On a GAAP basis, the company posted net income of $1.3 billion in the third quarter ($1.18 per share). Adjustments included a $0.29 per share loss on the fair market value of warrants, among other charges and benefits. The increase in sales was largely due to the inclusion of Alliance Boots for the full quarter.
The company also announced an increase of 6.7% in its annual dividend, from $1.35 per share to $1.44 per share, the 40th consecutive year that it has raised its payout to shareholders.
Walgreens narrowed its previous guidance for full-year adjusted net earnings to a range of $3.70 to $3.80. Adjusted net earnings per diluted share were reaffirmed at $4.25 to $4.60 for the full fiscal year.
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Consensus estimates for adjusted earnings called for $3.64 per share. Analysts also have tabbed full-year revenues at $105.12 billion. For the company’s fourth quarter, consensus estimates call for EPS of $0.81 on revenues of $29.15 billion.
Announced separately Thursday morning was that Walgreens acquired the U.K.-based skincare brand Liz Earle from Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP) for about $215.7 million in cash.
The company also announced the appointment of acting CEO Stefano Pessina as permanent chief executive officer. Pessina said:
In just six months since the strategic combination that formed Walgreens Boots Alliance, we are beginning to make progress in our operations, as we were able to deliver another strong quarter. Our Retail Pharmacy USA division produced a solid increase in comparable prescriptions filled in the quarter, along with improved retail front-end margins and very good cost control. Our other divisions continued to perform as we expected. Of course, there is more work to be done as we move forward. The fourth quarter is typically the slowest quarter because of seasonality in the business, while prescription reimbursement pressure continues to impact our pharmacies, making retail margin expansion and cost control as important as ever.
Shares were up about 3.3% just after Thursday’s opening bell, at $88.78, in a 52-week range of $57.75 to $93.42. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of $91.40 before the results were announced.
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