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Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
NASDAQ:WBA

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) AI Stock Analysis

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Walgreens Boots Alliance

(NASDAQ:WBA)

51Neutral
The overall stock score of 51 reflects Walgreens Boots Alliance's mixed performance. The company faces significant financial challenges, with declining profitability and high leverage. However, there are signs of optimism in technical analysis and a strong strategic focus on turnaround efforts. Valuation is weighted by high dividend yield but hindered by profitability issues. The earnings call showed promising sales growth and strategic focus, but also highlighted ongoing retail challenges.
Positive Factors
Acquisition financing
Sycamore has secured fully committed financing for the transaction.
Leadership confidence
WBA's chairman, Stefano Pessina, is voting in favor of the deal and will reinvest the cash consideration along with an additional cash investment into the acquiring company.
Negative Factors
Financial health concerns
There are concerns about WBA's lack of cash flow and upcoming debt challenges, which could complicate a potential deal.
Sector challenges
Sycamore Partners, which focuses on consumer and retail sectors, may face difficulties navigating the complexities of the healthcare sector.

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Walgreens Boots Alliance Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionWalgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. operates as a pharmacy-led health and beauty retail company. It operates through two segments, the United States and International. The United States segment sells prescription drugs and an assortment of retail products, including health, wellness, beauty, personal care, consumable, and general merchandise products through its retail drugstores. It also provides central specialty pharmacy services and mail services. As of August 31, 2021, this segment operated 8,965 retail stores under the Walgreens and Duane Reade brands in the United States; and five specialty pharmacies. The International segment sells prescription drugs; and health and wellness, beauty, personal care, and other consumer products through its pharmacy-led health and beauty retail stores and optical practices, as well as through boots.com and an integrated mobile application. It also engages in pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution business in Germany. As of August 31, 2021, this segment operated 4,031 retail stores under the Boots, Benavides, and Ahumada in the United Kingdom, Thailand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Chile; and 548 optical practices, including 160 on a franchise basis. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. was founded in 1901 and is based in Deerfield, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyWalgreens Boots Alliance generates revenue through its retail and pharmacy operations across its key markets. The Retail Pharmacy USA segment contributes significantly to its earnings, primarily through the sale of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and various health and wellness products. In the Retail Pharmacy International segment, revenue is driven by similar sales at Boots locations in markets like the UK and other European countries. Additionally, WBA benefits from its pharmaceutical wholesale division, which distributes healthcare products to numerous healthcare providers worldwide. Partnerships with healthcare providers and insurance companies also play a crucial role in their revenue model, enhancing their service offerings and market reach.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Walgreens Boots Alliance faces significant financial challenges across all verticals. The income statement shows declining profitability with persistent losses. The balance sheet reflects high leverage and low equity, raising concerns about financial stability. Cash flow issues further emphasize liquidity constraints. Improving profitability, reducing debt, and enhancing cash generation are critical for financial recovery.
Income Statement
35
Negative
Walgreens Boots Alliance has seen a decline in its financial performance, with negative EBIT and EBITDA margins of -9.49% and -8.07% respectively for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The company also reported a negative net profit margin of -5.87%, highlighting significant losses. Revenue growth is present but modest at 1.86%, indicating limited top-line expansion. Overall, the income statement reflects profitability challenges.
Balance Sheet
40
Negative
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.75, indicating substantial leverage, which could pose financial risks. The return on equity is negative at -79.12%, reflecting the impact of net losses on shareholder returns. The equity ratio stands at 14.21%, suggesting a low proportion of equity in the asset base. The balance sheet indicates financial strain with high liabilities relative to equity.
Cash Flow
20
Very Negative
Cash flow metrics are concerning with no free cash flow reported for TTM, indicating a potential liquidity issue. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, showing cash flow challenges amidst losses. Previous free cash flow growth was negative, highlighting the volatility in cash generation. Overall, the cash flow statement signals liquidity and cash management difficulties.
Breakdown
TTMSep 2024Sep 2023Sep 2022Sep 2021Sep 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
150.41B147.66B139.08B132.70B132.51B121.98B
Gross Profit
26.53B26.52B27.07B28.27B28.07B26.08B
EBIT
-14.27B-14.08B-6.88B1.39B2.34B982.00M
EBITDA
-11.87B-11.28B3.48B4.96B5.96B2.84B
Net Income Common Stockholders
-8.83B-8.64B-3.08B4.34B2.54B456.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
3.10B3.11B739.00M2.47B1.19B516.00M
Total Assets
26.33B81.04B96.63B90.12B81.28B87.17B
Total Debt
2.35B32.85B33.53B35.48B33.39B40.14B
Net Debt
-146.00M31.53B32.81B34.12B32.20B39.62B
Total Liabilities
11.39B68.86B68.14B59.72B57.46B66.04B
Stockholders Equity
14.95B10.45B20.02B29.37B23.82B21.14B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
0.00-363.00M141.00M2.17B4.18B4.11B
Operating Cash Flow
1.16B1.02B2.26B3.90B5.55B5.48B
Investing Cash Flow
1.72B1.88B-3.09B-1.06B4.07B-1.30B
Financing Cash Flow
-2.41B-538.00M-887.00M-1.50B-9.04B-4.65B

Walgreens Boots Alliance Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price10.68
Price Trends
50DMA
10.79
Negative
100DMA
10.24
Positive
200DMA
10.12
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.11
Positive
RSI
53.86
Neutral
STOCH
67.04
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WBA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 10.68 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 11.15, below the 50-day MA of 10.79, and above the 200-day MA of 10.12, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.11 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 53.86 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 67.04 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WBA.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Risk Analysis

Walgreens Boots Alliance disclosed 46 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Walgreens Boots Alliance reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Walgreens Boots Alliance Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (48)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
CVCVS
76
Outperform
$85.12B18.476.07%3.94%4.02%-43.51%
73
Outperform
$1.89T30.9724.29%10.99%91.61%
WMWMT
73
Outperform
$699.55B36.2822.23%0.98%5.07%25.86%
71
Outperform
$429.08B56.4632.89%0.48%6.13%12.14%
DGDG
65
Neutral
$20.77B18.4615.89%2.50%4.96%-32.41%
WBWBA
51
Neutral
$9.56B-60.05%9.04%5.62%-1637.59%
48
Neutral
$6.86B1.11-50.22%2.47%16.71%1.53%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WBA
Walgreens Boots Alliance
10.68
-7.23
-40.37%
AMZN
Amazon
171.00
-14.19
-7.66%
COST
Costco
916.48
208.54
29.46%
CVS
CVS Health
63.66
-7.54
-10.59%
DG
Dollar General
92.62
-61.11
-39.75%
WMT
Walmart
83.19
24.08
40.74%

Walgreens Boots Alliance Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Jan 10, 2025 | % Change Since: 15.84% | Next Earnings Date: Apr 8, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong sales growth across all segments, improved free cash flow, and positive performance in the pharmacy and healthcare segments. However, it also noted challenges with declining retail sales in the U.S. and a significant decline in adjusted EPS. Despite these challenges, the company remains focused on executing its turnaround strategy.
Highlights
Sales Growth Across All Segments
Sales increased 6.9% on a constant currency basis with growth across all segments.
Improved Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow improved due to decreased capital expenditures and higher adjusted operating income.
U.S. Pharmacy Services Performance
U.S. Pharmacy Services performed better than expectations with higher margin for COVID-19 vaccines.
International Business Growth
Total sales in the International segment grew 6.5% with Germany wholesale increasing 11.3% and Boots UK up 4.5%.
Healthcare Segment Growth
U.S. Healthcare sales of $2.2 billion increased 12%, with strong performance from VillageMD and Shields.
Lowlights
Decline in U.S. Retail Sales
Comparable retail sales in the U.S. declined 4.6% in the quarter due to a softer cough, cold, and flu season and challenging consumer discretionary spending.
Adjusted EPS Decline
Adjusted EPS declined 23% year-over-year on a constant currency basis due to prior year sale-leaseback gains and lower Cencora equity income.
Ongoing Retail Challenges
Persistent deterioration in consumer discretionary spending and promotional environment continue to impact the retail business.
Company Guidance
During the Walgreens Boots Alliance earnings call for Q1 2025, the management provided detailed guidance on several key metrics. Sales increased by 6.9% on a constant currency basis, with growth across all segments. The adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was reported at $0.51, reflecting a 23% decline year-over-year, primarily due to prior year sale-leaseback gains and lower Cencora equity income. Despite these challenges, the U.S. Retail Pharmacy segment saw a notable comparable sales growth of 8.5%, driven by pharmacy performance, although retail sales declined. In the U.S. Healthcare segment, sales rose by 12%, with VillageMD and Shields showing strong performance. The company achieved significant progress in its Footprint Optimization Program, closing about 70 stores in the quarter and planning for nearly 450 more by the end of 2025. For the fiscal year, Walgreens Boots Alliance reaffirmed its adjusted EPS guidance of $1.40 to $1.80, while also expecting retail comp sales to decline approximately 4% to 5%. The company emphasized its focus on stabilizing and turning around its business by improving drug procurement, optimizing store operations, and advancing its pharmacy services, with a strong emphasis on cost management and cash flow improvement.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Walgreens Boots Alliance Reports Q1 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Jan 10, 2025

Walgreens Boots Alliance announced its fiscal 2025 first quarter results, highlighting a 7.5% increase in sales to $39.5 billion, despite a decrease in adjusted earnings per share from $0.66 to $0.51. The company maintains its full-year adjusted EPS guidance, with challenges in U.S. retail sales and higher tax rates balanced by growth in U.S. Healthcare and international segments. The company is focused on strategic priorities, including stabilizing retail pharmacy and enhancing cost efficiencies, although it reported a net loss of $265 million due to increased operating costs and lower retail sales.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.