Is CVS in trouble?

Yes, CVS is facing significant financial pressure, leading to store closures, job cuts, and reduced services, driven by declining retail profits, rising healthcare costs (especially with Aetna), increased competition, and pharmacy reimbursement issues, prompting strategic reviews, cost-cutting measures like closing ~900 stores and cutting thousands of jobs, and even exploring potential business breakups to address these challenges.

Is CVS in danger of closing?

“As we first announced in November 2021, we're realigning our retail footprint, reducing store density and optimizing our existing stores and pharmacies,” a CVS spokesperson shared in a statement. “We closed 900 stores between 2022 and 2024, and are planning to close an additional 270 stores in 2025.

Is CVS having financial problems?

Yes, CVS Health (CVS) has faced significant financial pressures, including declining stock, higher medical costs in its Aetna insurance unit, and challenges integrating its Oak Street Health acquisition, leading to job cuts, service reductions (like infusion services), and strategic reviews, though recent reports suggest potential signs of stabilization as the company focuses on cost-cutting and optimizing its healthcare services. While facing substantial headwinds, especially in its retail pharmacy segment, its overall revenue has grown, and analysts see potential for a turnaround as they implement their recovery plans. 

Why is CVS falling?

CVS is experiencing issues, sometimes a major system outage impacting pharmacies nationwide (like one in October 2025 linked to Rite Aid integration and potential AWS issues), while at other times, "down" refers to financial challenges, stock drops due to large impairment charges (like from Oak Street Health acquisition), lower PBM reimbursements, and strategic store closures, all affecting overall business health. So, it could be a temporary tech glitch or broader business headwinds.
 

Is CVS having problems today?

User reports indicate no current problems at CVS Health.

Why CVS Sucks Now...And Is Getting Worse

What is the 98% rule at CVS?

The CVS "98% Rule" is an unofficial couponing strategy where you only need to spend 98% of the required total (e.g., $29.40 on a "$30 spend" deal) to earn ExtraBucks, though it's not always honored and depends on the specific store and system updates. It allows for small discounts from coupons to not prevent you from hitting the threshold, but some updated stores now strictly enforce the full amount, requiring you to meet the exact dollar value.
 

Why is CVS pulling out of Target?

CVS is pulling out of some Target stores as part of a strategy to realign its retail footprint, reduce store density, and adapt to changing consumer habits, focusing on future health needs and optimizing locations, not necessarily due to Target's issues but as part of CVS's broader transformation into a healthcare company. These closures, beginning in early 2024, affect select locations, with prescriptions transferring to nearby CVS pharmacies and affected staff offered roles elsewhere. 

Is CVS closing all stores in 2025?

That's over 1,170 CVS locations gone in just four years. Combined, we're looking at nearly 770 CVS and Walgreens stores closing their doors in 2025 alone—and that doesn't even count the smaller chains getting wiped out entirely.

What is the future of CVS?

CVS expects continued earnings growth in 2026. The company is projecting at least $400 billion in revenue, higher operating income, adjusted EPS of $7.00 to $7.20, and GAAP EPS of $5.94 to $6.14. CVS committed to a mid-teens adjusted EPS compound annual growth rate through 2028.

Does Warren Buffett own CVS stock?

No, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway does not currently own CVS Health (CVS) stock; while they have traded it in the past, Berkshire sold all its holdings by the third quarter of 2012 and hasn't held it since. Berkshire Hathaway's major holdings focus on companies like American Express, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola, with no current prominent stake in CVS. 

Will CVS bounce back?

Yes, analysts and company guidance suggest CVS is positioned for a significant recovery, with forecasts pointing to accelerated earnings growth through 2026 and beyond, driven by a turnaround plan, improved Medicare Advantage performance, cost efficiencies, and strong fundamentals, though execution and market factors like drug pricing remain key for realizing this potential. The company's own projections for 2026 exceed expectations, signaling confidence in their strategy. 

Who is bigger, CVS or Walgreens?

Yes, CVS is generally considered bigger than Walgreens, leading in both the number of retail locations and overall revenue, largely because CVS Health operates a more diversified healthcare business that includes a massive Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) like Aetna, making its market share in prescription revenue significantly larger, though Walgreens has a very strong, comparable retail presence.
 

How much does the CEO of CVS get paid?

CVS CEO Karen Lynch was paid $21.6 million in total compensation in 2023, according to a regulatory filing published April 5.

What stores are closing in 2026?

In 2026, several major retailers and restaurants are closing stores as part of strategic shifts, including Macy's, aiming for 150 closures total by year-end, along with significant downsizing from Kroger, Walgreens, Wendy's, and Carter's, focusing on profitability by shuttering underperforming locations, while chains like Noodles & Company and Saks Off 5th are also reducing footprints in response to market changes.
 

Is Walgreens in trouble?

Over the last decade, Walgreens has faced significant financial difficulties, seeing its market value drop from over $100 billion in 2015 to below $8 billion in 2024. For the entire 2024 fiscal year, Walgreens reported a net loss of $8.6 billion, almost triple the previous year's loss.

What will happen to CVS?

Beginning in the spring of 2022 CVS will start a process of changing its store formats to "drive higher engagement with consumers." The process will see around 900 stores closing over the next three years as the pharmacy chain adjusts to "changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs." https ...

Why are they closing so many CVS?

The closures are part of a multi-year restructuring effort and reflect a broader shift underway across the retail healthcare industry. Many traditional pharmacy chains are reevaluating their footprints as consumers increasingly turn to digital solutions, telehealth and home delivery services.

How many years do you have to work at CVS to retire?

To retire from CVS, you need specific age and service combinations, like age 60 with 5 years of service, or age 55 with 10 years, for benefits like paid time off payout and retiree health, though you can start accessing your 401(k) earlier (like age 55 under Rule of 55) if you leave the company, with different rules for qualifying distributions after 59.5 for Roth funds. 

Why is CVS beating Walgreens?

CVS Health generates an enormous annual revenue of roughly $374 billion, more than double that of Walgreens Boots Alliance's approximately $147 billion. This gap is not because CVS's pharmacies sell so many more products per store; rather, it stems from CVS's evolution into a diversified health conglomerate.

Is CVS merging with Target?

Target did not sell its entire company to CVS; instead, in 2015, CVS Health acquired Target's pharmacy and clinic businesses for about $1.9 billion, operating them as CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic within Target stores, allowing Target to focus on its core retail while expanding CVS's healthcare reach. The deal transformed over 1,600 Target pharmacies and clinics into CVS operations, creating a "store-within-a-store" model that benefits both companies and consumers with integrated health services.
 

Did CVS get in trouble?

The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2010 through 2020, CVS violated the False Claims Act in connection with its billing and dispensing of insulin pens to patients enrolled in Government healthcare programs (“GHPs”), including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

What stores are shutting down in 2025 in the USA?

Here are some of the larger retailers that closed their stores this year.

• Bargain Hunt. Bargain Hunt, a Nashville-based discount retailer, said in February that it would shutter all of its 92 stores in 10 states after declaring bankruptcy.
• Forever21. ...
• Joann Fabrics. ...
• Liberated Brands. ...
• Party City. ...
• Rite Aid. ...
• Sonder.

Is CVS Health struggling?

After struggling for a few years, CVS Health (CVS 0.37%) is finally rebounding. Its shares have soared this year by 77%, largely due to improved financial results. That said, the pharmacy giant still has a lot to do as it tries to fix parts of its business that still aren't performing as well as it would like.

What is the largest pharmacy in the US?

The biggest pharmacy in the U.S. is CVS Health, leading by prescription revenue, market share, and number of retail locations, with over 9,000 stores and a significant portion of the market, closely followed by Walgreens Boots Alliance, according to recent 2024/2025 data. CVS Health is also the largest by overall revenue and has a vast presence, with most Americans living near a store.
 

Who did CVS just merge with?

The CVS-Aetna deal is the biggest health care merger in U.S. history. The AMA immediately began analyzing the merger's likely impact on competition.