Walgreen Boots Stock Price, News & Analysis

Walgreens has launched its 2024-2025 Flu Index, an interactive online tool tracking weekly flu activity through prescription data from its pharmacies nationwide. The index, running for 11 years, shows southern states typically experience earlier and more intense flu peaks. Despite current low activity levels, a seasonal spike is anticipated. Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer, emphasizes the importance of protection against flu, COVID-19, and RSV before the holiday season. The company offers various vaccination options, including walk-ins and scheduled appointments, with a 20% discount promotion for myWalgreens members on purchases of $20 or more after vaccination.

Walgreens is offering a special 20% discount to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families from November 8 through November 11, 2024. The discount applies to regular-priced eligible store items at all Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide.

Through the free myWalgreens loyalty program, members can earn additional benefits including 1% Walgreens Cash rewards storewide and 5% on Walgreens branded products. The discount requires proof of service and myWalgreens membership, which can be obtained at checkout or online. Stores will maintain regular business hours on Veterans Day, with 24-hour pharmacies remaining open and select non-24-hour pharmacies operating with modified hours.

Uber Eats has launched nationwide acceptance of SNAP EBT payments, partnering with Albertsons Companies' grocery stores (including Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and Vons) and Walgreens locations. The initiative aims to expand access to nutritious food for millions of Americans. EBT cardholders will receive free delivery on their first three SNAP-eligible orders and a 3-month free Uber One membership. The service, powered by Forage's payment technology, allows eligible customers to order groceries through the Uber Eats app using their SNAP benefits. Uber plans to add more retailers to the program in the coming months.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has announced its board of directors' declaration of a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share, maintaining the same rate as the previous quarter. The dividend will be paid on December 12, 2024, to stockholders of record as of November 18, 2024. This continues the company's remarkable dividend payment streak, which spans 368 consecutive quarters (92 years), including payments from its predecessor company, Walgreen Co.

Walgreens (Nasdaq: WBA) and Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) have announced a long-term strategic partnership aimed at improving patient outcomes in the healthcare sector. The collaboration will enhance Veeva Data Cloud products while granting Walgreens access to Veeva's Data Cloud and Clinical Platform.

As a major retail and specialty pharmacy provider, Walgreens will contribute to expanding the breadth of data in Veeva Data Cloud, enabling life sciences companies to better understand market trends and improve patient care. This partnership leverages Walgreens' position as a neighborhood health destination and Veeva's expertise in life sciences software and data services.

Walgreens and Dion's Chicago Dream have partnered to install a Dream Vault smart locker at the Walgreens store in Gage Park, Chicago. This initiative aims to provide free, high-quality produce to over 175 local households weekly, expanding their reach to a total of 275 Chicagoland households-in-need.

The Dream Vault, unveiled last year, is designed to serve up to 200 households within a one-mile radius, offering a week's supply of fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost. This collaboration addresses food insecurity in Gage Park, where nearly 21% of residents lack reliable access to healthy food.

Walgreens' involvement includes sponsoring Dream Deliveries for 100 households and now hosting the Dream Vault. The initiative aligns with Walgreens' commitment to improving health equity and providing essential services to the community for almost 125 years.

Walgreens is urging the public to participate in National Prescription Drug Takeback Day on October 26th, 2024, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug abuse. The company has collected and properly disposed of over 6 million pounds of unused prescription medications since 2016 through its safe medication disposal program.

Walgreens offers more than 1,550 kiosks across 46 states and Washington, D.C. for year-round, no-cost disposal of unwanted, unused, or expired medications. Customers can locate these kiosks using the store locator on walgreens.com. Pharmacies without kiosks provide free DisposeRx or other disposal options upon request. All collected medications are safely incinerated at DEA-registered facilities.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reported fiscal year 2024 earnings, with fourth quarter results in line with expectations. Key points include:

- Q4 loss per share of $3.48, adjusted EPS of $0.39 (down 40.8% on constant currency)

- Q4 sales increased 6.0% year-over-year to $37.5 billion

- Fiscal 2024 loss per share of $10.01, adjusted EPS of $2.88 (down 27.9% on constant currency)

- Fiscal 2024 sales increased 6.2% to $147.7 billion

- Achieved U.S. Healthcare segment adjusted EBITDA increase of $442 million in fiscal 2024

- Announced footprint optimization program targeting approximately 1,200 store closures over three years

- Fiscal 2025 guidance: adjusted EPS of $1.40 to $1.80

Walgreens has appointed Jason Stenta as SVP and Chief Commercial Officer, effective early October. In this new role, Stenta will lead the company's B2B commercial growth strategy, focusing on developing and commercializing healthcare services based on Walgreens' core assets. He will also work on enhancing partnerships with payers, health system providers, and life sciences companies.

Stenta brings nearly 20 years of healthcare experience, most recently serving as SVP of payer sales at Optum, a UnitedHealth Group company. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at CVS Health for 10 years. His appointment is expected to strengthen Walgreens' position as a leading community pharmacy and health services provider in the U.S.

Mary Langowski, EVP and president of U.S. Healthcare at Walgreens Boots Alliance, expressed confidence in Stenta's strategic and relationship-driven leadership, highlighting his experience with complex healthcare organizations and understanding of market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and customer needs.