(RTTNews) - Drugstore operator and pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS: News ) will publish third-quarter financial results on November 5, with analysts expecting earnings of $0.64 per share, on revenues of $24.61 billion.

The company's third-quarter results are likely to reflect the performance of its pharmacy benefit management businesses as well as the effects of the flu shots. Like many other drugstore operators, CVS Caremark has also been promoting seasonal vaccines, amid the swine flu pandemic and a heightened cold season.

CVS Caremark, one of the U.S. largest pharmacy benefit managers, provides plan sponsors and participants access to a network of about 60 thousand pharmacies including 7,000 CVS/pharmacy stores. The company employs about 215,000 colleagues in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Earlier in August, the company boosted and narrowed its fiscal 2009 forecast for earnings from continuing operations, on a GAAP basis, to $2.41 - $2.46 per share from its prior range of $2.37 - $2.45. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations are now projected to range between $2.59 and $2.64 for the full year, up from its previous guidance of $2.55 - $2.63 per share.

For the previous quarter, the Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark posted higher profit, totaling $886.5 million or $0.60 per share, compared to $771.2 million or $0.53 per share, reflecting strong performance across all its business segments. Net revenues advanced 17.6% to $24.87 billion from $21.14 billion reported in the previous year.
Among CVS Caremark's rivals, Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS: News ) reported third-quarter net income of $335.6 million or $0.69 per share, compared to $295.7 million or $0.58 per share in the prior-year period, aided by new client wins and price inflation on brand-name drugs that led to an 18% increase in revenues. Total net revenues increased to $14.795 billion from $12.559 billion in the previous year.

For fiscal 2009, Medco revised its GAAP earnings guidance to a range of $2.58 - $2.60 per share from the previous range of $2.54 - $2.59. Excluding amortization of intangible assets, earnings per share guidance was raised to $2.80 - $2.82 from the prior range of $2.76 - $2.81.

Another peer, Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX: News ) reported lower profit for the third quarter, totaling $197.6 million or $0.71 per share, compared to $201.9 million or $0.81 per share for the year-ago quarter. However, revenue improved 3% to $5.62 billion from $5.45 billion in the previous year. Given the strong underlying fundamentals in its core business, Express Scripts lifted its full-year 2009 earnings guidance to a range of $3.76 - $3.82 per share from its prior range of $3.72 - $3.82 per share. Both the ranges exclude any impact related to the NextRx deal.

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