Rite Aid clocks $2 billion in January sales

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Rite Aid on Thursday reported sales of $2 billion, down 1.3%, for the four weeks ended Jan. 23. Overall same-store sales decreased 1.4% over the prior-year period, including a front-end same-store sales decline of 1.9% and a pharmacy same-store sales decrease of 1.2%. 

 

Shares of Rite Aid were down almost 10 cents to $7.65 in late morning trading. 

 

Prescription count at comparable stores decreased 1% over the prior-year period. Prescription sales accounted for 70.5% of drug store sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.7% of pharmacy sales.

 

Same-store sales for the 47-week period ended Jan. 23 increased 1.5% over the prior-year period, with front-end same-store sales uo 0.3% while pharmacy same-store sales were up 2%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 0.4% over the prior-year period.

 

Total drug store sales for the 47-week period were up 1.4% with sales of $24.1 billion. Prescription sales represented 69.1% of total drug store sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.8% of pharmacy sales.