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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; Drug Stores</title>
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		<title>(CVS) Management Churn at CVS Caremark</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/04/cvs-management-churn-at-cvs-caremark-analyst-blog/97427</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/04/cvs-management-churn-at-cvs-caremark-analyst-blog/97427#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:54:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AAI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AirTran Holdings Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Trust Large Cap Gr Opp AlphaDEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=97427</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) recently announced a change in top management. According to the company’s design, effective September 1, 2012, the present EVP and Chief Operating Officer of the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) business, Jon Roberts will replace Per Lofberg, the President of the PBM business. However, Robert will continue to report to Lofberg who extended his employment agreement with the company till December 2013. September onwards, Lofberg will serve as the chairman of the PBM and look after the business strategies of PBM, new business development, client relationship management and retention and will directly report to Larry Merlo, the President and CEO of CVS Caremark. Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark is a combination of a PBM as well as retail drug chain. In terms of contractual arrangements with large plan ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Medco Healh Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/22/mhs-medco-healh-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/96119</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/22/mhs-medco-healh-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/96119#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:04:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AAI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AirTran Holdings Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=96119</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Medco Health (MHS) with a target price of $74.00. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, Medco reported adjusted EPS of $1.25, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17 and 26.3% higher than the year-ago level. Increased sales combined with 8.3% reduction in number of shares outstanding contributed to the bottom-line improvement during the quarter. Additionally, the introduction of generic Lipitor contributed $0.03 to the fourth quarter EPS. For the full year, adjusted EPS came in at $4.17, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.10 and was up 17.5% year over year. In fiscal 2011, Medco’s top ten clients (based on revenues) contributed approximately 46% to net revenues. Besides, the largest client, UnitedHealth accounted for 17% of net revenues. However, in July 2011, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/22/mhs-medco-healh-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/96119/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Inks Deal with AARP</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/07/wag-walgreen-inks-deal-with-aarp/94117</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/07/wag-walgreen-inks-deal-with-aarp/94117#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:41:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=94117</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading drugstore chain Walgreen (WAG) recently entered into a three-year contract with a nonprofit organization AARP, to deliver retail drugstore program benefits to its members belonging to the 50-plus age group. Although both the organizations did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but together announced that this new deal is aimed at further enhancing their long standing relationship that was initiated in 2006. This new AARP program includes AARP membership card offers, AARP online discounts and Pharmacy benefits. Concurrently, both the companies together will also develop a new event called Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour in medically underserved areas plagued with chronic diseases. Under this event, they aim to provide medical coverage to approximately 100,000 people annually. This strategic move by Walgreen should help make up for ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/07/wag-walgreen-inks-deal-with-aarp/94117/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Remains Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/02/cvs-cvs-caremark-remains-neutral/94056</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/02/cvs-cvs-caremark-remains-neutral/94056#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:43:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=94056</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) with a target price of $46.00. CVS reported adjusted EPS of 89 cents in the fourth quarter of 2011 in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and 12.6% higher than the year-ago quarter. For the full year, adjusted EPS rose 4.5% (5.9% excluding 2010 tax benefit) to $2.80, also matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate. CVS is gradually witnessing strong performance in the field of Pharmacy Services. After a sluggish phase, the company has exhibited improved performance in this segment for the fourth consecutive quarter and has started off the 2012 selling season on a positive note. With 90% of the contract renewals scheduled for 2012 already complete at the end of fiscal 2011, CVS’s retention rate was as high ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/03/02/cvs-cvs-caremark-remains-neutral/94056/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Corporation Ordered by FTC to Settle Claims</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/13/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-ordered-by-ftc-to-settle-claims/90162</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/13/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-ordered-by-ftc-to-settle-claims/90162#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:05:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Trust Large Cap Gr Opp AlphaDEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=90162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) was asked by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pay $5 million to settle all claims related to the company’s misrepresentation of prices of certain Medicare Part D prescription drugs at CVS Caremark and Walgreen (WAG)  pharmacies. The FTC alleged that from 2007 through November 2008, CVS Caremark’s subsidiary RxAmerica posted wrong prices on its website for prescription drugs including medications to treat epilepsy and symptoms of breast cancer. It also provided incorrect prices for posting to Plan Finder and third-party websites. The cases were extremely misleading for several seniors and disabled customers as the posted prices were 10 times below the actual prices of the drugs. This fake interpretation encouraged patients to opt for RxAmerica’s plans, which later pushed them into the &#8220;doughnut hole” ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/13/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-ordered-by-ftc-to-settle-claims/90162/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreens 2012 First Quarter Earnings Scorecard</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/09/wag-walgreens-2012-first-quarter-earnings-scorecard/89426</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/09/wag-walgreens-2012-first-quarter-earnings-scorecard/89426#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:55:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=89426</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Subsequent to the announcement of Walgreen’s (WAG) first quarter 2012 (ended November 30) results on December 21, 2011, majority of the analysts have reduced their estimates for the forthcoming period. Previous Quarter Highlights Walgreen reported first quarter 2012 EPS of 63 cents, a penny higher than the year-ago quarter earnings but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents. The result includes a negative impact of 1 cent per share related to the delay in the cough/cold and flu season, 1 cent in comparable pharmacy sales related to the non-renewal of the Express Script (ESRX) contract and 1 cent in related expenses. Revenues rose 4.7% year over year to $18.2 billion and were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Comparable store sales (those open for more than a year) ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/09/wag-walgreens-2012-first-quarter-earnings-scorecard/89426/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Plans to Offset Express Scripts Loss</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/03/wag-walgreen-plans-to-offset-express-scripts-loss/89549</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/03/wag-walgreen-plans-to-offset-express-scripts-loss/89549#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:05:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SUPERVALU Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SVU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WellPoint Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WLP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=89549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG) is commencing the New Year with efforts aimed at minimizing the impact of the non-renewal of the Express Scripts (ESRX) contract, which has just lapsed. With the intention of retaining Express Scripts’ clients, Walgreen recently came up with its comprehensive Patient Transition Plan, which will help smoothe the transition of existing members of the Express Scripts pharmacy network to another community pharmacy. Under this plan, Walgreen is providing several discounts to the members of Walgreen Prescriptions Savings Club, which facilitates savings on over 8,000 brand names and all generic drugs. The six-month dispute regarding the Express Scripts contract took its toll on Walgreen’s first quarter 2012 results. The company’s bottom-line was impacted by 2 cents per share from the loss of pharmacy sales and expenses associated with the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/03/wag-walgreen-plans-to-offset-express-scripts-loss/89549/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Corporation to Attend Healthcare Conference</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/30/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-to-attend-healthcare-conference/89481</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/30/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-to-attend-healthcare-conference/89481#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:17:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=89481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The leading provider of prescriptions and related health care services in the US, CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) has decided to participate in the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference scheduled on January 10, 2012. The company will be represented by its president and CEO, Mr. Larry Merlo, at the conference. Currently, CVS Caremark is ranked among the top three pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in the US. The other big players in this chart are Express Scripts (ESRX) and Medco Health Solutions (MHS). Together these three companies control roughly 50% of the market by covering approximately 240 million prescription drug consumers annually. Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark is a combination of a PBM as well as retail drug chain. In terms of contractual arrangements with large plan sponsors, CVS Caremark holds a leading ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/30/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-to-attend-healthcare-conference/89481/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark  Launches New Pharmacy Advisor Program</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/14/cvs-cvs-caremark-launches-new-pharmacy-advisor-program/86901</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/14/cvs-cvs-caremark-launches-new-pharmacy-advisor-program/86901#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86901</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CVS Caremark (CVS) recently launched a new Pharmacy Advisor program to help treat chronic cardiovascular illness. The Pharmacy Advisor for chronic cardiovascular care will primarily focus on medication adherence for persistent illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). It has been noted that high blood pressure single-handedly affects one out of three adults, with the health care system costing roughly $76 billion annually. This program is based on the research done by the company along with Harvard University, Brigham and Women&#8217;s Hospital. The research, published in a healthcare journal in January, found that proper medication adherence can save nearly $4,000 hypertension patients, $1,200 high cholesterol patients and $8,000 CHF patients annually. We are encouraged by the improved performance of CVS ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/14/cvs-cvs-caremark-launches-new-pharmacy-advisor-program/86901/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Medco Analyst Maintains Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/mhs-medco-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral-2/86959</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/mhs-medco-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral-2/86959#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:46:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Trust Large Cap Gr Opp AlphaDEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86959</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Medco Health (MHS) with a target price of $56.00. During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, Medco reported adjusted EPS of $1.07, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2 cents and 12.6% higher than the year-ago quarter level. Revenues increased 4.1% year over year to $17.0 billion in the quarter, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by contributions from significant client wins coupled with higher prices charged for branded drugs, partially offset by higher volumes of lower-priced generic drugs. In fiscal 2010, Medco’s top ten clients (based on revenues) contributed approximately 47% to net revenues. Its largest client, UnitedHealth (UNH) accounted for 17% of net revenues. However, in July 2011, Medco failed to renew its ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Posts a Strong Quarter</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/cvs-cvs-caremark-posts-a-strong-quarter/86465</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/cvs-cvs-caremark-posts-a-strong-quarter/86465#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:15:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86465</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CVS Caremark (CVS) reported third quarter 2011 EPS of 65 cents, 8.3% up year over year. However, after excluding the impact of certain one-time items, adjusted EPS came in at 70 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents and 9.3% higher than the year-ago quarter adjusted EPS. Net revenue increased 12.5% year over year to $26.7 billion, almost in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The Pharmacy Services segment posted a robust 25.8% increase in revenues to $14.8 billion during the reported quarter. The significant growth was primarily on the back of the long-term contract with Aetna (AET) as well as the acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American Corp. (UAM). These contracts, combined with an increase in covered lives in the company’s existing Medicare ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CVS) Greek Turmoil Dominates Headlines</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/cvs-greek-turmoil-dominates-headlines/86445</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/cvs-greek-turmoil-dominates-headlines/86445#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:53:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[J. C. Penney Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JCP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JWN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[M]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Macy's Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nordstrom Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nyse Euronext Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SBUX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Starbucks Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Target Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TGT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have a slew of economic and earnings reports on the docket today, but the Greek turmoil will likely continue to dominate the headlines. On the economic front, we got better-than-expected weekly Jobless Claims numbers, raising hopes for a favorable showing from Friday&#8217;s non-farm payroll report. We also have a surprise interest rate cut from the European Central Bank, likely indicating a new monetary policy course for the central bank under Mario Draghi, who replaced Jean-Claude Trichet only three days ago. A little later, we get the September Factory Orders and the October ISM Service Sector Index reading. The big wait on the U.S. economic front now is for the Friday labor market report. But irrespective of the quality of that report, the overall economic picture has improved markedly over ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/cvs-greek-turmoil-dominates-headlines/86445/feed</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>(MHS) Medco Health Solutions and United Drug Terminate Joint Venture</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/20/mhs-medco-health-solutions-and-united-drug-terminate-joint-venture/85401</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/20/mhs-medco-health-solutions-and-united-drug-terminate-joint-venture/85401#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:52:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Trust Large Cap Gr Opp AlphaDEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=85401</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the termination of the pan-European joint venture between Medco Health Solutions (MHS) and Germany-based Celesio AG, Dublin-based United Drug Plc recently decided to exit from its UK homecare partnership with Medco. As per the terms of the deal, Medco will own 100% interest in this project following the acquisition of United Drug&#8217;s 50% stake. The transaction is expected to be completed by November, 2011. However, the financial and other terms of the termination agreement remain disclosed. The joint venture, which came into existence in 2009, focused on the pharmacy homecare market in UK by providing a high level of service to patients with chronic and complex conditions and supporting the National Health Service (NHS) initiatives. We expect this move to be a hindrance for Medco in achieving its goal of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/20/mhs-medco-health-solutions-and-united-drug-terminate-joint-venture/85401/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Posts Encouraging Quarter</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/07/wag-walgreen-posts-encouraging-quarter/84159</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/07/wag-walgreen-posts-encouraging-quarter/84159#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:26:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=84159</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG) reported adjusted earnings of 57 cents per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents and were 38.3% higher than the year-ago quarter. Results for the quarter excluded an after-tax gain of 30 cents per share associated with the company’s sale of pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business, Walgreens Health Initiatives, to Catalyst Health Solutions (CHSI). The result includes negative impact of 2 cents per share from Walgreen’s acquisition of drugstore.com and restructuring and restructuring-related costs of a penny per share associated with the company’s Rewiring for Growth initiative. The year-ago quarter included negative impact of 4 cents per share from costs associated with the Duane Reade acquisition and 1 cent towards costs associated with Rewiring for Growth. For fiscal 2011, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/07/wag-walgreen-posts-encouraging-quarter/84159/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Unveils Flu Impact Report</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/24/wag-walgreen-unveils-flu-impact-report/83997</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/24/wag-walgreen-unveils-flu-impact-report/83997#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:55:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83997</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen Co. (WAG), the largest drugstore chain in the US, recently came up with findings from the first of a two-part Walgreens Flu Impact Report series. The study reveals the impact of flu and related illness on people’s life. According to the report, the last flu season led to loss of 100 million work days along with $7 billion in lost wages and 32 million missed school days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 13% of the US population suffers from flu every year, which increases to 20% during the active flu season. The Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness, Kermit Crawford, stated that immunization rates increased during the last flu season with more than 40% of the total population in the US receiving ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/24/wag-walgreen-unveils-flu-impact-report/83997/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen in Elite League</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/wag-walgreen-in-elite-league/83351</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/wag-walgreen-in-elite-league/83351#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:05:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cardinal Health Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83351</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Walgreen (WAG) was ranked 29th among the top 30 technology innovators in the U.S, according to the 2011 Information Week 500. The company added another feather in its cap when it became the top-ranked company in the retail and general merchandising category. The company considers both the achievements as huge recognition for its innovative technology in healthcare industry given the company secured a place in the top 30 list (in 2010 it was ranked 153 and secured the 3rd position among retail and general merchandising). Walgreen’s IT division is presently developing Walgreens 2.0, which will likely enhance its technology infrastructure across multiple platforms, including its network of more than 7,700 stores. Walgreen has been impacted over the past few quarters by high unemployment levels and lower discretionary spending. Moreover, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/wag-walgreen-in-elite-league/83351/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Ranked as Technology Innovator</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/15/wag-walgreen-ranked-as-technology-innovator/83270</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/15/wag-walgreen-ranked-as-technology-innovator/83270#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:08:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cardinal Health Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83270</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Walgreen (WAG) was ranked 29th among the top 30 technology innovators in the U.S, according to the 2011 InformationWeek 500. The company added another feather in its cap when it became the top-ranked company in the retail and general merchandising category. The company considers both the achievements as huge recognition for its innovative technology in healthcare industry given the company secured a place in the top 30 list (in 2010 it was ranked 153 and secured the 3rd position among retail and general merchandising). Walgreen’s IT division is presently developing Walgreens 2.0, which will likely enhance its technology infrastructure across multiple platforms, including its network of more than 7,700 stores. Walgreen has been impacted over the past few quarters by high unemployment levels and lower discretionary spending. Moreover, the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/15/wag-walgreen-ranked-as-technology-innovator/83270/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Joins U.S. Cardiac Program</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/14/wag-walgreen-joins-u-s-cardiac-program/83168</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/14/wag-walgreen-joins-u-s-cardiac-program/83168#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:32:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS Energy Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harte-Hanks Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have teamed up in a campaign called Million Hearts Initiative in order to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over 5 years. The consortium that claims heart disease and stroke to be the first and third major causes of death, aims at a coordinated approach to promote the quality of treatment and reduce the associated risk factors. In order to support the campaign, Walgreen decides to involve over 26,000 of its pharmacists or Take Care Health providers who will offer free blood pressure testing and consultation. Walgreen also plans to promote diabetes health testing in November and heart health in February ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/14/wag-walgreen-joins-u-s-cardiac-program/83168/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Analyst Maintains Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/11/cvs-cvs-caremark-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral/82891</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/11/cvs-cvs-caremark-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral/82891#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:43:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=82891</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) with a target price of $38.00. CVS reported an adjusted EPS of 65 cents in the second quarter of 2011, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny but meeting the year-ago quarter’s adjusted EPS. After a period of sluggish performance, CVS’ Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) segment grew for the second consecutive quarter. During the quarter, this segment recorded a robust 23.2% year-over-year increase in revenues to reach $14.6 billion. The year-over upside was primarily driven by a 12-year contract with Aetna (AET), under which CVS provides PBM services to Aetna customers as well as the new acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American Corp (UAM). The company is also confident of achieving further growth in ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Beats Earnings by a Penny &#8211; Guidance Narrowed</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/05/cvs-cvs-caremark-beats-earnings-by-a-penny-guidance-narrowed/80662</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/05/cvs-cvs-caremark-beats-earnings-by-a-penny-guidance-narrowed/80662#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:43:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=80662</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CVS Caremark (CVS) reported second quarter 2011 EPS of 60 cents, at par with the year-ago quarter earnings. However, after excluding the impact of certain one-time items, adjusted earnings per share came in at 65 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny but meeting the year-ago quarter’s adjusted earnings. Net revenues increased 10.9% year over year to $26.6 billion, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The Pharmacy Services segment recorded a robust 23.2% increase in revenues in the quarter to $14.6 billion. The significant growth was primarily driven by the long-term contract with Aetna (AET) as well as the new acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American Corp. (UAM). These contracts, combined with an increase in covered lives in the company’s existing Medicare Part ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Express Scripts to Buy Medco Health Solutions</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/04/mhs-express-scripts-to-buy-medco-health-solutions/79676</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/04/mhs-express-scripts-to-buy-medco-health-solutions/79676#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:57:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=79676</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the release of its second quarter of fiscal 2011 earnings, Medco Health Solutions (MHS) announced that it will be acquired by Express Scripts (ESRX) for $29.1 billion in cash and stock. As per the terms of the agreement, each shareholder of Medco will receive $28.80 in cash and 0.81 shares of Express Scripts, representing a total value of $71.36 per Medco share. This represents a premium of 28% over Medco&#8217;s closing share price on July 20, 2011. Following completion of the deal (expected in first half of 2012), Express Scripts Holding Company will be formed wherein 59% of the holding would lie with the shareholders of Express Scripts. In continuation of its series of contract losses over the last few months, Medco’s long-time negotiation with its biggest client UnitedHealth ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/04/mhs-express-scripts-to-buy-medco-health-solutions/79676/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Medco Health Solutions 2011 Second Quarter Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/20/mhs-medco-health-solutions-2011-second-quarter-earnings-preview/79454</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/20/mhs-medco-health-solutions-2011-second-quarter-earnings-preview/79454#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:27:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=79454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS) is scheduled to release its second-quarter 2011 earnings on July 21, 2011 before the market opens. The company is expected to report EPS of 94 cents on revenues of $17.08 billion during the quarter, according to Zacks Consensus Estimates. With respect to earnings surprises, Medco has exceeded the expectations in three out of the trailing four quarters. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, the company reported in line results. The company has positive average earnings surprise of 2.70%. Along with the first quarter results, Medco raised its guidance for fiscal 2011 based on solid growth across all its segments. The company expects to deliver adjusted EPS in the range of $4.02-$4.12 (previous range of $3.80-$3.93) representing growth of 13%–16%. Previous Quarter Highlights Medco reported ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreen&#8217;s June Sales Swell</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/wag-walgreens-june-sales-swell/78633</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/wag-walgreens-june-sales-swell/78633#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:01:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78633</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading retail pharmacy chain, Walgreen (WAG) reported sales of $6.04 billion in June, up 6.8% from the year-ago period. Total front-end sales increased 6.4% while comparable store’s front-end sales increased 4.7%. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores went up by 5%, which was impacted by 0.3 percentage points due to calendar day shifts. Pharmacy sales that accounted for 65.6% of total sales increased 6.2% with 4.9% higher comparable pharmacy sales. Comparable pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 2.1 percentage points due to generic drug introductions over the past 12 months. At the end of June, Walgreens operated 8,184 locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Tagging along with Core Performance, Walgreen’s Take Care Health Systems will offer Core Performance wellness services to its corporate clients. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/wag-walgreens-june-sales-swell/78633/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Corporation Study to Lower Treatment Costs</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-study-to-lower-treatment-costs/78671</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-study-to-lower-treatment-costs/78671#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:46:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78671</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The leading provider of prescriptions and related health care services in the US, CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) along with researchers from Harvard and Brigham universities and Women&#8217;s Hospital recently stated that the extensive use of generic medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases is a cost-effective preventative health care option. A recent study in this regard shows that the use of low-cost generic drugs compared to branded medications will curtail treatment expenses considerably. A study conducted in 2008 found that the cost of treating a cardiovascular disease using branded medications was $83,327 per quality adjusted life year (QALY). However, the study conducted by the research team demonstrated that the same treatment using generics is merely $17,084 per QALY, or just 20% of the previous estimate. In an era when health ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/08/cvs-cvs-caremark-corporation-study-to-lower-treatment-costs/78671/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Medco Health Solutions to Better Tackle Hepatitis C</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/mhs-medco-health-solutions-to-better-tackle-hepatitis-c/78506</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/mhs-medco-health-solutions-to-better-tackle-hepatitis-c/78506#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:19:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merck & Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VRTX]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78506</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Medco Health Solutions (MHS) is making attempts to curtail costs of treating patients suffering from hepatitis C (HCV). The company’s specialty pharmacy segment, Accredo Health Group, considers patient adherence to the treatment most significant as any contrary behavior could lead to liver cirrhosis and certain cancers. Accredo is optimistic about two new HCV medications &#8212; boceprevir and teleprevir &#8212; although the treatment process is quite complex and requires greater degree of adherence. In May 2011, Merck (MRK) received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Victrelis (boceprevir) to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The drug is approved for the treatment of CHC genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients who were left untreated or failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy. The ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/mhs-medco-health-solutions-to-better-tackle-hepatitis-c/78506/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid Corporation Reports Marginal Rise in Same Store Sales</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/rad-rite-aid-corporation-reports-marginal-rise-in-same-store-sales/78252</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/rad-rite-aid-corporation-reports-marginal-rise-in-same-store-sales/78252#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:06:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78252</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading drugstore chain operator Rite Aid Corporation (RAD) reported a marginal increase of 1.8% in same-store sales for the four weeks ended June 25, 2011. Results improved somewhat from a growth of 1.3% in May 2011. For the month of June, front-end same-store sales increased 1.5%. Pharmacy same-store sales in the month improved 1.9% despite a 163 basis point headwind from new generic introductions. Prescriptions count increased 0.4% at comparable stores. Total drugstore sales increased 1.0% year over year to $1,928 million for June 2011. In the four-week period, prescription revenue contributed 67.6% of drugstore sales while third party prescription revenue accounted for 96.5% of pharmacy sales. For the seventeen-week period ended June 25, 2011, the company reported same-store sales increase of 1.0% with total drugstore sales increasing 0.2% to ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/rad-rite-aid-corporation-reports-marginal-rise-in-same-store-sales/78252/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid First Quarter 2012 Earnings Scorecard</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/01/rad-rite-aid-first-quarter-2012-earnings-scorecard/78144</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/01/rad-rite-aid-first-quarter-2012-earnings-scorecard/78144#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:52:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation (RAD), the third largest retail drugstore in the U.S. based on revenues and number of stores, posted its first-quarter 2012 results.  Street analysts had nearly a week to ponder on the news. In the subsequent paragraphs, we cover the recent earnings announcement, analysts&#8217; estimate revisions as well as the Zacks Rank and long-term recommendation on the stock. Quarterly Review On June 23, 2011, Rite Aid reported a loss of 7 cents per share for the first quarter of 2012, which not only improved from the prior-year quarter loss of 9 cents but also outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate loss of 12 cents. Growth in same store sales and reduced selling, general &#38; administrative (SG&#38;A) and interest expenses better offset the negative impact from declined gross margin due ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/01/rad-rite-aid-first-quarter-2012-earnings-scorecard/78144/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Expands in Chicago</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/wag-walgreen-expands-in-chicago/78025</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/wag-walgreen-expands-in-chicago/78025#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:15:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78025</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading retail pharmacy chain Walgreen Co. (WAG) has recently launched a project called ‘Chicago Hometown Investment Initiative’, which is expected to offer approximately 600 new job opportunities in the city over the next couple of years and increase fourfold the number of food oasis stores of Walgreen (from 11 to nearly 50). The company believes that the expansion of downtown office space for E-commerce, information technology and related areas will provide half of the jobs committed. The remaining 300 jobs will be created through new store openings and remodeling of some of 142 Walgreen drugstores in Chicago. With the acquisition of drugstore.com on June 3, 2011, Walgreen has started planning for a downtown office space expansion in Chicago with the intention of establishing itself as a strong multi-channel retailer of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/wag-walgreen-expands-in-chicago/78025/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreens Debuts Web Pickup in Chicago</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/wag-walgreens-debuts-web-pickup-in-chicago/77715</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/wag-walgreens-debuts-web-pickup-in-chicago/77715#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:36:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77715</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading retail pharmacy chain Walgreen Co. (WAG) has recently undertaken an innovative initiative to enhance its sales and distribution by launching Web Pickup service across Chicago. The program will enable customers to shop online at Walgreens.com and pick up the placed orders at the Walgreen stores within an hour. The non-prescription items will be available online through the service. The service is already available at 27 Walgreen stores in California. However, the company has chosen Chicago for the first full market roll out of the Web Pickup program. Presently, Web Pickup is available at 300 locations in the Chicago metropolitan area. The full market roll out across 480 locations is expected to be completed by August, 2011. Walgreen offers pharmacy benefit management (PBM), mail service, home care and specialty pharmacy ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/wag-walgreens-debuts-web-pickup-in-chicago/77715/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MHS) Medco Health Solutions Aids Sanofi-Aventis Study</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/28/mhs-medco-health-solutions-aids-sanofi-aventis-study/77737</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/28/mhs-medco-health-solutions-aids-sanofi-aventis-study/77737#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:31:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Livestock ETN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanofi-Aventis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UBC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77737</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Medco Health Solutions (MHS) and its subsidiary United BioSource Corporation (UBC) have entered into a multi-year agreement with leading pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis (SNY). Under the agreement, Medco would provide real-world evidence assessments during the product’s development by Sanofi-Aventis. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Following this agreement, Sanofi-Aventis would be better placed to identify patients with huge unmet medical needs. Furthermore, the companies will strive to trace out patients on whom the drugs are most effective and also generate real-world comparative effectiveness data. This is significant as some products that hold promise in early research does not deliver expected results when applied. Medco Health has been recording increase in revenues from services primarily driven by the UBC acquisition. The acquisition provides encouraging results for the company with more ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/28/mhs-medco-health-solutions-aids-sanofi-aventis-study/77737/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid Narrows Loss</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/24/rad-rite-aid-narrows-loss/77356</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/24/rad-rite-aid-narrows-loss/77356#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:56:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77356</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading drugstore chain operator Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) posted a net loss of $63.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 compared with a loss of $73.7 million in the year-ago period. The quarterly loss per share of 7 cents not only improved from the prior-year quarter loss of 9 cents but also outshines the Zacks Consensus Estimate loss of 12 cents. Growth in same store sales and reduced selling, general &#38; administrative (SG&#38;A) and interest expenses better offset the negative impact from declined gross margin due to investments made in wellness+ customer loyalty program. Quarterly Details Rite Aid&#8217;s revenues came in almost flat at $6,390.8 million over the prior year. Same-store sales for the quarter showed a marginal increase of 0.8%. During the quarter, the company relocated 6 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/24/rad-rite-aid-narrows-loss/77356/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Optimism in the Market</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/wag-optimism-in-the-market/76921</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/wag-optimism-in-the-market/76921#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:09:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economic Crises]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESRX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Express Scripts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76921</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The backdrop for today&#8217;s market action is the last Fed meeting of the QE2 era and a critical vote in the Greek parliament later today. Stocks appear to be discounting a happier outcome in the ongoing Greek Drama. We also saw relatively more momentum in some of the cyclical sectors on Monday. This may be reflective of a less worried view of the growth question that has been weighing on stocks over the last few weeks. More likely it is reflective of a tentative bounceback from over-sold conditions in the hope of a second-half recovery. In any case, it is difficult to read much into the market&#8217;s modest gains over the last few days, particularly in the absence of any positive economic data. In Greece, the reshuffled cabinet of Prime ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/wag-optimism-in-the-market/76921/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark to Manage CalPERS PPO</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/cvs-cvs-caremark-to-manage-calpers-ppo/77019</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/cvs-cvs-caremark-to-manage-calpers-ppo/77019#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:58:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polypore International Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPO]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77019</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) selected CVS Caremark (CVS) to manage pharmacy benefits for its preferred provider organization (PPO) health plans, catering to more than 346,000 members. The three-year contract, to be effective from January 1, 2012, represents about $565 million in annual drug spending. The contract also has the option of two one-year extensions. Prior to CVS, Medco Health Solutions (MHS) has been managing the business from July 1, 2006, which is dated to expire on December 31, 2011. CalPERS is presently working with both Medco and CVS to ensure a smooth transition for its members and physicians. This contract is significant for CVS as its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) business has been witnessing several challenges over the past few quarters. CalPERS, which spends approximately $7 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/cvs-cvs-caremark-to-manage-calpers-ppo/77019/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid Corporation Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/rad-rite-aid-corporation-earnings-preview/76834</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/rad-rite-aid-corporation-earnings-preview/76834#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:58:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76834</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation (RAD), the third largest retail drugstore in the U.S. based on revenues and number of stores, is scheduled to report its first-quarter financial results to be ended on May 28, 2011 before the opening bell on June 23, 2011. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is a loss of 12 cents a share. For the quarter under review, revenue is $6,175.0 million, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Fourth-Quarter 2011, Summary Rite Aid posted a net loss of $205.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 compared with a loss of $208.4 million in the year-ago period. The quarterly loss per share of 24 cents though in line with the prior-year figure is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 21 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/rad-rite-aid-corporation-earnings-preview/76834/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Third Quarter 2011 Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/wag-walgreen-third-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/76849</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/wag-walgreen-third-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/76849#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:56:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76849</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen Co. (WAG) is scheduled to release its third quarter 2011 earnings on Tuesday, June 22, 2011, before the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third quarter is pegged at 62 cents per share. The company has already reported total sales of $18.38 billion in the third quarter, up 6.8% from $17.20 billion in the year-ago period. Comparable store sales (those open for more than a year) increased 4.1% during the quarter, while front-end comparable store sales also spiked 3.9%, with prescriptions filled at comparable stores increasing by 4.2%. Previous Quarter Highlights Walgreen reported EPS of 80 cents in the fiscal second quarter, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate but higher than the year-ago earnings of 68 cents. The prior year’s EPS included restructuring cost and integration ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/wag-walgreen-third-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/76849/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CVS) CVS Caremark Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/04/cvs-cvs-caremark-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/75294</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/04/cvs-cvs-caremark-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/75294#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:20:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=75294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) with a target price of $41.00. CVS Caremark reported an adjusted EPS of 57 cents in the first quarter of 2011, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents but trailing the year-ago quarter’s adjusted EPS of 60 cents. After sluggish performance in past several quarters, the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) business of CVS registered a robust 18.4% year over year increase during the quarter to reach $14 billion. The significant upside in revenue was primarily attributed to the 12-year contract with Aetna (AET), under which CVS provides PBM services to Aetna customers. We are encouraged by the company’s initiative for further focus on its key-growth areas under the PBM segment including the acquisition of Universal American&#8216;s (UAM) Medicare ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/04/cvs-cvs-caremark-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/75294/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(MHS) Medco Analyst Maintains Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/27/mhs-medco-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral/74087</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/27/mhs-medco-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral/74087#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 2011 04:20:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Livestock ETN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UBC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitedhealth Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=74087</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our Neutral recommendation on Medco Health (MHS) with a target price of $67.00. Medco reported an adjusted EPS of 91 cents in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, beating both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents and the year-ago EPS of 76 cents. Revenues increased 4.3% year over year to $17.0 billion in the quarter primarily driven by contributions from significant client wins as well as higher prices charged on branded drugs, partially offset by higher volumes of lower-priced generic drugs. However, revenues marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.1 billion. The United BioSource (UBC) acquisition in September 2010 combined with the expansion of client base at Medicare Part D services resulted in a stupendous 57.5% increase in Medco’s service revenues. In the reported quarter, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/27/mhs-medco-analyst-maintains-shares-at-neutral/74087/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(OCR) Omnicare Beats Quarterly Estimates &#8211; Maintains Guidance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/ocr-omnicare-beats-quarterly-estimates-maintains-guidance/73022</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/ocr-omnicare-beats-quarterly-estimates-maintains-guidance/73022#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 18:09:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OCR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Omnicare Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PharMerica Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PMC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=73022</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Omnicare Inc. (OCR), which sells drugs to long-term care facilities and nursing homes, reported first-quarter fiscal 2011 adjusted (excluding one-time expenses) earnings per share of 52 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents, and lower than the year-ago earnings of 59 cents. Reported net income from continuing operations, for the quarter, was $50.5 million (or 44 cents per share) compared with $58.1 million (or 49 cents per share) in the year-ago quarter. The results include the effect of special items, including amortization and litigation, aggregating about $14.9 million on a pre-tax basis compared with $19 million a year ago. Revenues Revenues were $1,528.5 million in the first quarter, up 2.3% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,521 million. Margins Gross margin was 22.1% in the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/ocr-omnicare-beats-quarterly-estimates-maintains-guidance/73022/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Declares Dividend Hike</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/wag-walgreen-declares-dividend-hike/71460</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/wag-walgreen-declares-dividend-hike/71460#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:58:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 17.5 cents per share, up 27.3% from the year-ago quarter. It is encouraging to note that the company has been quite consistent in paying dividends and has been raising it for 35 consecutive quarters. Although the current dividend-payout ratio is 26% (for fiscal 2010), the company has set a long-term dividend payout target of 30%-35% of net earnings. In the last seven years, Walgreen’s dividend has grown at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 22%. Walgreen exited the second quarter of fiscal 2011 with $2.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, down from $2.5 billion at the end of February 2010. The cash flow trends of the company remained strong during the quarter with $886 million of cash flow from ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/wag-walgreen-declares-dividend-hike/71460/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid 2011 Fourth Fiscal Quarter Earnings Scorecard</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/rad-rite-aid-2011-fourth-fiscal-quarter-earnings-scorecard/71353</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/rad-rite-aid-2011-fourth-fiscal-quarter-earnings-scorecard/71353#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:13:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71353</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The third largest retail drugstore in the U.S. based on revenues and number of stores, Rite Aid Corporation (RAD), recently posted its fourth-quarter 2011 results. Street analysts have had nearly a week to ponder the news. In the paragraphs that follow, we cover the recent earnings announcement, subsequent analysts&#8217; estimate revisions as well as the Zacks Rank and long-term recommendation on the stock. Quarterly Review On April 07, 2011, Rite Aid reported a loss of 24 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2011, which was in line with the prior period loss. However, quarterly loss was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 21 cents per share. Higher termination and impairment charges offset the positive impact from improved gross margin coupled with lower selling, general and ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/13/rad-rite-aid-2011-fourth-fiscal-quarter-earnings-scorecard/71353/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid Fourth Quarter 2011 Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/10/rad-rite-aid-fourth-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/70606</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/10/rad-rite-aid-fourth-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/70606#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:04:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=70606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation (RAD), the third largest retail drugstore in the U.S. based on revenues and number of stores, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2011 financial results before the opening bell on April 07, 2011. The current Zacks Consensus Estimates for the quarter is a loss of 21 cents a share. For the quarter under review, revenue is $6,379.0 million, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Third-Quarter 2011, Summary Rite Aid&#8217;s third-quarter net loss lowers to $81.5 million compared with a loss of $86.1 million in the year-ago period. The quarterly loss per share of 9 cents was an improvement over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 13 cents. Rite Aid&#8217;s revenue declined 2.4% year over year to $6.2 billion from $6.4 billion, primarily due to a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/10/rad-rite-aid-fourth-quarter-2011-earnings-preview/70606/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Faces Legal Battle Over Drugstore.com Aquisition</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/07/wag-walgreen-faces-legal-battle-over-drugstore-com-aquisition/70410</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/07/wag-walgreen-faces-legal-battle-over-drugstore-com-aquisition/70410#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:25:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Booker Minerals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PBM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=70410</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The law firm of Brower Piven has announced a class action lawsuit in connection with the proposed acquisition of drugstore.com by Walgreen (WAG), one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the US. The lawsuit has been filed by all the shareholders of drugstore.com in the Delaware Chancery Court. The complaint claims that the Board of Directors of drugstore.com infringed the state law while entering into a definitive merger agreement with Walgreen on March 24, 2011. Under the deal, Walgreen agreed to take over the online retailer, drugstore.com for $3.80 in cash per share, a 113 percent premium on the closing stock price of drugstore.com&#8217;s common stock on the last trading day prior to the agreement and a 102 percent premium over its 30-day average closing stock price. This represented ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/07/wag-walgreen-faces-legal-battle-over-drugstore-com-aquisition/70410/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(RAD) Rite Aid Comp Store Sales Slip</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/rad-rite-aid-comp-store-sales-slip/70530</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/rad-rite-aid-comp-store-sales-slip/70530#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 15:53:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rite Aid Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Stores Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=70530</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading drugstore chain operator Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) reported a minimal decline of 0.1% in same-store sales for the four weeks ended March 26, 2011. Results moderated from an increase of 1.0% in February 2011. For the month of March, front-end same-store sales decreased 1.8%. The sales were negatively impacted by a shift in Easter Holiday. Pharmacy same-store sales in March improved 0.8% despite a 176 basis point headwind from new generic introductions. Results slightly slipped from a 0.9% increase in February 2011. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased 0.6%. Total drugstore sales decreased 0.9% year over year to $1.949 billion for March 2011. In the four-week period, prescription revenue contributed 69.4% of drugstore sales while third party prescription revenue accounted for 96.5% of pharmacy sales. Rite Aid posted a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/03/rad-rite-aid-comp-store-sales-slip/70530/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Announces Sale of Pharmacy Benefit Management Business</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/15/wag-walgreen-announces-sale-of-pharmacy-benefit-management-business/68525</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/15/wag-walgreen-announces-sale-of-pharmacy-benefit-management-business/68525#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:30:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=68525</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG), one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the US, has decided to sell its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) business to Catalyst Health (CHSI) for $525 million in cash. The transaction, expected to close by the end of June 2011, is subject to regulatory clearances. Walgreen anticipates the deal to be EPS-neutral in fiscal 2012. The company will provide certain services to ensure smooth transition of the patients covered under the PBM business, which will cost around $40 million. Walgreen expects that the one-time gain associated with the deal will offset the effects of transition or associated one-time cost in the current fiscal. Subsequent to this deal, Walgreen will be able to better focus on its 7,700 drug stores. On the other hand, through this transaction Catalyst Health ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/15/wag-walgreen-announces-sale-of-pharmacy-benefit-management-business/68525/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreens Announces Plan to Acquire Graymark Healthcare&#8217;s Pharmacies</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/03/wag-walgreens-announces-plan-to-acquire-graymark-healthcares-pharmacies/50190</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/03/wag-walgreens-announces-plan-to-acquire-graymark-healthcares-pharmacies/50190#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:34:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graymark Healthcare Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRMH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=50190</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen (WAG), one of the largest retail pharmacies in the US, entered into an agreement with Graymark Healthcare (GRMH) to acquire the latter’s retail pharmacy business, 18 ApothecaryRx pharmacies of 5 states – Colorado, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2010. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Graymark expects to realize total enterprise value of $35 million. Following this divestment, Graymark will focus on its sleep apnea business, which is witnessing strong growth and robust margin. Walgreen offers pharmacy benefit management (PBM), mail service, home care and specialty pharmacy services through its Walgreen Health Services division. The company’s pharmacy sales are expected to continue to grow due to the aging population and the continued development of innovative ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/03/wag-walgreens-announces-plan-to-acquire-graymark-healthcares-pharmacies/50190/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Analyst Downgrades Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/23/wag-walgreen-analyst-downgrades-shares/48575</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/23/wag-walgreen-analyst-downgrades-shares/48575#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:11:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=48575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have downgraded Walgreen (WAG) to Underperform with a target price of $26.00. Walgreen had reported an EPS of $0.47 during the third quarter of fiscal 2010, way below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.57 and the year-ago quarter’s $0.53. Net sales increased 6.1% year over year to $17.2 billion, with same-store sales (those open for more than a year) increasing 0.7%. Front-end same-store sales increased 0.1% and were affected by a weak demand for discretionary goods and lower-than-anticipated sales of flu-related products. After experiencing robust same-store sales growth rates of 7.7% and 8.1% in fiscal 2006 and 2007, respectively, total sales in same stores increased only 0.7% during the third quarter of fiscal 2010. However, we note that the situation at its primary competitor, CVS Caremark (CVS) is better. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/23/wag-walgreen-analyst-downgrades-shares/48575/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreen Company &#8211; Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/19/wag-walgreen-company-bear-of-the-day/48543</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/19/wag-walgreen-company-bear-of-the-day/48543#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:23:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=48543</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen Company (WAG) posted third quarter fiscal 2010 earnings per share of $0.47, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.57 and year-ago quarter s $0.53. Walgreen&#8217;s strategy of store expansion coupled with operating acumen has made the company a leader in the retail drug store industry. However, we are concerned about the competitive pressures faced by the company due to prescription reimbursement issues and slow introduction of new generic products. Moreover, our apprehensions are further bolstered by factors like higher SG&#38;A expenses, a shift towards the low-margin pharmacy business as well as gross margins reflecting a downward trend. Based on these factors, we have lowered our estimates for fiscal 2011 and downgrade the stock to Underperform with a target price of $26.00. Zacks Investment Research]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/19/wag-walgreen-company-bear-of-the-day/48543/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen&#8217;s Third Quarter 2010 Earnings Scorecard</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/26/wag-walgreens-third-quarter-2010-earnings-scorecard/41759</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/26/wag-walgreens-third-quarter-2010-earnings-scorecard/41759#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:09:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=41759</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On June 22, Walgreen (WAG) reported third quarter fiscal 2010 earnings per share (EPS) of 47 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents and the year-ago quarter’s 53 cents. However, results include 1 cent towards restructuring cost, 2 cents for the Duane Reade acquisition and 4 cents for the elimination of tax benefits for the Medicare Part D subsidy for retirees. Net sales for the quarter increased 6.1% year over year to $17.2 billion with same-store sales (those open for more than a year) increasing by 0.7%. Front-end same-store sales increased 0.1% and were affected by weak demand for discretionary goods and lower-than-anticipated sales of flu-related products. Agreement of Analysts Following the release of third quarter results, estimate revision trends among analysts depict a clear negative outlook ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/26/wag-walgreens-third-quarter-2010-earnings-scorecard/41759/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WAG) Walgreens Finishes Purchase of New York-based Duane Reade Holdings</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/12/wag-walgreens-finishes-purchase-of-new-york-based-duane-reade-holdings/33428</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/12/wag-walgreens-finishes-purchase-of-new-york-based-duane-reade-holdings/33428#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:50:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=33428</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, Walgreens (WAG) completed the acquisition of New York-based Duane Reade Holdings. The deal involves all 258 Duane Reade stores in New York, its corporate office and two distribution centers. Earlier, in February 2010, Walgreens announced its decision to acquire the drugstore chain for a total enterprise value of $1.075 billion Incorporatedluding debt. Walgreens has the required funds to complete the purchase with its existing cash balance. At the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010, the company had $2.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Duane Reade reported sales of $1.84 billion in 2009. Following the completion of the acquisition, Walgreen announced its intention to pay back about $457 million of the debt burden of Duane Reade Holdings. Although Walgreens operates about 7,500 stores, its presence in New ]]></description>
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		<title>(WAG) Walgreen&#8217;s Earnings Fall Short &#8211; Stock Is Up</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/25/wag-walgreens-earnings-fall-short-stock-is-up/31549</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/25/wag-walgreens-earnings-fall-short-stock-is-up/31549#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:38:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Stores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WAG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walgreen Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=31549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Walgreen Co. (WAG) reported second quarter fiscal 2010 earnings of 68 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents. However, the earnings were better than 65 cents reported in the comparable prior-year quarter. Results include 2 cents of restructuring cost associated with the company’s Rewiring for Growth initiative. Net sales for the quarter increased 3.1% year-over-year to $17 billion although same-store sales (those open for more than a year) came down by 0.2%. Front-end same-store sales also declined 1.6% due to weak demand for discretionary goods and lower-than-anticipated sales of flu-related products. Gross margin for the quarter at 28.8% increased by 50 bps compared to the corresponding period last year primarily on account of lower LIFO provision and lower restructuring expenses while retail pharmacy margins were ]]></description>
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