By Dave Sebastian

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said its profit rose for the recent quarter as its pharmacy and retail businesses in the U.S. grew and recovery continued in the U.K. as Covid-19 restrictions eased.

The Deerfield, Ill., drugstore chain on Thursday posted net income attributable to the company of $627 million for the fiscal fourth quarter, compared with $373 million in the prior year. Earnings were 72 cents a share, compared with 43 cents a share in the prior year.

Adjusted earnings were $1.17 a share. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting $1.02 a share.

Sales for the three months ended Aug. 31 rose to $34.26 billion from $30.37 billion. Analysts were looking for $33.03 billion.

U.S. sales rose 6.6%, to $28.8 billion. Pharmacy sales in the U.S. rose 6.7% from the comparable period last year. Comparable pharmacy sales rose 8.9%, a gain that included the benefit from Covid-19 vaccinations. Retail sales rose 6.5% in the U.S. Health and wellness sales rose 14%, helped by items like at-home Covid-19 tests and vitamins, the company said.

International sales rose about 62%, to $5.5 billion.

Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-14-21 0732ET