Content about Company Earnings Announcement

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Monday named Wayne Sales, a Canadian hall-of-fame-caliber retailer, as the company's president and CEO, replacing Craig Herkert.

“In my new role, I will work closely with our leadership team to improve our sales and earnings trajectory and generate long-term shareholder value, focusing relentlessly on identifying factors that will drive meaningful improvements in our strategy execution and overall performance,” Sales stated.

SAN FRANCISCO — With the Supreme Court maintaining a status quo of sorts with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last month, retail pharmacy operators are going to need to continually drive efficiencies into their businesses, McKesson chairman and CEO John Hammergren noted during the wholesaler's first-quarter conference call.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Thursday announced a number of dramatic measures to stabilize its business — reduction in capital spending, suspension of the company's dividend, even the exploration of possible strategic alternatives — in conjunction with its declining first-quarter earnings results.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported net sales of nearly $9.2 billion for the month of June, an increase of 6% from the similar period last year.

Overall comparable sales for the period were 3%. U.S. comps also were 3%, while international comps were 2%.

Both year's five-week periods included 34 days in the U.S. and Canada (U.S. warehouses closed Memorial Day; Canadian warehouses closed July 1, Canada Day).

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a branded acne drug made by Ranbaxy Labs, the drug maker said. Ranbaxy announced the FDA approval of Absorica (isotretinoin), a drug for treating severe recalcitrant nodular acne. The company expects to launch it in the United States in fourth quarter 2012 under an agreement with Canada-based Cipher Pharmaceuticals.


CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid maintained its same-store sales momentum, posting gains across front-end and pharmacy comparable sales for the sixth consecutive quarter: Overall same-store sales were up 2.5%, reflecting a 2.7% increase across the front-end and a 2.4% uptick across pharmacy, for the first quarter ended June 2. Comparable prescriptions filled were up 3%, much of that from prescriptions coming out of the Walgreens-Express Scripts dispute (patients that Rite Aid plans on keeping), but that isn't the only reason Rite Aid's pharmacy business is on the rise.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy's Labs has launched a drug for treating Parkinson's disease, the company said Thursday.

Dr. Reddy's introduced ropinirole hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 2-mg, 4-mg, 6-mg, 8-mg and 12-mg strengths. The 2-mg, 4-mg and 6-mg strengths will be available in 30- and 90-count bottle sizes, while the other two strengths will be available in 30-count bottles.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Requip XL, which had sales of $58 million during the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings reported profits of $189 million during first quarter 2012, compared with a $165 million loss in first quarter 2011, the company said.

"We are pleased with the results for the first quarter and our progress toward restoring profit growth and transforming our company," president and CEO Lou D'Ambrosio said.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. reported its second-quarter results for the period ended March 25.

The retailer's consolidated sales for the quarter rose nearly 2.7% to $937.7 million, compared with the year-ago period, while same-store sales also rose nearly 2.7%. Second-quarter net income totaled $16.4 million, compared with $9.3 million for second quarter of the prior year.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's on Thursday reported total sales of $141.8 million for the five weeks ended April 28, up 4% from the year-ago period. Comparable-store sales for the month declined 0.3%, compared with an increase of 1.8% in the same period last year.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year results, thanks to gains across several of the company's business segments.

Revenues for the fourth quarter ended March 31 were up 10% to $31.7 billion, compared with the year-ago period, while earnings per diluted share were $2.09, up from $1.62 in the same period last year. For fiscal year 2012, McKesson had revenues of $122.7 billion, up nearly 9.5% from fiscal year 2011. Full-year earnings per diluted share from continuing operations totaled $5.59, up 30% from the prior year.