Carolyn Kaster
Customers walk around the exterior of the Rite Aid in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. Rite Aid Corp. reported a second-quarter loss that reversed gains from a year ago. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Profit was $27.6 million, or 4 cents per share, in the fiscal first quarter, ended June 2, up from $11.0 million, or 1 cent per share, a year earlier.
Analysts, on average, expected the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based retailer to post a loss of 1 cent per share, according to Reuters Estimates.
First-quarter sales rose 2.8 percent to $4.46 billion. As previously reported, sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.3 percent, with pharmacy same-store sales up 2.7 percent and same-store sales of "front-end" general merchandise up 1.6 percent.
Photos Drag
Customers bought more items that were on sale during the latest quarter and the photo category continued to be a drag on front-end same-store sales.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Mary Sammons said that Rite Aid also saw customers buying more products at promotional prices throughout last year.
"They are just buying more economically and I think it's undoubtedly related to their economic condition and the cost of fuel, etcetera," Sammons said during the call.
Photo kiosks such as those at Rite Aid stores have been hit by the rise of consumers using digital cameras and printing photos at home or via Web sites, rather than bringing film to stores to be developed.
Sammons said Rite Aid is working to control photo expenses and is looking at ways to improve the category, including expanding its online offerings.
Rite Aid is on track to open 125 new and relocated stores this year, she said.
Rite Aid still expects to post a net loss for fiscal 2008 of between $47 million and $129 million, or a loss of 11 cents to 23 cents per share, including an estimated expense of $145 million to integrate the acquired stores.
It also still anticipates fiscal 2008 sales of $25.3 billion to $26 billion.