Did CVS Resort to Tricks to Boost Its Earnings?

CVS (CVS), the drugstore chain, hasn't reported fourth-quarter earnings yet, but when it does on Feb. 8, some analysts will be looking extra closely at whether the company just meets or exceeds its forecast of 43 cents per share. The difference is crucial, considering that CVS quietly added a week to its December monthly sales reporting period. Rather than covering five weeks, which has been the case in December in prior years, the monthly data were boosted to six weeks. (Likewise, the year was stretched to 53 weeks from 52 weeks.)

What's more, the sales period ended Jan. 1, a day after CVS' fiscal year usually ends. ...