NASDAQ$WBA

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc · Q3 2020 earnings

Q3 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Financial performance was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but progress was accelerated on strategic priorities.

Walgreens Boots Alliance reported a challenging third quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted sales and operating income. The company took actions to mitigate these impacts and accelerated investments in strategic priorities, increasing its annual cost savings target. While sales saw a slight increase, the company reported an operating loss due to impairment charges in Boots UK.

  • Sales increased 0.1 percent to $34.6 billion, up 1.2 percent on a constant currency basis.
  • Operating loss of $1.6 billion, compared to operating income of $1.2 billion a year ago, mainly due to the non-cash impairment charges of $2 billion in Boots UK.
  • Adjusted EPS decreased 43.8 percent from $1.47 to $0.83.
  • Company increased annual cost savings target from the Transformational Cost Management Program to in excess of $2.0 billion by fiscal 2022.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$34.6B

Previous: $34.6B+0.1%
EPS (adj)

$0.83

Previous: $1.47-43.5%
Capital Expenditures

$257M

Previous: $453M-43.3%
Free Cash Flow

$657M

Previous: $1.57B-58.1%
Net Income

-$1.71B

Previous: $1.03B-266.6%
Operating Income

-$1.6B

Previous: $1.2B-233.0%
Gross Profit

$5.96B

Previous: $7.45B-20.1%
Cash & Equivalents

$768M

Previous: $768M+0.0%
Total Assets

$86.4B

Previous: $68.6B+26.0%
Stock-Based Comp

$34M

Previous: $24M+41.7%

Revenue & EPS history

Walgreens · Revenue · Quarterly

$34.6B

Q3 2020+0.1%vs Q3 2019
Beat estimate in 12 of 16 quarters(75%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Walgreens · $29.3B total across 2 segments · Q3 2020

  • U.S. Pharmacy
    $27.4B
  • International
    $1.9B

Forward guidance

The company introduced fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.65 to $4.75, including estimated adverse COVID-19 impacts of $1.03 to $1.14 per share. This guidance assumes continued adverse impacts from COVID-19 in the fourth quarter.

Tailwinds

  • More robust sales growth is expected in the Retail Pharmacy USA division.
  • Company increased annual cost savings target from the Transformational Cost Management Program to in excess of $2.0 billion by fiscal 2022
  • Company accelerated investments in strategic priorities, preparing for future growth
  • The company is seeing encouraging response from customers to its digital marketing initiatives
  • Walgreens total digitally initiated sales increased by 22.7 percent

Headwinds

  • Company introduced fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.65 to $4.75, including estimated adverse COVID-19 impacts of $1.03 to $1.14 per share
  • In the UK, retail conditions are expected to remain very depressed, despite gradual easing of restrictions.
  • retail margins are expected to remain compressed in comparison to fiscal 2019.
  • Operating loss of $1.6 billion, compared to operating income of $1.2 billion a year ago
  • Adjusted EPS decreased 43.8 percent from $1.47 to $0.83

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 16 quarterly earnings reports

Historical avg

-0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.4%

Avg return

5 days after

-1.9%

Avg return

30 days after

53%

33 / 62 earnings

Positive

+29.1%

Q1 2025

Best reaction

-22.7%

Q3 2024

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q4 2025
Q3 2025+0.4%+1.5%+2.7%
Q2 2025-1.1%+0.5%+4.1%
Q1 2025+29.1%+36.1%+10.0%
Q4 2024+23.0%+18.7%-2.0%
Q3 2024-22.7%-26.0%-24.5%
Q2 2024-7.0%-10.9%-15.7%
Q1 2024-2.2%-0.6%-11.4%
Q4 2023+2.9%+2.1%-7.3%
Q3 2023-7.9%-10.2%-3.0%
Q2 2023+3.7%+5.0%+6.6%
Q1 2023-2.3%-2.1%-1.1%
Q4 2022+4.1%+3.8%+29.4%
Q3 2022-5.7%-5.7%-2.9%
Q2 2022-7.6%-8.4%-10.6%
Q1 2022-0.3%+0.6%-10.0%
Q4 2021+3.5%+1.5%+4.8%
Q3 2021-8.4%
Q2 2021+3.3%
Q1 2021+5.1%
Q4 2020+4.2%
Q3 2020-5.1%
Q2 2020-5.4%
Q1 2020-7.8%
Q4 2019+1.5%
Q3 2019+4.4%
Q2 2019-13.6%
Q1 2019-8.2%
Q4 2018+1.6%
Q3 2018-9.4%
Q2 2018-0.7%
Q1 2018-3.4%
Q4 2017-0.3%
Q3 2017+1.6%
Q2 2017-1.0%
Q1 2017+0.1%
Q4 2016+5.7%
Q3 2016-3.6%
Q2 2016-3.0%
Q1 2016+1.8%
Q4 2015-11.9%
Q3 2015+8.4%
Q1 2014+4.9%
Q2 2015+4.9%
Q4 2013+4.9%
Q1 2015+3.2%
Q4 2014-0.9%
Q3 2014+0.6%
Q2 2014+1.0%
Q3 2013-1.0%
Q2 2013+0.4%
Q1 2013+1.6%
Q4 2012+1.4%
Q3 2012-3.2%
Q2 2012-1.9%
Q1 2012+4.1%
Q4 2011+0.4%
Q3 2011-0.9%
Q2 2011+1.8%
Q1 2010+2.5%
Q4 2010+1.8%
Q3 2010-0.1%
Q2 2009+0.5%

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