Drugstore.com Up in 3Q

Drugstore.com Up in 3Q

BELLEVUE, Wash.--Online pharmacy Drugstore.com (NASDAQ:DSCM) reportedincreased revenues and improved margins for its third quarter ended Oct. 1. Netsales peaked at $26.5 million, more than double the $12.2 million sold in thecomparable 1999 quarter. Gross margin improved to 9 percent from -21 percentposted in the same period last year, while operating expenses fell as apercentage of sales to 144 percent, compared to 190 percent spent a year ago. Onthese improved results, net profit margin improved to -173 percent of sales from-345 percent of sales logged in the equivalent 1999 quarter. This represented anet loss of $45.7 million or $.80 per share, compared to $42 million or $1.33per share lost in the same quarter last year.