Content about Company Earnings Guidance

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday posted its 34th consecutive quarter of positive identical-supermarket sales, vetting the company's approach to competing in the food industry not as a traditional food retailer, but as a retailer that happens to sell its customers a lot of food.

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.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Despite running fewer stores, Rite Aid grew its sales and narrowed its losses during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012, thanks to a boost in its loyalty card program membership, a longer fiscal year and the continuing dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts.

MINNEAPOLIS — For the second month in a row, Target’s same-store sales were nearly double the expected amount. As a result, the company increased its first-quarter guidance.

Same-store sales increased 7.3%, with half of the increase driven by growth in average transaction size combined with an increase in comparable-store transactions. Overall comparable-store sales in March 2011 decreased 5.5%.

GOODLETSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General's quarterly profit surged 33% to a record $299 million, from $226 million in the prior year.

Sales increased 20.1% to $4.19 billion, compared with $3.49 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6.5%.

For the full year, profit rose 26% to $819 million, from $649 million in 2010. Sales surged 13.6% to $14.8 billion, from $13 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 6%.

CINCINNATI — Despite recording an increase in total and identical-store sales during fourth quarter 2011, Kroger reported a net loss due to costs associated with consolidating its pension plan for union workers.

The grocer, whose banners include Kroger, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, said the loss of of $306.9 million, or 54 cents per share, compared with a profit of $278.8 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales in the quarter rose 7.7% to $21.4 billion. Excluding fuel, sales rose 5%. Same-store sales increased 4.9% (excluding fuel).

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday reported $20.4 billion in revenue for the first quarter ended Dec. 31, up 2%.

“We are off to a good start in our fiscal year 2012, with December quarter results in line with our expectations and excellent progress being made on the integration of our recent acquisitions,” stated Steven Collis, AmerisourceBergen president and CEO. “We continued to demonstrate expense and working capital discipline, and our balance sheet remains strong, giving us outstanding financial flexibility.”

NEW YORK — At its annual Analyst Day in New York on Tuesday, CVS Caremark executives outlined strong growth for 2012 and unveiled several new offerings and initiatives that are expected to help drive profitable long-term growth as it works to reinvent pharmacy and focus on its “integration sweet spots.”

EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets of Procter & Gamble's water purification brand.

The acquisition of P&G's Pur Water Purification Products company includes the worldwide Pur trademark, its current and future product line, assets related to the operations of the Pur business, manufacturing equipment and more than 200 patents. Pur's products, which include faucet mount systems and filters, pitcher systems and filters, as well as refrigerator filters, are sold throughout the United States.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — A UnitedHealth Group company announced its plans to acquire a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans in an all-cash transaction.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark on Thursday reported solid third-quarter results — 2 cents above the high end of its guidance range — driven in large part by better-than-expected performance in its pharmacy benefit management, which is in the midst of a profit-improvement plan.