Rite Aid February Same Store Sales Rises 1.5% - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) said that its same store sales for the five weeks ended March 1, 2014 increased 1.5 percent over the prior-year period. February front-end same store sales decreased 1.8 percent, of which 0.5 percent was attributable to a decrease in sales of flu-related over-the-counter products.

Monthly Pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 138 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 3.1 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores decreased 1.4 percent over the prior-year period, of which 1.3 percent was attributable to a decrease in flu-related prescriptions.

Total drugstore sales for the five-week period increased 2.4 percent to $2.515 billion compared to $2.457 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales accounted for 69.1 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.3 percent of pharmacy sales.

In addition, same store sales increased 2.1 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales decreased 0.7 percent while pharmacy same store sales increased 3.5 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores decreased 1.8 percent over the prior-year period.

Total drugstore sales for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2014 increased 2.2 percent with sales of $6.567 billion compared to $6.425 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales represented 67.5 percent of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.1 percent of pharmacy sales.