Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: SG&A Spending Patterns Compared

SG&A Spending Patterns: A Tale of Two Companies

In the world of corporate finance, Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses are a critical measure of a company's operational efficiency. Over the past decade, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have exhibited contrasting SG&A spending patterns. Walgreens, a retail giant, consistently allocated around $23 billion annually to SG&A, reflecting its expansive global operations. In contrast, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, a smaller player, saw its SG&A expenses grow from approximately $4.5 million in 2014 to a peak of $134 million in 2023, marking a staggering 2,878% increase. This growth underscores Catalyst's aggressive expansion and investment in its operational capabilities. Notably, Walgreens' SG&A expenses peaked at $28 billion in 2024, while Catalyst's data for the same year remains unavailable, highlighting potential reporting gaps. These trends offer a fascinating glimpse into how companies of different scales manage their operational costs.