Walgreens Boots Alliance Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Oct. 12, 2023 – Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced financial results for the fiscal year and fourth quarter that ended Aug. 31, 2023.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Ginger Graham said:

“Our performance this year has not reflected WBA’s strong assets, brand legacy, or our commitment to our customers and patients. In just six weeks, we have taken a number of steps to align our cost structure with our business performance, including planned cost reductions of at least $1 billion, and lowered capital expenditures by approximately $600 million. We anticipate seeing the impact of these actions in fiscal 2024, beginning in the second quarter. We are also intently focused on accelerating our profitability in the U.S. Healthcare segment. As we welcome our new Chief Executive Officer, Tim Wentworth, who brings deep healthcare experience and the skills needed to propel WBA forward, along with the support of the Board, I am confident in our company's future and the ability to deliver greater value to our customers, shareholders, partners, and employees."

Overview of Fourth Quarter Results

WBA fourth quarter sales increased 9.2 percent from the year-ago quarter to $35.4 billion, an increase of 8.3 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting sales growth in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and International segments, and sales contribution from the U.S. Healthcare segment.

Fourth quarter operating loss was $450 million compared to an operating loss of $822 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating loss in the current quarter reflects certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements, and higher costs related to the Transformational Cost Management Program. Year over year improvement in operating loss is due to lapping a $783 million non-cash impairment charge related to intangible assets in Boots UK in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating income was $683 million, a decrease of 9.8 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting lower volumes of COVID-19 vaccinations and testing, and lower levels of sale leaseback contribution, partly offset by improvements in underlying U.S. pharmacy, lower incentive accruals, strong International growth, and improved profitability in U.S. Healthcare.

Net loss in the fourth quarter was $180 million compared to a net loss of $415 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily driven by a lower operating loss. Adjusted net earnings decreased 17.1 percent to $575 million, down 18.1 percent on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by lower adjusted operating income and a higher adjusted effective tax rate primarily due to timing and release of valuation allowance related to capital loss carryforwards in the year-ago quarter.

Loss per share was $0.21, compared to a loss per share of $0.48 in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings per share decreased 17.0 percent to $0.67, reflecting a decrease of 18.0 percent on a constant currency basis.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.0 billion in the fourth quarter and free cash flow was $549 million, a $956 million increase compared with the year-ago quarter driven primarily by phasing of working capital, partially offset by opioid settlement payments.

Overview of Fiscal Year Results

Sales in fiscal 2023 were $139.1 billion, an increase of 4.8 percent from the year-ago period, and an increase of 5.6 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting sales growth in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and International segments, and sales contribution from the U.S. Healthcare segment.

Operating loss in fiscal 2023 was $6.9 billion compared to operating income of $1.4 billion in the year-ago period. Operating loss in the period reflects a $6.8 billion pre-tax charge for opioid-related claims and litigation, partly offset by higher Boots UK intangible assets impairment charges in the year ago period. Adjusted operating income was $3.9 billion, a decrease of 24.1 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting a COVID-19 headwind of 23.3 percent and planned payroll investments in U.S. Retail Pharmacy, partly offset by lower incentive accruals, International growth and improved retail contributions in the U.S.

Net loss in fiscal 2023 was $3.1 billion, compared with net earnings of $4.3 billion in the year-ago period. This decrease is driven by a $5.5 billion after-tax charge for opioid-related claims and litigation in the period and lapping of a $2.5 billion after-tax gain on the Company's investments in VillageMD and Shields Health Solutions in the year-ago period, partly offset by a $1.7 billion after-tax gain from the partial sale of the Company's investments in Cencora and the complete sale of the Company's investment in Option Care Health. Adjusted net earnings were $3.4 billion, a decrease of 20.5 percent on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by lower adjusted operating income.

Loss per share for fiscal 2023 decreased to $3.57, compared with EPS of $5.01 in the year-ago period. Adjusted EPS was $3.98, a decrease of 20.9 percent on a reported basis and a decrease of 20.3 percent on a constant currency basis.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.3 billion in fiscal 2023. Free cash flow was $0.7 billion, a decrease of $1.5 billion from fiscal 2022 driven by lower earnings, opioid settlement payments, and increased capital expenditures including growth initiatives related to U.S. pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare.

Business Segments

U.S. Retail Pharmacy

The U.S. Retail Pharmacy segment had fourth quarter sales of $27.7 billion, an increase of 3.7 percent from the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales increased 5.7 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Pharmacy sales increased 6.4 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. Comparable pharmacy sales increased 9.2 percent in the fourth quarter, aided by higher brand inflation and mix impacts. Comparable prescriptions filled in the fourth quarter increased 0.9 percent while comparable prescriptions excluding immunizations increased 1.6 percent compared with the year-ago quarter. Total prescriptions filled in the quarter, including immunizations, adjusted to 30-day equivalents, decreased 0.5 percent to 297 million, impacted by lower market growth due to a weaker respiratory season.

Retail sales decreased 4.3 percent and comparable retail sales decreased 3.3 percent versus the year-ago quarter, reflecting macroeconomic-driven consumer pressure, a 1.0 percentage point impact from a weaker respiratory season and a 1.6 percentage point impact from lower sales of COVID-19 OTC test kits.

Adjusted operating income decreased 29.4 percent to $554 million compared to $786 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting reduced COVID-19 contributions (estimated $215 million) and lower levels of benefits from the sale and leaseback program, partly offset by underlying pharmacy gross profit and lower incentive accruals.

International

The International segment had fourth quarter sales of $5.8 billion, an increase of 12.4 percent from the year-ago quarter, including a favorable currency impact of 5.7 percent. Sales increased 6.7 percent on a constant currency basis, with Boots UK sales growing 10.9 percent, and the Company's Germany wholesale business sales growing 3.5 percent.

Boots UK comparable pharmacy sales increased 9.9 percent compared with the year-ago quarter. Boots UK comparable retail sales increased 11.7 percent compared to the year-ago quarter, with growth across all categories and footfall improving 4 percent. Boots.com continued to perform strongly with sales growing 28.9 percent, representing over 13 percent of Boots total retail sales.

Adjusted operating income increased 59.0 percent to $259 million, an increase of 52.2 percent on a constant currency basis, reflecting gross profit growth across all markets, led by strong retail sales in the UK and pharmacy margin.

U.S. Healthcare

The U.S. Healthcare segment had fourth quarter sales of $2.0 billion, reflecting the acquisition of CareCentrix, the acquisition of Summit Health by VillageMD, and pro forma growth in all businesses. On a pro forma basis, the segment's businesses grew sales at a combined rate of 19 percent in the quarter. VillageMD grew 17 percent, reflecting existing clinic growth and clinic footprint expansion. CareCentrix grew pro forma sales 24 percent due to additional service offerings and expansion into additional markets with existing partners. Shields grew 29 percent, driven by key contract wins, further expansion of existing partnerships, and strong executional focus.

Operating loss in the quarter of $294 million compared to $338 million in the prior year period. Adjusted operating loss, which excludes certain costs related to stock compensation expense and amortization of acquired intangible assets, was $83 million compared to $151 million in the year-ago quarter. Fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA loss of $30 million improved by $103 million versus the prior year quarter. Improvement in adjusted operating loss versus the year ago quarter was driven by growth at Shields and CareCentrix, and cost management at Walgreens Health.

Fiscal 2024 Outlook

For fiscal 2024, Walgreens Boots Alliance expects adjusted EPS of $3.20 to $3.50 reflecting incremental cost savings across the business and accelerating profitability in U.S. Healthcare, more than offset by lower sale and leaseback contribution, a higher tax rate, and lower COVID-19 contribution.

The Company expects U.S. Healthcare adjusted EBITDA to be breakeven at the midpoint of the guidance range of ($50) to $50 million.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, such as unusual one-time charges, tax expenses, and material litigation expenses, and that would impact diluted net earnings per share, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Conference Call

WBA will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and fiscal 2023 earnings results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time today, Oct. 12, 2023. A live simulcast as well as related presentation materials will be available through WBA's investor relations website at: https://investor.walgreensbootsalliance.com. A replay of the conference will be archived on the website for at least 12 months after the event.

*All references to net earnings or net loss are to net earnings or net loss attributable to WBA, and all references to EPS are to diluted EPS attributable to WBA.

**"Adjusted," "constant currency" and free cash flow amounts are non-GAAP financial measures. See the appendix to this release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most closely correlated GAAP measure.

*** The Company uses Adjusted operating income (loss) as its principal measure of segment performance as it enhances the Company’s ability to compare past financial performance with current performance and analyze underlying segment performance and trends. The consolidated WBA measure is not determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, consolidated operating income. See the appendix to this release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most closely correlated GAAP measure.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, estimates of and goals for future operating, financial and tax performance and results, including our fiscal year 2024 outlook, our long-term growth outlook and targets and related assumptions and drivers, as well as forward-looking statements concerning future leadership and the expected execution and effect of our business strategies, including the potential impacts on our business of COVID-19, our cost-savings and growth initiatives, including statements relating to our expected cost savings under our Transformational Cost Management Program and expansion and future operating and financial results of our U.S. Healthcare segment, including our long-term sales targets and profitability expectations. All statements in the future tense and all statements accompanied by words such as “expect,” “outlook,” “preliminary outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “guidance,” “target,” “aim,” continue,” “transform,” “accelerate,” “model,” “long-term,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” “commentary,” “potential,” “preliminary,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, that could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated.

These risks, assumptions and uncertainties include those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements we make or that are made on our behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Please refer to the supplemental information presented below for reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to the most comparable GAAP financial measure and related disclosures.

Notes to Editors:

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities.

A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with approximately 13,000 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. The company is reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all as part of its purpose – to create more joyful lives through better health. Through dispensing medicines, improving access to a wide range of health services, providing high quality health and beauty products and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its digital platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare.

WBA employs more than 331,000 people and has a presence in nine countries through its portfolio of consumer brands: Walgreens, Boots, Duane Reade, the No7 Beauty Company, Benavides in Mexico and Ahumada in Chile. Additionally, WBA has a portfolio of healthcare-focused investments located in several countries, including China and the U.S.

The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA has been recognized for its commitment to being an inclusive workplace. In fiscal 2023, the Company received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, scored 100 percent on the Disability Equality Index for disability inclusion and was named Disability:IN’s 2023 Employer of the Year. In addition, WBA has been recognized for its commitment to operating sustainably as the company is an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

More Company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

(WBA-ER)

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following information provides reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules, presented in this press release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The Company has provided the non-GAAP financial measures in the press release, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management has evaluated the Company’s financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items or the effects of foreign currency translation, as applicable, and believes that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the Company’s business from period to period and trends in the Company’s historical operating results. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in the press release.

The Company does not provide a reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, such as unusual one-time charges, tax expenses, and material litigation expenses, and that would impact diluted net earnings per share, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.

Constant currency

The Company also presents certain information related to current period operating results in “constant currency,” which is a non-GAAP financial measure. These amounts are calculated by translating current period results at the foreign currency exchange rates used in the comparable period in the prior year. The Company presents such constant currency financial information because it has significant operations outside of the U.S. transacting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar and this presentation provides a framework to assess how its business performed excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Comparable sales

For the Company's U.S. Retail Pharmacy and International segments, Comparable sales are defined as sales from stores that have been open for at least twelve consecutive months without closure for seven or more consecutive days, including due to looting or store damage, and without a major remodel or being subject to a natural disaster, in the past twelve months as well as e-commerce sales. E-commerce sales include digitally initiated sales online or through mobile applications. Relocated stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after the relocation. Acquired stores are not included as comparable sales for the first twelve months after acquisition or conversion, when applicable, whichever is later. Comparable sales, comparable pharmacy sales, comparable retail sales, comparable number of prescriptions and comparable number of 30-day equivalent prescriptions refer to total sales, pharmacy sales, retail sales, number of prescriptions and number of 30-day equivalent prescriptions, respectively. The method of calculating comparable sales varies across the retail industry and our method of calculating comparable sales may not be the same as other retailers’ methods.

With respect to the International segment, comparable sales, comparable pharmacy sales and comparable retail sales, are presented on a constant currency basis, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the discussion above in "Constant currency" for further details on constant currency calculations.

Key Performance Indicators

The Company considers certain metrics, such as comparable sales (in constant currency), comparable pharmacy sales (in constant currency), comparable retail sales (in constant currency), comparable number of prescriptions, and comparable 30-day equivalent prescriptions to be key performance indicators because the Company’s management has evaluated its results of operations using these metrics and believes that these key performance indicators presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the Company from period to period and trends in its historical operating results. These key performance indicators should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented herein. These measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled performance indicators used by other companies.

NET (LOSS) EARNINGS TO ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS AND DILUTED NET (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE TO ADJUSTED DILUTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS BY SEGMENT

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS BY SEGMENT

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS BY SEGMENT