Yesterday, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) reported strong fiscal Q1 2025 results, posting US$39.5 billion in sales, marking a 7.5% year-over-year increase. Despite facing challenges in several areas, including its U.S. retail pharmacy segment, the company’s beauty and personal care category stood out as a significant driver of its performance. The Boots brand, in particular, continues to play a vital role in the company’s success, especially in key international markets such as the UK and Germany.
The U.S. Retail Pharmacy segment had first quarter sales of $30.9 billion, an increase of 6.6 percent from the year-ago quarter. Comparable sales increased 8.5 percent from the year-ago quarter.
The International segment had first quarter sales of $6.4 billion, an increase of 10.2 percent from the year-ago quarter, including a favorable currency impact of 3.6 percent. Sales increased 6.5 percent on a constant currency basis, with the Germany wholesale business growing 11.3 percent and Boots UK sales growing 4.5 percent.
The group said the cosmetics and personal care business saw steady demand, with Boots remaining a cornerstone in WBA’s portfolio. Seasonal inventory builds in these regions temporarily impacted cash flow; however, the strong demand for beauty products underscores the brand’s resilience and its critical role in the company’s overall performance. While broader operational pressures weighed on other segments, the robust growth in the beauty sector helped to offset some of these challenges.
WBA’s continued focus on beauty, driven by Boots, highlights the enduring strength of the global cosmetics and personal care market.
