Two pharmacy groups and several small pharmacy chains asked a federal court in Pennsylvania on Thursday to stop Express Scripts Inc $29 billion acquisition of Medco Health Solutions Inc. The merger partners had said on Wednesday they expected the deal could close as early as next week, indicating they believed that Federal Trade Commission approval was likely.The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and nine retail pharmacy companies filed a lawsuit on Thursday arguing that the court should stop the merger because it would leave "only two significant competitors in a highly concentrated industry."Pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, like Medco handle prescription drug plans for insurance companies and employer clients, and also operate large mail-order pharmacies.The National Association of Chain Drug Stores counts among its members such retail heavyweights as CVS Caremark Corp , Walgreen Co, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, Target Corp, Supervalu Inc and Rite Aid Corp .
Express Scripts, Inc. is a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company in North America, offering a range of services to its clients, which include health insurers, third-party administrators, employers, union-sponsored benefit plans, workers? compensation plans and government health programs. Shares of ESRX fell by 0.82% or $-0.44/share to $53.45. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $34.47 and as high as $60.89. On average, 8245790 shares of ESRX exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 8760105.
Rite Aid Corporation is a retail drugstore chain in the United States. Shares of RAD fell by 3.59% or $-0.065/share to $1.74. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $0.85 and as high as $2.12. On average, 10289300 shares of RAD exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3612367.
SUPERVALU INC. (SUPERVALU) is a United States grocery channel. Shares of SVU fell by 0.42% or $-0.025/share to $5.92. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $5.88 and as high as $11.77. On average, 6006460 shares of SVU exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1495044.
Target Corporation (Target) operates Target general merchandise stores with an assortment of general merchandise and food assortment. Shares of TGT fell by 0.79% or $-0.46/share to $57.70. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $45.28 and as high as $58.95. On average, 6190220 shares of TGT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2030569.
Walgreen Co. (Walgreen) together with its subsidiaries, operates a drugstore chain in the United States. Shares of WAG fell by 2.45% or $-0.85/share to $33.90. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $30.34 and as high as $45.34. On average, 8883100 shares of WAG exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 5085546.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Walmart) operates retail stores. Shares of WMT fell by 0.85% or $-0.52/share to $60.67. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $48.31 and as high as $62.63. On average, 8807710 shares of WMT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2930081.
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