Financial News

WASHINGTON — While intentions aren't always equal to results, if the National Retail Federation's predictions are correct, consumers will be shelling out quite a bit of cash this Easter. According to NRF’s Easter spending survey, conducted by BIGinsight, Americans will spend an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations this year, up 11% from $131.04 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $16.8 billion.

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — Taro Pharmaceutical Industries will list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the Israel-based generic drug maker said Monday.

Starting Thursday, shares of Taro will trade on the exchange under the ticker symbol "TARO" and will concurrently cease to trade on the over-the-counter Pink Sheet markets.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A miniature version of the spike in stock market activity that followed speculation about the prospects of a Walgreens-Rite Aid merger happened on Drug Store News' website as a quick writeup about the potential deal became the most-read story on the site.

(THE NEWS: Reports: WAG-RAD merger speculation drives RAD stock to four-year high. For the full story, click here)

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has completed its $10 billion share repurchase program.

The program, which was authorized by the retailer's board of directors in November 2007, represents the repurchase of 193.5 million shares, or nearly 23% of its outstanding shares from that time period, at an average price of $51.68 per share.

Target will continue to repurchase shares under the $5 billion program approved by its board of directors in January, which it expects to complete in the next two to three years.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced that its board of directors Friday declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 14.5 cents per share.

The dividend will be payable on April 12 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 22, the company noted.

NEW YORK — Walgreens might be willing to acquire Rite Aid if it can't settle an ongoing contractual dispute with one of the country's largest pharmacy benefit managers, Walgreens' former CEO said in a conference call with investors Monday.

Interviewed by Credit Suisse analyst Edward Kelly, former Walgreens CEO Jeff Rein suggested that Walgreens' board "would have the stomach" to buy Rite Aid if it doesn't reach an agreement with Express Scripts, as buying Rite Aid's nearly 4,700 stores would give Walgreens considerable leverage against the PBM.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Genomma Lab is planning to present a list of candidates to serve on the board of directors of Prestige Brands.

The announcement followed Genomma Lab's unsolicited proposal to acquire Prestige Brands for $16.60 per share in cash. Although the deal was rejected, Genomma Lab intends to present the list at Prestige Brands' upcoming annual meeting in June.

MINNEAPOLIS — The board of directors of Target has declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per common share.

The dividend, which marks the company's 179th consecutive dividend paid since October 1967, is payable June 10 to shareholders of record at the close of business May 16.