Rite Aid reports monthly financial results

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid Corporation on Thursday posted a 1.8% same-store sales increase for the four weeks ended April 25. April front-end same-store sales increased 3.2%, while pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 453 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 1.2%.

April and March front-end sales were impacted by a later Easter this year (April 12 this year versus March 23 last year). Same-store front-end sales for the combined March and April sales period decreased 1.6%.

For the period, same-store sales excluding the acquired Brooks Eckerd stores increased 2.7% and pharmacy same-store sales increased 2.6%.

The acquired Brooks Eckerd stores were flat, compared with the prior-year period, with front-end same-store sales increasing 4.4% and pharmacy same-store sales decreasing 1.4%.

Total drug store sales for the four-week period were flat with sales of $2 billion. Prescription revenue accounted for 67.8% of drug store sales, and third party prescription revenue represented 96.3% of pharmacy sales.