Walgreen Q4 Profit Matches Estimates - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Walgreen Co. (WAG) reported a fourth-quarter net loss attributable to company of $239 million, compared to profit of $657 million, previous year. Loss per share was $0.25 compared to profit of $0.69. The company noted that the current year's quarter was negatively impacted by an $866 million or 90 cents per share non-cash loss on the amendment and exercise during the quarter of the company's Alliance Boots call option. Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreen was $714 million or $0.74 per share, for the quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $0.74 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Net sales increased 6.2 percent to $19.06 billion from $17.94 billion, last year. Analysts expected revenue of $19.02 billion for the quarter.

Front-end comparable store sales (those open at least a year) increased 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.2 percent and basket size increased 3.5 percent, while total sales in comparable stores increased 5.4 percent.

Prescription sales, which accounted for 65.7 percent of sales in the quarter, increased 9.3 percent, while prescription sales in comparable stores increased 7.8 percent.