Walgreens Stock Tumbles on Dividend Suspension

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Walgreens Boots Alliance (

WBA

) shares sank Friday after the pharmacy chain suspended its quarterly dividend to shore up its finances while it works to turn around its business.

“The company’s cash needs over the next several years, including with respect to litigation and debt refinancing, were important considerations as part of the decision to suspend the dividend,” the company said in a news release.

The U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month announced a
lawsuit
accusing the pharmacy chain of dispensing “millions of unlawful prescriptions” that had no legitimate medical purpose.

The legal challenge adds to already
downbeat
views on the company from analysts. Jefferies warned that despite the company’s cost-cutting efforts like
closing hundreds of “underperforming” stores
, the company’s retail pharmacy business is likely to “remain challenged.

Walgreens shares fell 15% in intraday trading Friday and have lost more than half their value in the past year.

UPDATE—Jan. 31, 2025: This article has been updated to include fresh share prices.

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