Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance fell about 6% on Thursday, as the drugstore chain credited the omicron variant for strong second-quarter sales and cautioned it will take time for its health-care investments to pay off.
The drugstore chain has drawn foot traffic and higher sales during the pandemic, particularly when Covid cases spike. Shoppers have visited the company’s stores and website to get vaccines and buy at-home Covid tests.
As pandemic-related tailwinds appear to fade, however, some investors have raised concerns that Walgreens could lose momentum. Walgreens President John Standley said on the company’s earnings call that demand for Covid testing has slowed down since January and February.
The pace of vaccinations slowed, too. The drugstore chain said it administered 11.8 million Covid vaccines in the second quarter, down from 15.6 million in the first quarter. Walgreens has administered a total of over 62.8 million Covid vaccines to date.
Standley said there is still “a nice steady stream,” though, and he said the drugstore chain began offering fourth Covid shots on Wednesday.
The company is also in the early days of turning itself into a more health-care oriented company — an effort that will include the opening of hundreds of doctor offices, significant store remodels and the hiring of more medical staff.
Chief Financial Officer James Kehoe reiterated the company’s outlook of low single-digit growth for adjusted earnings per share. On an earnings call, he said it typically takes a doctor office about two years to ramp up. Once Walgreens’ doctor offices mature, however, he said the company will see significant benefits — including higher prescription volumes and lower medical costs.
Here’s what Walgreens reported compared with what analysts were expecting for the second quarter ended Feb. 28, based on Refinitiv data:
- Earnings per share: $1.59 adjusted vs. $1.40 expected
- Revenue: $33.76 billion vs. $33.4 billion expected
In the quarter, net income fell to $883 million, or $1.02 per share, from $1.03 billion, or $1.19 per share, in the year-ago period.
Excluding items, the company earned $1.59 per share, exceeding the $1.40 expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Sales rose to $33.76 billion from $32.78 billion a year earlier, and surpassed the $33.4 billion that analysts expected.
Walgreens said same-store sales for retail in the U.S. jumped 14.7% in the three-month period compared with the year-ago period, the largest gain in over 20 years. The company said it saw growth in all categories — especially in health and wellness with at-home Covid tests and cough, cold and flu-related merchandise, along with personal care and beauty items.
Sales of over-the-counter medications for common illnesses had fallen sharply at major drugstores, including competitors CVS Health and Rite Aid, during earlier parts of the pandemic as people wore masks and spent more time at home. That trend appears to be reversing as people dine out, return to the office and mingle with other people again.
At its U.K.-based Boots chain, retail same-store sales surged 22% year over year, with share gains across all major categories.
Walgreens’ e-commerce sales in the U.S. increased 38% in the second quarter, on top of 78% growth in the year-ago period. A lot of the growth in the more recent quarter came from 3.9 million same-day pickup orders, the company said.
Led by CEO Roz Brewer, the former operating chief of Starbucks, the retailer has taken steps to become a health care company. It acquired the majority stake of VillageMD, the primary care company that is opening hundreds of doctor offices at Walgreens stores. Walgreens is turning parts of some stores into Health Corners, where customers can go for a medical consultation with a pharmacist or nurse. The company is opening automated facilities where robots fill prescriptions, freeing up pharmacists’ time to provide more medical care.
Walgreens also stands to benefit from the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week of a fourth Covid shot for people who are age 50 and older or immunocompromised.
Kehoe said on an earnings call that Walgreens does not know how many vaccines that could total and did not factor them into its forecast. He said the company has been able to pass on rising costs to customers, despite inflation and the high price of ocean freight.
Walgreens said it is still considering the future of its U.K.-based Boots drugstore chain. Earlier this year, Brewer confirmed Walgreens is exploring strategic optionsfor Boots, including a potential sale, as the company focuses on its U.S. health-care business.
As of Wednesday’s close, Walgreens shares are down 9% so far this year. Shares closed Wednesday at $47.46, bringing the company’s market value to $40.97 billion.
Read the company’s press release here.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
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