Walgreens reports 6.3% increase in January sales

Walgreens’ January sales reached $6.15 billion, which is an increase of 6.3% from $5.78 billion in January 2012, according to a statement released by the company.

More prescriptions-13.6%-were filled at comparable stores this January. And, the company reported a continued increase in the percentage of Express Scripts customers filling prescriptions in its pharmacies for the month.

Pharmacy sales accounted for 65% of total sales in January. These sales increased by 8.7%, while comparable store pharmacy sales increased 6.2% and by a day-fall adjusted (DFA) 4.2%. DFA comparable store pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 6.0 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months.

Flu shots administered at pharmacies and clinics increased this season, reaching nearly 7 million versus approximately 5.5 million last year.

Walgreens launched its Balance Rewards loyalty program in September, and, through January, has seen nearly 55 million customer registrations. 

Fiscal 2013 year-to-date sales for the first 5 months were $30.18 billion, down 2.4% from $30.93 billion in the comparable period in fiscal 2012.

During January, Walgreens opened nine stores, acquired two stores, and closed two.

As of Jan. 31, Walgreens operated 8,532 locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. That number includes 8,067 drugstores, which is an increase of 237 from 2012, and includes 106 net stores acquired over the last 12 months.

Walgreens also operates specialty pharmacies, infusion and respiratory services facilities, and mail-service facilities. Its subsidiary, Take Care Health Systems, manages more than 700 in-store convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers.