Despite a mild flu season that kept many people out of doctors’ offices and pharmacies, Walgreen Co. on Monday said its earnings rose 7 percent during the second quarter thanks to strong holiday merchandise sales.

The news sent the Deerfield, Ill.-based company’s shares up 65 cents, or 1.5 percent, to close at $45.02 on the New York Stock Exchange, where they have traded in a 52-week range of $40.98 to $49.01.