Walgreens Boots' Retail Business Solid Amid Several Concerns

On Mar 29, we issued an updated research report on Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) .

We are currently looking forward to the company’s modified Rite Aid contract, expected to benefit the company in the long run. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Over the past three months, shares of Walgreens Boots have outperformed the industry. The stock has lost 6.9%, narrower than the industry’s 11.1% decline. We note that the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, having grossed highest sales in the last eight quarters.

We are encouraged by the company’s consistent sales increase in the Retail Pharmacy International business. Moreover, Walgreens Boots has been gaining traction from a slew of strategic tie-ups, which brought more patients to its U.S. pharmacies.

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Price

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Price | Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Quote

We are also upbeat about the company’s alliance with Express Scripts, via which, both companies aim to expand respective existing group purchasing efforts. This latest pact is expected to improve Express Scripts’ supply chain and make medicines including biosimilars affordable and accessible to patients.

The above positives apart, Walgreens Boots’ decision to buy a 40% stake in China’s Sinopharm Holding Guoda Drugstores looks promising as that should provide a strong impetus to the company’s worldwide retail pharmacy business. The limited number of Rite Aid stores’ acquisition also impresses us for which, the company has recently secured a regulatory approval.

However, Walgreens Boots faces headwinds in the form of fierce competition and tough industry conditions. Even though the company continues to reap from its growth initiatives, major mass merchants are already advancing with boost in pharmacy businesses and a fair market share.

Notably, a slowdown in generic introduction over the last few years has been affecting Walgreens Boots’ margins. Also, an escalated reimbursement pressure and a generic drug cost inflation have been hampering Walgreens Boots’ margins significantly.

Key Picks

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical sector are Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE:BIO) , athenahealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHN) and Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) .

Bio-Rad Laboratories sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The company has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 20%.

athenahealth is a Zacks #1 Ranked player. It has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 21.5%.

Edwards Lifesciences has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 15.1%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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