Walgreens Boots Alliance Anticipates Quarterly Earnings Release

On the upcoming Thursday, Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) is scheduled to publish its earnings report before the market opens. The healthcare and retail giant's forecast, as anticipated by market analysts, is $0.84 per share for the quarter. In terms of guidance, the company has set its expectations for fiscal year 2024 to be between $3.200 and $3.500 for EPS.

Last quarter's performance, announced on January 4th, revealed that Walgreens Boots Alliance exceeded analyst predictions by reporting earnings of $0.66 per share against the expected $0.62, marking a $0.04 surplus. The company showed a return on equity of 10.48% and maintained a net margin of 0.40%. Revenue stood at $36.70 billion, surpassing the anticipated $34.95 billion. This figure illustrates a 9.9% increase from the previous year's quarter. Looking forward, analysts project an EPS of $3 for both the current and next fiscal years for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Stock Trading and Dividend Details

The stock of WBA opened at $21.09 on Thursday. Key financial ratios for the company include a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.30, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. With a market cap of $18.19 billion, the price-to-earnings ratio rests at 31.95, the PEG ratio at 1.28, and the beta at 0.73. The 50-day and 200-day moving averages are currently at $22.04 and $22.35, respectively. Walgreens Boots Alliance also recently paid out a dividend on March 12th, with a $0.25 per share distribution to shareholders on record as of February 20th.

Analyst Ratings and Insider Activity

Several research analysts have provided updates on WBA shares. The general consensus among analysts is a 'Hold' rating, with a target price averaging $25.75. Moreover, recent insider activity includes significant stock purchases by company executives and directors, demonstrating confidence in the firm's future prospects. These transactions have been publicly disclosed through the SEC.

Institutional Investor Movements

Institutional investors have seen a recent shift in their stake in Walgreens Boots Alliance. Notably, BlackRock Inc. has increased its share count by 4.6%, now owning a total of 63,406,129 shares. Morgan Stanley, among other notable investors, has also upped its investment. Collectively, institutional investors own 57.92% of WBA's outstanding shares.

About the Company

Walgreens Boots Alliance operates across several segments, including U.S. Retail Pharmacy and International, offering pharmacy and healthcare services as well as retail solutions. They are known for their drugstore chains, health and wellness services, and specialty pharmacy offerings.

Earnings, Stocks, Dividend