Boston, MA 02/03/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Retail drugstore chain operator Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) has seen its same-store sales improve by about 1.8% during January 2014 compared to a year ago, while a decline of 1.3% was seen in its front-end same-store sales, notably due to a decline seen in the sales of over-the-counter medication for diseases such as the flu.
While Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD)’s same-store sales from pharmacy outlets climbed about 3.2%, prescription-based medicine sales at comparable stores have declined by 2.2% from a year ago. In January 2014, Rite Aid’s net sales from its pharmacy chain rose approximately 1.5% to around $1.94 billion, below the approximately $1.91 billion seen a year ago. The trend seems to be in line, albeit with some tough competition, with its recent financial earnings achievements, which entailed consistent profitability after a long period of consistent losses.
Rite Aid’s Earnings History
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) saw profitability for the first time with considerable net income that could be termed as a turnaround during the fiscal year 2013. And that much-awaited profitability welled up after RAD had piled up consistent and significant losses for five straight years in a row. Furthermore, post the profit debut, five consecutive and improving quarters of profits including its most recently ended third quarter of fiscal 2013 have ensued, making RAD’s equity more lucrative for shareholders and the investor community at large.
In addition, fiscal year 2013 saw RAD start to break even and move toward profitability during the latter half, sending its stocks surging. Net income for the entire fiscal 2013 entailed a good income tax benefit of around $110.6 million and contributed significantly to RAD’s profitability mainly because its earnings before taxes touched only about $7.5 million.
2014 Revenue and EPS Outlook
Rite Aid’s current full-year 2014 sales forecasts are estimated between $25.30 billion and $25.42 billion, consistent with analyst estimates of $25.37 million. Furthermore, Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) anticipates earnings per share between $0.17 and $0.23 at the fiscal year end in February, again in line with analyst predictions of $0.23 a share. Rite Aid shares fell to $5.55 on January 31 from their previous $5.67, with after-hours improved slightly to $5.58.
