Financial News

WASHINGTON — Retail industry sales — which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants — will increase 4.1% in 2014, up from the preliminary 3.7% growth seen in 2013, according to the National Retail Federation. The association’s 2014 economic forecast, released Thursday, calls for online sales to grow between 9% and 12%.

A number of factors contributed to NRF’s 2014 economic forecast, including:

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday posted January sales of $6.4 billion, an increase of 3.7% compared with the year-ago period.

Total front-end sales increased 2.4% compared with the same month in fiscal 2013, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.6%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.2% while basket size increased 3.8%.

MALVERN, Penn. — Endo Health Solutions on Monday announced that its Qualitest subsidiary has completed the acquisition of privately-held Boca Pharmacal, a specialty pharmaceutical company, for approximately $225 million in cash.  

Boca Pharmacal is a specialty generics company that focuses on niche areas, commercializing and developing products in categories that include controlled substances, semisolids and solutions.  

MILWAUKEE— Roundy’s will be offering 2.9 million shares of its common stock, and certain selling stockholders will be offering 5.9 million shares of the company’s common stock. The underwriters will be granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1.3 million shares of common stock from the selling stockholders, all at the offering price less the underwriting discount.

SAN FRANCISCO — Days following the acquisition of a majority stake in Celesio, McKesson Corp. on Thursday reported that revenues for the third quarter ended Dec. 31 totaled $34.3 billion, up 10% compared with a year ago.  

Third-quarter adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations was $1.45 compared to $1.44 a year ago.  

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Bad weather and a reduction in food stamps led to weaker-than-expected sales at Walmart and Sam’s Club, which — combined with greater than expected international expense — prompted an uncharacteristic preannouncement from the company that fourth quarter profits would be worse than expected.

AKRON, Ohio — GoJo Industries on Friday announced the acquisition of Laboratoires Prodene Klint. Based in France, Prodene Klint specializes in professional hygiene, cosmetics and disinfectant products.  

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

BASEL, Switzerland — Novartis Consumer Health will be relaunching Theraflu for the 2014-2015 cough-cold season, Brian McNamara, Novartis division head OTC, told analysts Wednesday. 

"As you know, in the U.S. business we launched Lamisil and Triaminic and Excedrin end of 2012 and 2013. About halfway through the year, we launched Benefiber. And for next year, we expect to launch Theraflu for that cough and cold season," he said.