Walgreen Boots Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walgreens (WBA) has opened a new micro-fulfillment center (MFC) in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, expanding its automated prescription processing network. The facility will support nearly 200 Midwest stores, including 145 in Minnesota, and is expected to process approximately 13 million prescriptions annually. The center will create over 175 local jobs.

This addition brings Walgreens' MFC network to 12 facilities nationwide, supporting over 5,000 stores and processing more than 3.5 million prescriptions weekly. The network has shown impressive results, including a 24% year-over-year increase in shipped volumes and managing approximately 40% of prescription volume for supported stores. The initiative also includes an environmental focus, having recycled 3.7 million pounds of materials in fiscal 2024.

Walgreens (WBA) has announced comprehensive support measures for Rite Aid customers and employees affected by Rite Aid's bankruptcy and store closures. For customers, Walgreens is offering seamless prescription transfers through Walgreens.com/transferRX or via phone at 1-833-961-1642. For impacted Rite Aid employees, Walgreens is actively recruiting through dedicated channels, including a phone line (833-Join-Wag) and email (JoinOurStores@walgreens.com).

The company will host virtual informational sessions for pharmacy staff and promises to recognize eligible Rite Aid employees' service time. Walgreens offers career growth opportunities through programs like PharmStart, tuition assistance, and Student Loan 401(k) Match, while utilizing micro-fulfillment centers to enhance patient care time.

Walgreens (WBA) announces its participation in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 26, 2025, promoting safe disposal of unused or expired medications. The company maintains over 1,500 disposal kiosks across 46 states and Washington, D.C., offering this service year-round at no cost during regular pharmacy hours.

The initiative, part of Walgreens' ongoing commitment to combat prescription drug abuse, has successfully collected and properly disposed of more than 6.5 million pounds of unused prescription medications since its inception in 2016. Stores without kiosks offer alternative disposal options like DisposeRx free of charge. All collected medications are safely incinerated at DEA-registered facilities.

Walgreens has launched PharmStart, a groundbreaking fully-funded online education program in partnership with Guild to help eligible team members meet pharmacy school prerequisites. The initiative aims to strengthen the pharmacist talent pipeline by removing financial barriers to pursuing a PharmD degree.

The program's initial cohort includes over 300 team members across six states: Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin and Kentucky. PharmStart was developed in response to a survey highlighting tuition costs and time constraints as major obstacles for pharmacy technicians.

Complementing this initiative, Walgreens offers additional support through its Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program (PEAP) providing up to $40,000 in tuition assistance, and the Student Loan 401(k) Match Program which helps team members earn full matches while paying off student loans.

Walgreens (WBA) announces its participation in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 26, 2025, promoting safe disposal of unused medications. The company maintains over 1,500 disposal kiosks across 46 states and Washington, D.C., offering this service year-round at no cost during regular pharmacy hours.

Since launching its safe medication disposal program in 2016, Walgreens has properly disposed of more than 6.5 million pounds of unused prescription medications. For locations without kiosks, Walgreens pharmacies provide free DisposeRx or alternative disposal options at the pharmacy counter. All collected medications are safely incinerated at DEA-registered facilities.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reported Q2 fiscal 2025 results with sales increasing 4.1% year-over-year to $38.6 billion. The company posted a loss per share of $3.30, compared to $6.85 loss in the year-ago quarter, while adjusted EPS was $0.63 versus $1.20 previously.

The quarter included $4.2 billion in non-cash impairment charges related to goodwill and assets at U.S. Retail Pharmacy and VillageMD, partially offset by $1.0 billion in after-tax gains from asset monetization. Operating loss was $5.6 billion, with U.S. Retail Pharmacy seeing comparable sales up 8.2% and pharmacy sales increasing 8.9%.

Free cash flow was negative $418 million, with operating cash flow impacted by $969 million in legal payments. Following the announcement of WBA's pending acquisition by Sycamore Partners, expected to close in Q4 2025, the company has withdrawn its fiscal 2025 guidance.

Walgreens reports significant increase in flu activity across the United States, with current levels 204% higher compared to the same period last year. Data from the week ending February 8, 2025, identifies the top five states with highest flu activity as Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas.

According to Anita Patel, VP of pharmacy services development, the concerning factors are hospitalizations and outpatient visits, with cases yet to peak. The current flu season is reported as the most intense in 15 years, with flu-symptom-driven doctors' visits exceeding peak levels since 2009-2010.

Walgreens offers comprehensive flu services including:

• Vaccination appointments with flexible scheduling
• Combination testing for influenza A/B and COVID-19 with 30-minute results
• At-home tests and OTC medicines with 1-hour delivery
• Virtual healthcare services and Same Day Prescription Delivery

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a transaction valued at up to $23.7 billion. Shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash at closing, plus a non-transferable right to receive up to $3.00 in cash per share from future monetization of WBA's VillageMD businesses.

The Cash Consideration represents a 29% premium, and the Total Consideration up to 63% premium, to WBA's closing share price of $8.85 on December 9, 2024. The deal includes a 35-day go-shop period and is expected to close in Q4 2025. WBA's Executive Chairman Stefano Pessina, owning approximately 17% of shares, will reinvest all cash consideration and make an additional investment in the acquiring company.

Post-acquisition, WBA will become private and maintain its Chicago headquarters, continuing to operate under the Walgreens and Boots brands. The transaction aims to better position WBA to execute its turnaround strategy with Sycamore's retail expertise.