Walgreens Shares Surge 12% as Q4 Beats on Earnings and Revenue

Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) saw a more than 12% intra-day on Tuesday following its better-than-expected fiscal Q4 2024 results. The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.39, surpassing Street predictions of $0.36. Revenue for the quarter reached $37.55 billion, exceeding the estimated $35.75 billion.

International sales rose by 3.2% year-over-year to $5.97 billion, outperforming projections of $5.84 billion. U.S. Retail Pharmacy sales climbed 6.5% to $29.47 billion, beating the expected $27.48 billion, while U.S. Healthcare sales grew 7.2% to $2.11 billion, slightly below the forecasted $2.15 billion.

However, the company’s adjusted gross margin fell to 16.9%, down from 18.6% the previous year and short of the 17.6% estimate. Looking ahead to fiscal 2025, Walgreens forecasts EPS between $1.40 and $1.80, with revenue projected at $147 billion to $151 billion, both slightly above Street expectations. The company also anticipates adjusted operating income of $1.6 billion to $2.0 billion, aligning with the $1.89 billion consensus.

To address ongoing challenges, Walgreens announced plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years under the leadership of new CEO Tim Wentworth, as the company navigates weak consumer spending and declining drug reimbursement rates.