Has Rite Aid’s Turnaround Already Peaked?

For the five weeks in May, SSS increased 2.1% compared to the same period in the previous year, while consensus estimates called for a 3.0% gain. May front-end SSS increased 0.1%. Pharmacy SSS, which included an approximate 179-basis point negative impact from new generic introductions, increased by 3.0%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 0.7% over the prior-year period.

SSS for the quarter ended in May increased 2.9% compared to last year’s numbers. Front-end SSS increased 0.6%, while pharmacy SSS increased 3.9%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 1.6% compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

The total for drugstore sales for the month of May increased 2.0% to $2.535 billion, compared to $2.484 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales accounted for 68.7% of drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.8% of pharmacy sales.

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Total drugstore sales for the fiscal first quarter increased 2.8% with sales of $6.603 billion, compared to $6.425 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales represented 69.1% of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.7% of pharmacy sales.

In terms of the number of stores, Rite Aid is one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains. At the end of May, the company operated 4,566 stores, compared to 4,581 stores in the same period of last year.

So far on the year, Rite Aid shares have risen 15%. However, just as recently as December this was a $5 stock, and it has made huge gains since then. Effectively, Rite Aid has made a strong case for a turnaround over the past few years.

This company was only about a $1 stock in 2012, but since that time it has reached as high as the $9 mark. Even after exponential gains, Rite Aid is still a fraction of its glory days from the 1990s. This trend has been primarily driven by steadily increasing revenue over the years. Not to mention, Rite Aid received an absolutely huge tax break at the end of its 2015 fiscal year.

Shares of Rite Aid were down 3.3% at $8.38 on Thursday afternoon. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $10.00 and a 52-week trading range of $4.42 to $9.07.

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