Walgreens reports increase in sales for September

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens today reported that its sales for the month of September totaled $4.85 billion, up 10 percent from the same month last year. Calendar year-to-date, sales totaled $44.35 billion reflecting an increase of 9.9 percent from last year’s total of $40.36 billion.

The company also said that comparable-store sales, covering stores open for at least one year, increased by 4.7 percent. Front-end comp-store sales increased 1.3 percent, the company reported. Walgreens credited front-end sales numbers to strong beauty and consumables sales.

According to Walgreens, pharmacy sales comprised 67.2 percent of total sales for September. September pharmacy sales increased 11.2 percent, while comparable pharmacy sales increased 6.5 percent. Comparable pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 2.4 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months. Total prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased 3.5 percent.

In September, Walgreens cut the ribbon on 36 stores, including three relocations, and acquired three stores.