Walgreens Boots Alliance Reports 20.3 Percent Profit Increase In 4Q

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. announced adjusted fiscal 2016 fourth quarter net earnings increased 20.3 percent to $1.2 billion over last year, on sales of $28.6 billion (up 0.4 percent). Fourth quarter net earnings per share were $0.95 compared with $0.02 in the same quarter a year ago. The company said increases in net earnings reflect fluctuations in the quarterly fair value adjustments of the company's AmerisourceBergen Corporation warrants. Fiscal 2016 earnings per share declined 4.5 percent from the prior year, to $3.82. CEO Stefano Pessina said, "The exercise of the AmerisourceBergen warrants in August provides an example of the opportunities open to us to deploy capital.”