The nation's largest drugstore chain -- more than 7,100 locations at last count -- got even bigger in February after paying $1.1 billion for Duane Reade, a purchase that includes all 257 Duane Reade stores in the New York City metropolitan area and solidifies Walgreen's position in the country's largest drugstore market. Walgreen chief Greg Wasson has been able to fatten profit margins by relying less on seasonal items and more on front-of-the-store sales of private-label products. Another initiative: restructuring the company's health-care operations, by offering integrated "pharmacy, health and wellness solutions" to employers, managed care organizations, and government clients. --P.N. |
| Key financials |
$ millions |
% change
from 2008 |
| Revenues |
63,335.0 |
7.3 |
| Profits |
2,006.0 |
-7.0 |
| Assets |
25,142.0 |
— |
| Stockholders' equity |
14,376.0 |
— |
| Market value (3/26/2010) |
36,244.6 |
— |
| Profits as % of |
|
| Revenues |
3.2 |
| Assets |
8.0 |
| Stockholders' equity |
14.0 |
| Earnings per share |
|
| 2009 $ |
2.02 |
| % change from 2008 |
-6.9 |
| 1999-2009 annual growth rate % |
12.5 |
| Total return to investors |
% |
| 2009 |
51.2 |
| 1999-2009 annual rate |
3.0 |
|
Interactives
-
See how revenues and profits at America's 25 largest companies have risen and fallen over the past decade.
-
From a single store in 1962 to more than 4,300 outlets today, see how the biggest retailer has expanded.
|
