Walgreen Boots Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walgreens has announced its commitment as a founding sponsor of the Sustainable Medicines Partnership (SMP), aimed at promoting sustainable medicine practices over a four-year period. The SMP will focus on integrated projects to reduce waste and environmental impact, guided by six sustainability pillars. Walgreens has previously disposed of over 3 million pounds of unused medications through its safe disposal program. The partnership aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and includes collaboration with various stakeholders to measure and optimize the carbon footprint of medicines.

Walgreens is actively preparing for Hurricane Ian, prioritizing the safety of patients, customers, and team members in Florida. Under the State of Emergency, pharmacists can refill non-controlled medications for up to a 30-day supply without prescriber authorization. Walgreens will deploy mobile pharmacies and emergency power generators to areas potentially affected. The company emphasizes that customers should follow emergency directives and check the Walgreens website for updates. Senior VP Lisa Badgley affirmed the commitment to community well-being and operational readiness amidst the storm.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) announced its full acquisition of Shields Health Solutions for approximately $1.37 billion, completing a strategic move to strengthen its specialty pharmacy segment. This follows WBA's previous increase in stake to about 70% in September 2021. Shields has demonstrated robust growth with a 57% sales increase in the first nine months of fiscal 2022, enhancing WBA’s consumer-centric healthcare strategy. Additionally, WBA has restructured its U.S. leadership with changes to its pharmacy and retail divisions.

Walgreens announces participation in the inaugural cohort of 51 Labs, an accelerator dedicated to advancing women+’s health, particularly during menopause. The program, launched by MATTER, partners with Astellas Pharma US, Parkview Health, and the University of Chicago Medicine. It aims to foster healthcare solutions for the 1.3 million U.S. women entering menopause annually, addressing a historically underserved health segment. The cohort will focus on enhancing awareness and managing symptoms to improve overall health outcomes for women+ during this transition.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) will release its fourth quarter and fiscal 2022 earnings results on Oct. 13, 2022, at 7 a.m. Eastern time. The management will host a two-hour conference call starting at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, which will be available via the WBA investor relations website. The replay will be accessible for a week post-call. With approximately 13,000 locations globally and over 315,000 employees, WBA continues to innovate in retail pharmacy and healthcare services, emphasizing well-being and community health.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) has appointed Inderpal Bhandari to its board and Hsiao Wang as CIO, enhancing its leadership with expertise in IT for healthcare and retail. A new Finance and Technology Committee has been formed to focus on strategic growth in technology. Bhandari, previously IBM's global chief data officer, brings extensive IT experience, while Wang, an MIT graduate, previously led technology for The Michaels Company and Walmart. This leadership expansion aims to accelerate WBA's healthcare platform and improve customer experiences.

Walgreens has begun offering updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer and Moderna for individuals aged 12 and older, authorized by the FDA and CDC. These boosters target the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, prevalent in the U.S. Appointments can be scheduled via the Walgreens app or online. Eligible individuals must have completed a primary vaccine series or received a booster at least 2 months prior. Additionally, Walgreens encourages simultaneous flu vaccinations to enhance community protection. Walgreens has administered nearly 70 million COVID-19 vaccines since the pandemic began.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has completed a majority share acquisition of CareCentrix, investing $330 million for 55% ownership, valuing the company at $800 million. This strategic move enhances Walgreens Health's capabilities in home care, allowing better management of patients transitioning from hospitals. CareCentrix manages care for 19 million members across 7,400 providers, achieving a 20% reduction in total care costs. The partnership aims to improve healthcare delivery, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance overall patient outcomes.