Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ: WBA) rose in Wednesday trading after the company reported strong figures for its past fiscal year.
The drug store chain, based in Deerfield, Illinois, said Wednesday morning, reported Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) diluted full-year net earnings per share decreased 1% from the prior year, to $3.78; Adjusted diluted net earnings per share increase 11.1% to $5.10, up 12.9% on a constant currency basis
GAAP net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance decreased 2.3% to $4.1 billion; Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance increased 9.9% to $5.5 billion, up 11.6% on a constant currency basis
Sales increase 0.7% to $118.2 billion, an increase of 3.3% on a constant currency basis.
Moreover, the company completed a $5-billion share repurchase and added $1.0 billion to that program. Company also introduced guidance of $5.40 to $5.70 for fiscal year 2018 adjusted diluted net EPS.
Said CEO Stefano Pessina said, "We are pleased to report the company has performed well, with our businesses delivering significant progress while managing against ongoing prescription reimbursement pressure and competing in fast-changing retail environments.
"We look forward to building on this solid underlying growth in the year to come, enhanced by the expansion of our U.S. retail pharmacy network through the upcoming purchases of Rite Aid stores.”
The news caused the stock price to erupt $1.99 per share, or 3%, to $69.28, within a 52-week trading range of $66.92 to $88.00
