $5.6 billion, up from a $2.9 billion loss in the previous year, mainly due to significant impairment charges.

Walgreens announces a special Independence Day discount offer for veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families. From July 4 to July 7, valid military ID holders can enjoy a 20% discount on eligible regular-price products at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores nationwide. Additionally, all customers can get a 15% discount on online orders of $35 or more from June 30 to July 6 using code STARS15. The myWalgreens loyalty program offers further savings opportunities, including up to $30 in Walgreens Cash rewards each month. Walgreens ensures convenience with in-store shopping, 1-hour and 24-hour delivery options, and 30-minute pickup services. Regular Walgreens stores will operate on standard hours during Independence Day, while some pharmacies may have hours.

On June 27, Walgreens is collaborating with KFF's Greater Than HIV initiative to offer free rapid HIV and STD testing at over 550 Walgreens stores, making it the largest National HIV Testing Day event in the nation.

The initiative also includes free rapid syphilis and/or hepatitis C testing at many locations. This partnership aims to provide accessible testing and connect individuals to local prevention and treatment services.

HIV rapid test manufacturers, including Abbott Laboratories and OraSure Technologies, are donating tests. Since 2011, the partnership has provided over 82,000 free HIV tests. This year marks the program’s highest participation level.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) will announce its fiscal 2024 third-quarter results on June 27, 2024. The results will be released at 7 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call with WBA management at 8:30 a.m. ET.

The call will be simulcast on the WBA investor relations website and a replay will be available for 12 months.

Walgreens has announced a new wave of price reductions, extending their commitment to help customers save on over 1,300 products across various categories. This initiative follows similar efforts started in October 2023. Key price drops include Eucerin Advance Repair Hand Cream (now $5.99, down from $7.29) and Nice! Mini Pretzels (now $1.99, down from $2.79).

Additionally, Walgreens will reintroduce its myW Days promotional campaign in mid-July, offering personalized deals to its 110 million loyalty program members. These measures are designed to alleviate financial pressures on consumers and improve access to essential items.