Drugstore chain retailer, Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) comparable store sales (comps) for the five weeks ended Mar 1, 2014 increased 1.5%. The growth was attributable to a rise in pharmacy comps, partly offset by decline in front-end comps. Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) stock opened at $6.69 in last trading session, and closed at $6.56, trading in the range of $6.55 – $6.73. The stock showed a negative weekly performance of -0.46%.
Signs of improving customer traffic and prospects that a tighter supply chain will pay off in higher profits are bolstering bullish options in Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG). The price of calls that pay out if the stock gains 10 percent reached the highest level in six years compared with puts conveying the right to sell the shares, signaling an increase in bets that the stock will rise. Walgreen, which owns more than 8,500 pharmacies operating in every U.S. state, has rallied 16 percent in 2014 and reached the highest price since at least 1980 earlier this week. Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG) shares closed at $67.21 on last trade day, by gaining 0.75%. Stock 52 week range is $40.15 – $69.84. Company’s market capitalization is $63.86 billion.
CVS Caremark (NYSE:CVS)‘s stock had its “neutral” rating restated by Zacks in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, AR Network reports. They currently have a $76.00 price target on the stock. Zacks’ price objective points to a potential upside of 5.32% from the stock’s previous close. CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE:CVS) stock advanced 0.36% and finished the last session at $73.48. The EPS of the stock remained 3.76. Company’s market capitalization is $86.88 billion.
GNC Holdings (NYSE:GNC) was downgraded by research analysts at Goldman Sachs from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report released on Friday, TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports. They currently have a $54.00 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of $72.00. Goldman Sachs’ price objective indicates a potential upside of 20.75% from the company’s current price. GNC Holdings Inc (NYSE:GNC) stock opened at $47.92 in last trading session and closed at $48.22. The 52 week range of the stock is $37.71 – $60.98 and the day range was $47.78 – $48.38.