RD also reported gross revenue of 8.35 billion reais for the fourth-quarter, a 22% increase year-on-year and beating a Refinitiv poll compiled by Reuters of 7.66 billion reais.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 33.7% to 599.4 million reais.

The company said it operates 2,697 drugstores after opening 86 new one and closing 9 during the quarter.

($1 = 5.1910 reais)

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Peter Frontini; Editing by Anthony Esposito)