Inventory Turnover › Drugstore
Drugstore Inventory Turnover Benchmarks 2026
Major US drugstore chains run 10x to 12x blended inventory turnover. Pharmacy dispensing dominates COGS; front-of-store HBA, snacks, and seasonal categories cycle slower.
Named retailer 10-K data
| Retailer | Fiscal Year | Turnover | COGS | Avg Inventory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Health(CVS) | FY24 (ended Dec 2024) | 11.2x | $255.9B | $22.85B |
| Walgreens Boots Alliance(WBA) | FY24 (ended Aug 2024) | 10.4x | $112.7B | $10.84B |
Per-retailer notes
CVS Health (CVS)
11.2x turnoverIncludes Pharmacy Services Segment (PBM), Health Care Benefits (Aetna), and Retail. Pharmaceutical inventory in PBM and retail combined turn 11x blended.
Source: CVS Health 10-K, fiscal 2024
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
10.4x turnoverGlobal retail pharmacy. UK Boots arm carries higher front-of-store mix, slightly reducing blended turnover versus US-only operators.
Pharmacy vs front-of-store split
In a typical US drugstore, pharmacy dispensing accounts for 70-75% of revenue but a much smaller share of square footage and SKU count. The 10-K blended turnover masks two very different inventory engines:
- Rx dispensing. Pharmaceutical inventory turns 25-35x. Daily delivery from McKesson, Cardinal, AmerisourceBergen, plus tight DEA Schedule II controls keep stock weeks low.
- Front-of-store HBA and general merch. Health and beauty, household, seasonal, and snacks turn 6-10x. Higher safety stock for promotional cadence.
Industry reference: NACDS Industry Profile publishes annual operational ratios for the chain pharmacy segment.