Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What is your recommendation for Walgreen? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Walgreen Co., $34.06, symbol WAG on New York (Shares outstanding: 873.5 million; Market cap: $29.8 billion; www.walgreens.com), is the largest retail drug chain in the U.S., with over 8,270 outlets across the country. It also sells a wide variety of general merchandise. In addition, the company sells its goods online through its own website and Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. In early 2011, Walgreen paid $409 million for Drugstore.com Inc., which sells over 60,000 health and personal care items. The purchase further strengthened Walgreen’s Internet presence and lets it compete with other online drug sellers. In the three months ended November 30, 2011, Walgreen’s sales rose 4.7%, to $18.2 billion from $17.3 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 1.6%, to $0.63 from $0.62, thanks to the higher sales and the company’s cost cutting efforts. Walgreen ended its relationship with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts (symbol ESRX on Nasdaq) on January 1, 2012. (Pharmacy benefits managers negotiate discounts from drug makers so their clients—employers—can…