Walgreen fiscal 2Q profit climbs 11 percent

Drugstore chain Walgreen says its fiscal second-quarter earnings climbed 11 percent, helped by earnings from European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots and a business sale gain.

The Deerfield, Ill., company says it earned $756 million, or 79 cents per share, in the quarter that ended Feb. 28. That compares to earnings of $683 million, or 78 cents per share, in last year's quarter.

Adjusted earnings totaled 96 cents per share.

Revenue came in flat at $18.65 billion.

Analysts forecast earnings of 93 cents per share on $18.74 billion in revenue.

Walgreen Co. also says it is expanding a supply agreement with AmerisourceBergen Corp. with a deal that gives the nation's largest drugstore chain an ownership stake in the pharmaceutical wholesaler.

Walgreen also acquired an Alliance Boots stake last year.