Express Scripts

Here's what may shape the week ahead for Wall Street: Earnings reports from Best Buy and Walgreens may disappoint, while Lennar and Red Hat probably won't. And fund managers will jump into last quarter's winners to fool clients into thinking they're more clever than they are.

Walgreen, the leading U.S. pharmacy chain, recently increased its quarterly dividend by 28.6%, the largest increase in the company's 110-year history, from 17.5 cents a share to 22.5 cents a share. But is it giving away cash it's really going to need for its expansion plans?

Some stocks may seem like bargains when they're really duds. Here's how you can find stable, defensive stocks that might provide market-beating returns. You can start with these nine high-quality stocks that should do well for buy-and-hold investors.

Drugstore chain Walgreen is looking to sell its pharmacy-benefits management business and has hired Bank of America to run an auction.

Health care reform will benefit millions of people, and many companies stand to gain as well. In particular, pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers will garner new business as they help cover newly insured Americans. And their profits should rise accordingly.

It's shaping up to be an interesting day. Shares of Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX) gained in pre-market trading after it agreed to buy WellPoint Inc.'s (WLP) pharmaceutical benefit management businesses for about $4.68 billion. As Bloomberg News notes, "Express Scripts lost a hostile takeover bid two...

Investors have had little reason to be hopeful during the past two years as the economic news seems to get more depressing by the day. But lately, the stock market has turned optimistic and investors begin the week bracing themselves for any word that the good times may not last. Stocks appear...