Rite Aid posts Q1 results
Rite Aid reported a net loss of $306.7 million, or $5.56 loss per share, adjusted net loss of $40.1 million, or 73 cents loss per share, and adjusted EBITDA of $91.7 million, or 1.6% of revenues in the first fiscal quarter, which ended June 3, 2023.
“Our first quarter results were driven by strong script growth, solid pharmacy margins and early progress with our turnaround program, which offset underperformance on front-end sales in the retail pharmacy segment and a higher-than-expected medical loss ratio at Elixir Insurance," said Elizabeth “Busy” Burr, interim CEO of Rite Aid.
Burr added, “To help mitigate this, we are making targeted reductions to SG&A and capital expenditures over the remainder of the year. Importantly, we made good progress on turnaround initiatives across key areas of the business, and we continue to believe we are on track to achieve adjusted EBITDA growth in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.”
For the first quarter, Rite Aid reported a net loss of $306.7 million, or $5.56 loss per share, adjusted net loss of $40.1 million, or 73 cents loss per share, and adjusted EBITDA of $91.7 million, or 1.6% of revenues.
[Read more: Rite Aid posts Q4, full-year results]
Rite Aid's revenues for the quarter were $5.65 billion compared to revenues of $6.01 billion in the prior year’s quarter, largely due to the reduction in the company’s Prescription Drug Plan membership and the loss of commercial clients at Elixir. The reduction in revenues for the first quarter was partially offset by an increase in retail pharmacy segment revenues, driven by an increase in pharmacy sales, Rite Aid said.
The retailer's net loss for Q1 was $306.7 million, or $5.56 loss per share, compared to last year’s first quarter net loss of $110.2 million, or $2.03 loss per share. The increase in net loss is primarily due to a non-cash charge to write down Elixir goodwill, driven by performance in Elixir Insurance’s Individual Part D Plan and the company’s decision to exit the Individual Part D market beginning in January 2024. Other factors contributing to the higher net loss were higher restructuring-related charges, a lower gain on sale of assets, higher interest expense and a decrease in adjusted EBITDA. These were partially offset by decreased facility exit and impairment charges, Rite Aid said.
Rite Aid’s retail pharmacy segment revenues increased 3.4% over the prior year quarter driven by an increase in both acute and maintenance prescriptions. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in COVID vaccine and testing revenue as well as store closures, Rite Aid said.
The retailer's same store sales for the quarter increased 8.4% over the prior year period, consisting of a 13.3% increase in pharmacy sales. The increase was partially offset by a 4.4% decrease in front-end sales. Front-end same store sales, excluding cigarettes and tobacco products, decreased 3.8%. The number of prescriptions filled in same stores, adjusted to 30-day equivalents, increased 4.7% over the prior year period. Total same store prescriptions, excluding COVID immunizations and tests, increased 7.4%, with same store maintenance prescriptions increasing 7.6% and other same store acute prescriptions increasing 6.8%. Prescription sales accounted for 73.9% of total drugstore sales. Total store count at the end of the first quarter was 2,284.
Rite Aid’s retail pharmacy segment adjusted EBITDA was $70 million, or 1.6% of revenues, for the first quarter compared to last year’s first quarter adjusted EBITDA of $73.7 million, or 1.7% of revenues. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA was due to a decrease in adjusted EBITDA gross profit of $8.4 million, partially offset by decreased Adjusted EBITDA selling, general and administrative expenses of $4.8 million. Gross profit was negatively impacted by the decline in front-end sales, COVID vaccinations and testing and increased shrink expense. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in prescriptions sold, better than expected recovery rates and the impact of generic drug settlements. SG&A expenses benefited from lower occupancy and other operating costs due to store closures and cost control initiatives, Rite Aid said.
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Rite Aid’s pharmacy services segment revenues were $1.2 billion for the quarter, a decrease of 30.7% compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease in revenues was primarily the result of a decrease in Elixir Individual Part D Insurance membership due to a change in the company’s pricing structure and loss of commercial clients. The decrease was partially offset by increased utilization and higher drugs costs, Rite Aid said.
The retailer's pharmacy services segment adjusted EBITDA was $21.7 million, or 1.8% of revenues, for the first quarter compared to last year’s first quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $26.4 million, or 1.5% of revenues. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA resulted from the lower membership as mentioned above and an increase in the medical loss ratio at Elixir Insurance. The decrease was partially offset by improved procurement economics and reductions in SG&A expense, the retailer noted.
Based on recent business trends, Rite Aid is reducing total company adjusted EBITDA guidance by $10 million to be between $330 million and $360 million. Pharmacy services segment adjusted EBITDA expectations are being lowered by $10 million to be between $90 million and $100 million due to higher drug costs and a higher medical loss ratio at Elixir Insurance. Retail pharmacy segment adjusted EBITDA remains unchanged and is expected to be between $240 million and $260 million, which is a result of tougher front-end sales trends balanced with cost savings, the retailer said.
Rite Aid's total revenues are expected to be between $22.6 billion and $23 billion in fiscal 2024. Retail pharmacy segment revenue is expected to be between $18 billion and $18.3 billion, and pharmacy services segment revenue is expected to be between $4.6 billion and $4.7 billion, net of any intercompany revenues to the retail pharmacy segment.
Net loss is expected to be between approximately $650 million and $680 million.
Adjusted net loss per share is expected to be between $4.29 and $4.78.
Capital expenditures are now expected to be approximately $175 million, with a focus on investments in technology, prescription file purchases and distribution center automation.