Walgreens could ‘aggressively’ cut costs if privately owned, analyst says [Video]

If Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is bought by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, it would have more flexibility to “aggressively” reduce costs in order to address persisting industry challenges, according to an industry analyst. 

“As a private company, WBA [Walgreens Boots Alliance] would have more flexibility to make major changes to the business, in our view, and aggressively cut costs to try to tackle recent challenges with pharmacy operating margins and declining retail product sales from increased online competition,” CFRA Research analyst Paige Meyer said. 

Meyer maintained her “hold” opinion on the shares, which are down around 60% year to date. 

WHY NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACIES ARE CLOSING

The company is in talks to sell itself to the private equity firm, with a deal expected to be signed by early next year, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. However, Walgreens, which has been working with its advisers for the past few weeks, had also reached out to other potential buyers, sources …