Rite Aid Shares Plunge After Disappointing Q2 Sales and Revenue

Rite Aid

It appears the retail sector took yet another beating today. On Thursday, Rite Aid (NYSE:$RAD) shares tumbled after the drugstore operator posted revenue that missed expectations and said same-store sales dropped 3.4%.

Rite Aid shares were down roughly 11%, which is around $2 per share. According to FactSet, the stock is down more than 70% in 2017.

Before the market opened Thursday, Rite Aid announced that it lost 1 cent per share for Q2, which matches Thomson Reuters forecasts. However, revenue was short at $7.7 billion. The Street forecasted $7.84 billion in revenue, according to a Thomson Reuters estimate.

Rite Aid also reported that same-store sales for the quarter dropped 3.4% over the prior year. This consists of a 4.6% decrease in pharmacy sales and 0.9% decrease in front-end sales.

In regards to the improvement in operating results, Rite Aid said it “was due primarily to receipt of the $325 million merger termination fee” from Walgreens for a failed merger.

What did Rite Aid’s CEO and Chairman have to say about the results? Well, John Standley said the overall performance paints a picture of a “challenging reimbursement rate environment and the effects of an extended merger and asset sale process.”

“Securing regulatory clearance for the amended asset sale agreement with Walgreens Boots Alliance gives us a clear path forward to realize the benefits of the transaction and implement our plans to deliver improved results.”

Featured Image: depositphotos/wolterke

About the author: Caroline Harris is a third-year student at Capilano University in North Vancouver, Canada. Having already completed an Associates Degree in Psychology, Caroline is now finishing her Bachelor's degree in Communications. In preparation for working in the advertisement sector, Caroline is writing financial content and analysis. On a daily basis, Caroline works on articles regarding the following topics: finance, cryptocurrency, technology, and politics.