EARNINGS

* Walgreen Co. said its earnings before charges rose, in line with estimates, by 19.5% in the fiscal first quarter to $104 million, or 21 cents a diluted share, on strong pharmacy sales and cost controls. The nation’s largest drugstore operator, based in Deerfield, Ill., said sales rose 15.2% to $4 billion, and sales in stores open more than a year jumped 10.4%. Walgreen said pharmacy gross profit margins continued to stabilize as it renegotiated reimbursement rates with several managed-care plans.