Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA – Analyst Report) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 88 cents in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, up 14.3% from the year-ago adjusted number. The adjusted figure also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a solid 8.6%.

On a reported basis, net earnings came in at $26 million or 2 cents per share, a significant improvement from the year-ago net loss of $221 million or loss of 23 cents per share, respectively. A year-over-year double-digit increase in revenues primarily resulted in the bottom-line improvement.

For fiscal 2015, Walgreens Boots reported adjusted EPS of $3.88, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.4%. The full-year EPS figure also outweighed the year-ago equivalent figure by 18.3%.

Walgreens Company (WBA – Analyst Report) – Earnings Surprise | FindTheCompany

Interestingly, only a day before its fourth quarter earnings release, Walgreens Boots announced that it has agreed to acquire U.S.-based retail pharmacy chain – Rite Aid Corporation (RAD – Analyst Report), for a total enterprise value of $17.2 billion, including acquired net debt. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2016.

Walgreens Boots expects this transaction to be accretive to its adjusted EPS in its first full year after completion. Additionally, the company expects to realize synergies in excess of $1 billion.

Total Sales

Walgreens Boots recorded total sales of $28.5 billion in the fourth quarter, up 50% year over year primarily due to the inclusion of Alliance Boots’ consolidated results. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $28.9 billion.

For fiscal 2015, Walgreens Boots’ total sales grossed $103.4 billion, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 35.4%. However, the full-year top line figure also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $103.8 billion.

Segments in Detail

Walgreens Boots currently reports under three operating segments: Retail Pharmacy USA, Retail Pharmacy International and Pharmaceutical Wholesale.