Walgreens Boots Alliance is scheduled to report earnings for its fiscal first quarter before the market opens Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
NET INCOME: Walgreens is expected to swing to a net profit of $367.6 million, or 24 cents a share, according to FactSet. This compares with reported losses of $3.72 billion, or $4.31 a share, a year earlier as a result of opioid-related settlements.
ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE: Stripping out one-time items, the drugstore chain’s earnings per share are forecast to come in at 53 cents, according to FactSet.
SALES: Walgreens’ sales are set to rise to $34.95 billion, according to FactSet. This compares with reported sales of $33.38 billion for the same period a year ago.
The stock climbed 15% during the quarter and recently traded at $25.81.
WHAT TO WATCH:
–The market will look for comments about whether Walgreens has identified a new finance chief following the departure of James Kehoe, who joined the fintech company FIS Global in August.
–Investors will watch closely the business performance of Boots and what its future looks like after a Bloomberg report said Walgreens is reviving discussions on a potential exit from the U.K. pharmacy chain.
–Walgreens’ views on boosting its healthcare business and tackling the ongoing pharmacist shortage also will be of interest to the market, as well as commentary about Covid-19-related sales.