Leerink Partnrs Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA)

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) – Leerink Partnrs decreased their Q4 2024 earnings per share estimates for Walgreens Boots Alliance in a report released on Tuesday, September 3rd. Leerink Partnrs analyst M. Cherny now expects that the pharmacy operator will post earnings of $0.36 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.37. The consensus estimate for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s current full-year earnings is $2.87 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Q1 2025 earnings at $0.37 EPS and Q2 2025 earnings at $0.37 EPS.

WBA has been the topic of several other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Walgreens Boots Alliance from $22.00 to $13.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Barclays decreased their target price on Walgreens Boots Alliance from $11.00 to $7.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Bank of America decreased their target price on Walgreens Boots Alliance from $11.00 to $7.50 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group decreased their target price on Walgreens Boots Alliance from $17.00 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on Walgreens Boots Alliance from $17.00 to $10.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $15.19.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Stock Performance

Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance stock opened at $8.74 on Wednesday. Walgreens Boots Alliance has a 52 week low of $8.46 and a 52 week high of $27.05. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $10.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.73. The firm has a market cap of $7.55 billion, a PE ratio of -1.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, June 27th. The pharmacy operator reported $0.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.68 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $36.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $35.94 billion. Walgreens Boots Alliance had a negative net margin of 3.99% and a positive return on equity of 12.63%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.00 earnings per share.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 21st. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.44%. Walgreens Boots Alliance’s dividend payout ratio is presently -14.84%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Walgreens Boots Alliance by 162.5% during the 2nd quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Pineridge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Walgreens Boots Alliance during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Walgreens Boots Alliance by 87.0% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,324 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,081 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Walgreens Boots Alliance during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its position in Walgreens Boots Alliance by 71.2% during the 2nd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,453 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,020 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.59% of the company’s stock.

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc operates as a healthcare, pharmacy, and retail company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through three segments: U.S. Retail Pharmacy, International, and U.S. Healthcare. The U.S. Retail Pharmacy segment engages in operation of the retail drugstores, health and wellness services, specialty, and home delivery pharmacy services, which offers health and wellness, beauty, personal care and consumables, and general merchandise.