The board of directors of Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) today
declared a regular quarterly dividend of 31.5 cents per share, a 14.5
percent increase over the year ago dividend. The dividend is payable
March 12, 2014, to shareholders of record Feb. 18, 2014.
Walgreens has paid a dividend in 325 straight quarters (more than 81
years) and has raised its dividend for 38 consecutive years. Over the
last five years, Walgreens annual dividend rate has increased from 45
cents per share to $1.26 per share, resulting in a compound annual
growth rate of nearly 23 percent.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone
in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million
customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and
services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness
services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of
pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility
and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers,
managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers
and the public sector. The company operates 8,200 drugstores in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the
largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness
centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with
more than 750 locations throughout the country.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Statements
in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "likely,"
"outlook," "forecast, "would," "could," "should," "can," "will,"
"project," "intend," "plan," "goal," “target,” "continue," "sustain,"
"synergy," "on track," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"may," "possible," "assume," variations of such words and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by
reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or
anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the
extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly
disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statement after the initial distribution of this release, whether as a
result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or
otherwise.
(Please note: Stock exchanges typically set the ex-dividend date two
business days before the shareholder-of-record date. This means if you
purchase stock on the ex-dividend date or after, you will not receive
the next dividend payment. If you purchase before the ex-dividend date,
you will receive the dividend.)
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