Walgreens sees sales increase for October

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens said Friday the company experienced an overall increase in earnings for the month of October.

According to company financials, Walgreens’ October sales increased 11.8 percent, from $4,321,899,000 for the same month in 2006. Sales in comparable stores (those open at least a year) rose 6.9 percent.

Meanwhile, October pharmacy sales increased 12.9 percent, while comparable pharmacy sales increased 7.8 percent. Comparable pharmacy sales were negatively impacted, the company said, because of generic drug introductions in the last 12 months. Total prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased 5.6 percent. Pharmacy sales accounted for nearly two-thirds (66.6 percent) of total sales for the month.

Fiscal 2008 year-to-date sales for the two months were $9,241,787,000, up 10.6 percent from $8,353,426,000. Comparable store sales for the fiscal year to date increased 5.9 percent.

As of Oct. 31, Walgreens operated 6,059 drugstores (including 101 home care division locations, eight specialty pharmacies and three mail service facilities) in 49 states and Puerto Rico, versus 5,515 a year ago. Franchisees of Option Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens, are not included in Walgreens store count.

Walgreens will release first-quarter 2008 earnings on Friday, Dec. 21.