Company: Walgreen Co

Drugstore chain Walgreen Co. is beefing up its Prescription Savings Club program for customers by expanding the discounts it offers on generic drugs, vaccines and other items.

(Reuters) - Shares of Express Scripts Holding Co <ESRX.O> rose nearly 4 percent on Friday as investors shrugged off concerns about the U.S. pharmacy benefit manager's financial outlook and ability to maintain its business without Walgreen Co <WAG.N> in its drugstore network.

Shares of Express Scripts are climbing after the pharmacy benefits manger reported prescription growth in its first quarter since splitting with drugstore chain Walgreen.

(Reuters) - A U.S. government examination found questionble billing practices for Medicare prescription drug coverage at 4 percent of American pharmacies, particularly independent retail drugstores.

Summary of revenue at stores open at least a year in April for drugstore chains, with percentage increase or decrease over the same month last year.

Pharmacy benefits manager Catalyst Health Solutions Inc.'s first-quarter earnings fell 5 percent as costs related to an acquisition and infrastructure improvements soared.

Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday monthly revenue from stores open at least a year slipped again in April largely due to its split with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc.

CVS Caremark Corp.'s first quarter earnings jumped 9 percent, due in part to a contract impasse between two rivals, and the drugstore chain expects that benefit to continue.

EARNNGS GROWTH: CVS Caremark Corp. posted eaernings of $776 million, or 59 cents per share, in the first quarter. That compares with $713 million, or 52 cents per share, last year. Revenue rose 20 percent to $30.8 billion.

(Reuters) - CVS Caremark Corp <CVS.N> posted a sharp rise in first-quarter sales as the drugstore operator and pharmacy benefits manager continued to win over former patrons of Walgreen Co <WAG.N> stores, and the company raised its profit forecast.

Retailers from discounter Target to department-store chain Macy's reported better-than-expected sales in March in the latest sign that Americans are feeling better about the economy.

Stocks dipped into negative territory in the final hour of trading after trading flat for most of the session Tuesday as investors took a breather following a strong market rally fueled by comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.

CVS Caremark fourth-quarter earnings climbed nearly 4 percent, as the drugstore operator's pharmacy services revenue swelled because of a long-term contract and new business.

CVS Caremark Corp. gained millions of new prescriptions in the first quarter due to a contract impasse between two rivals, and now the drugstore chain wants to keep the growth going by ensuring that those customers stick around and use the rest of its store.

Stocks came off their worst levels but still closed lower Monday as investors took a breather following the recent market rally and amid ongoing debt negotiations in Greece over a fresh austerity package.