What to Expect From Rite Aid Earnings

Rite Aid is scheduled to report its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results before the markets open on Thursday.

Published April 6, 2016, 12:50pm ET · 2 min read

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Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) is scheduled to report its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results before the markets open on Thursday. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters call for $0.06 in earnings per share (EPS) on $6.40 billion in revenue. In the same period of last year, it posted EPS of $0.12 and $6.85 billion in revenue.

This company remains caught in what many investors equate to a merger time warp. That often just might not mean that the low volatility in a post-merger announcement leaves any great value or upside in the turnaround pharmacy chain. In the case of Rite Aid, it could be the opposite.

Credit Suisse started new analyst coverage on many health care related stocks on Wednesday, issuing very positive views on Rite Aid and on would-be acquirer Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA).

Walgreens announced in late 2015 that it would acquire Rite Aid for $9.00 per share. The annualized upside if the deal closes is closer to 26%, if the August 31 time and date is allowed to close. Some investors worry that regulatory powers might pose a hurdle.
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A few other analysts commented on the company ahead of the earnings report:

  • Credit Suisse reiterated an Outperform rating with a $9 price target.
  • Jefferies has a Hold rating with a $9 price target.
  • Evercore ISI has a Hold rating with a $9 price target.

So far in 2016, Rite Aid has outperformed the broad markets, with the stock up nearly 4%. However, over the past 52 weeks the stock is down about 8%.

Shares were trading at $8.11 on Wednesday, with a consensus analyst price target of $9.00 and a 52-week trading range of $5.88 to $9.47.

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Chris Lange

Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.

His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.

When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.

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