Hershey’s earnings report is more bitter than sweet
Here are the numbers we're reading and watching for Wednesday.
$9.4 billion
That’s how much Walgreens will pay to acquire Rite Aid. The deal comes just a few months after CVS acquired Target’s pharmacy business. It’s also part of a larger trend wherein pharmaceutical chains are consolidating to compete on cost.
31 percent
That’s how much Hershey’s earnings fell, according to the company’s third-quarter earnings report released Wednesday. The company has struggled as costs for cocoa and dairy have risen, while domestic and international sales have lagged. As the Wall Street Journal writes, Hershey is also in the middle of restructuring, using fresher, more natural ingredients in its products.
$1.3 million
That’s how much money is freed up for homeless services and a new transitional shelter in Hawaii after the governor declared a state of emergency over homelessness. An annual homeless count showed there are more than 7,000 homeless people in Hawaii, making it the highest per capita state for homelessness in the nation.
40 percent
That’s the percentage of fourth graders who were found to be at or above proficiency in math this year. That’s two points below 2013’s National Assessment of Educational Progress. As the Associated Press writes, the results show a two-year slip in math scores for fourth and eighth graders.