Replies to post #590 on Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA)

[Prudent Capitalist]

This article from this morning indicates that WAG has more cash and less long term debt than CVS:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/16/why-walgreens-future-should-worry-competitors-and.aspx

[big-yank]

robb, in reply to your point/question on brand vs. generics...

I look at it this way: the principle player in the equation is the FDA. The second player in the equation is the Patent Office. The third major player in the equation is The House of Representatives who has responsibility for healthcare spending and healthcare savings. When all the major contributors are Federal Agencies and most are aligned and focused on reducing healthcare spend, and generics are SO much cheaper, is the outcome really in doubt?

I think that retail pharma like Walgreens and others are largely neutral on the issue, knowing that the good news is that the margins on generics are higher and the ticket on branded Rx's is a lot higher. WAG, historically, has aggressively supported generics so I doubt their position in the matter is likely to change. The "fly in the ointment" is pretty much limited to Walmart's aggressive price point on generics and whether or not they sustain it... which I believe they will.

GLTA,

Yank