Stock Markets
Walmart to shut all health clinics in US over lack of profitability
By Siddharth Cavale and Granth Vanaik
(Reuters) -Walmart said on Tuesday it will close all 51 of its health clinics and shut its virtual health care operations, saying it could not see it as a sustainable business model to continue.
“Healthcare is expensive to run. We were finding that the increased labor and operating costs environment, like with reimbursement, both public and private, made it difficult (to run the business) and obvious we had to close,” Walmart (NYSE:) spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told Reuters.
The company said in a statement those challenges created an environment where it saw a “lack of profitability” that made the care business “unsustainable for us at this time.”
Companies such as Walmart, Walgreens, Amazon (NASDAQ:) and CVS have expanded into providing healthcare services during the past five years, seeing opportunities in the highly fragmented U.S. system. But it has not been clear that consumers want such services from retailers or that they are profitable.
Walgreens, for instance, is planning to close 160 of its VillageMD primary care clinics after it recorded a $5.8 billion impairment charge on its investment in VillageMD.
Amazon in February said it would cut a few hundred jobs across its healthcare units, including clinic operator One Medical which it acquired for $3.5 billion last year.
And Walmart’s sudden decision to close all its 51 health clinics and telehealth operations marks a startling about-face from its plan last year to nearly double the number of these health centers across the U.S. by 2024.
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Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Healthcare Delivery, David Carmouche, highlighted the company’s unique position to provide affordable health care services in March last year.
Carmouche stated that the company’s vision was to bring a “one-stop model of healthcare” to communities, addressing the cost and convenience barriers that many Americans face. He also stated that it was in a unique position as 90% of the U.S. population is located within 10 miles of a Walmart, a statistic frequently cited by the company.
But on Tuesday, in a LinkedIn post, Carmouche wrote that “though it didn’t end where I had hoped it would…there will be a time in the future to think about and discuss the challenges specific to retail healthcare.”
Success in the clinic space requires a solid economic model, said Craig Garthwaite, professor and director of Healthcare at the Kellogg (NYSE:) School of Management.
“You can buy all the right ingredients – you still need a good recipe to cook the meal,” said Garthwaite. “This was sadly quite predictable – if a missed opportunity.”
Walmart investor Charles Sizemore said he was disappointed in Walmart’s move because he viewed health centers as a differentiator and as a way to drive foot traffic.
“Unfortunately, the economics just don’t work in this environment,” he added.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company started its health clinics in Georgia in 2019, providing a range of services including primary care, dental care, and telehealth.
By 2024 it had 51 clinics spread across five states including Texas and Florida. The centers are usually situated next to a Walmart Supercenter and house doctors and dentists.
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Walmart spokesperson McInnis said all the stores will most likely close within the next 30 to 90 days, with all employees given the option to transfer to any Walmart or Sam’s Club store.
The company declined to disclose each health center’s sales figures or potential losses from their closures.
D.A. Davidson and Citi analysts said they expected the impact of the closures to be immaterial.
Walmart said it would instead focus on its 3,000 vision centers and nearly 4,600 pharmacies located inside its stores “whose importance has continued to grow,” as it expands the clinical capabilities of the services they provide.
Walmart’s pharmacies, for instance, offer many of the clinical services its health clinics provided including testing and treatment for respiratory illnesses like flu and strep.
Walmart shares were down 1.3% in morning trading on Tuesday.
Accolade, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCD) Chief Financial Officer Stephen H. Barnes recently engaged in transactions involving the company’s stock, according to the latest SEC filings. Barnes sold a total of $880 worth of common stock at an average price of $7.273 per share to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
The transactions, which took place on May 17, 2024, were part of a “mandatory sell to cover” transaction and were not discretionary sales by Barnes. This type of sale is commonly used by executives to satisfy tax obligations that arise when equity awards, such as RSUs, vest and are settled.
The RSUs, each representing a contingent right to receive one share of Accolade’s common stock, were converted into 415 shares of common stock. Following the conversion and the subsequent sale to cover taxes, Barnes’s ownership in the company’s common stock stood at 179,366 shares.
Investors often monitor insider transactions as they can provide insights into an executive’s view of the company’s future prospects. However, in this case, the sales were not discretionary and were solely for the purpose of fulfilling tax requirements associated with the RSUs.
Accolade, Inc., headquartered in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, operates within the business services sector, providing personalized health and benefits solutions designed to improve the experience, outcomes, and cost of healthcare.
The transactions are detailed in the Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which provides information on trades made by the company’s officers, directors, and beneficial owners.
InvestingPro Insights
Amid recent insider transactions by Accolade, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ACCD) CFO, investors are closely observing the company’s financial health and stock performance. As per InvestingPro data, Accolade’s market capitalization stands at 586.11 million USD, reflecting the company’s current valuation in the market. Despite challenges, the company has managed to achieve a revenue growth of 14.09% over the last twelve months as of Q4 2024, indicating a potential for expansion and scaling.
According to InvestingPro Tips, Accolade’s stock price has been quite volatile, with a one-month price total return showing a significant decline of -18.07%. This volatility could be a factor for investors to consider, especially for those with a lower risk tolerance. The company’s stock has also fared poorly over the last month, which may influence investor sentiment and the perception of the company’s near-term prospects.
Another key metric that stands out is the company’s gross profit margin, which is reported to be 46.52% for the same period. This suggests that while Accolade is generating a solid profit on its services, its operating income margin of -27.42% highlights operational challenges that are impacting the bottom line.
For investors seeking a deeper understanding of Accolade’s financial position and future outlook, additional InvestingPro Tips are available. With a total of 7 additional tips on the platform, interested parties can gain comprehensive insights into Accolade’s performance and potential investment opportunities. To access these insights and become better informed, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
On Monday, Jefferies revised its financial outlook on Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:), reducing the stock price target to $14.00 from the previous $16.00 while maintaining a Hold rating. The adjustment follows the evaluation of the company’s first-quarter results and the latest guidance provided by its management. The firm has moderated its expectations for Teladoc’s BetterHelp business, noting that year-over-year comparisons are showing a negative trend.
The firm’s analyst stated that the updated model takes into account the recent quarterly performance and comments from the management team. As a result, the revenue and EBITDA forecasts for the fiscal years 2024 through 2026 have been revised.
The new projections for revenue are now set at $2,625 million for 2024, $2,724 million for 2025, and $2,798 million for 2026. Similarly, the EBITDA estimates have been adjusted to $362 million for 2024, $393 million for 2025, and $414 million for 2026.
These updated figures represent a decrease from the previous estimates, which had the revenue at $2,671 million for 2024, $2,738 million for 2025, and $2,794 million for 2026, with EBITDA at $367 million for 2024, $391 million for 2025, and $409 million for 2026. The changes reflect a more conservative outlook for the company’s performance over the next few years.
The analyst reiterated the Hold rating on Teladoc shares, suggesting that investors maintain their current positions without increasing or decreasing their stake in the company. The revised price target and financial estimates are based on the latest available data and the firm’s analysis of the company’s business trajectory.
Teladoc Health Inc, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is a telemedicine and virtual healthcare company. It has been closely watched by investors as the telehealth sector experiences shifts in consumer behavior and regulatory environments. The updated guidance from Jefferies provides a current perspective on the company’s financial health and market position.
InvestingPro Insights
As Teladoc Health Inc (NYSE:TDOC) navigates through a challenging period, real-time data from InvestingPro offers additional context to Jefferies’ revised financial outlook. The company’s market capitalization stands at $2.11 billion, reflecting its current valuation in the market.
Despite the downward revision of earnings by analysts, Teladoc’s valuation implies a strong free cash flow yield, suggesting potential for investor returns. Still, it is critical to note that analysts do not expect the company to be profitable this year, which is an important consideration for investors.
On a positive note, Teladoc’s liquid assets surpass its short-term obligations, indicating a degree of financial flexibility. Yet, the firm is trading near its 52-week low and has not been profitable over the last twelve months, factors that might concern investors looking for immediate profitability.
Moreover, the stock has seen a significant price drop over the last three months, which could either signal a buying opportunity for value investors or a red flag for those wary of declining stock performance.
Investors interested in a deeper analysis can find more InvestingPro Tips on Teladoc, including insights on EBITDA valuation multiples and dividend policies. For those looking to leverage these insights, InvestingPro offers additional tips—more than eight for Teladoc alone. To enrich your investment decision-making, consider using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Top 10 national builder now selling at The Aurora Highlands
AURORA, Colo., May 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Century Communities (NYSE:), Inc.”one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024”announced that it’s joined The Aurora Highlands, a 4,000-acre planned community, boasting exceptional amenities like a park with a carousel and a future Beach Club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Now selling from the mid $500s, the company is offering a mix of ranch and two-story floor plans from its popular Colorado Collection”with select homes featuring walkout basements, covered patios, 3-bay garages and more. In addition, a model home is now available for tours, showcasing the community’s stunning two-story Vail II plan.
Learn more and explore available homes at www.CenturyCommunities.com/AuroraHighlands.
THE AURORA HIGHLANDS
Now selling from the mid $500s
- Ranch and two-story floor plans
- 3 to 5 bedrooms, up to 2,433 square feet
- 2- to 3-bay garages
- Model home for tour (Vail II plan)
- 4,000-acre planned community
- Winged Melody Park with a carousel, playground, garden and live music stage
- Planned Beach Club with indoor and outdoor pools
- Planned Ice and Recreation Center with a hockey rink, basketball court, climbing wall and more
- Quick access to E-470, downtown Denver, the Denver Tech Center, and Denver International Airport
Location:
3422 N. Highlands Creek Parkway
Aurora, CO 80019
303.558.7373
DISCOVER THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING:
Century Communities is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in Colorado.
How it works:
- Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com
- Click “Buy Now” on any available home
- Fill out a quick Buy Online form
- Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit
- Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign ®
Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying.
About Century Communities
Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, an industry leader in online home sales, and the highest-ranked homebuilder on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024, consecutively awarded for a second year. Through its Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century’s mission is to build attractive, high-quality homes at affordable prices to provide its valued customers with A HOME FOR EVERY DREAM ®. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding ” including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Company operates in 18 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loans subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com.
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