Drugstores have become my go-to for flu shots and anything else I need health-wise that doesn’t absolutely need a visit to my own doctor.  Convenience is the biggest factor for me – no appointment needed and lots of locations.

And now I find I’m not the only one favoring drugstores.  Very positive outlook on the industry from investors.com.

Here are the highlights of why the retail drug store industry is booming:

Shortage of physicians. Pharmacies and drugstores will prove to be indispensable over the next 5 years in providing preventive care.

Drug costs are rising: Specialty drugs that target cancer and hepatitis C in particular cost $3,000 to $4,000 per prescription, vs. less than $200 for others. The most costly specialty drugs will account for 50% of all prescriptions by 2018.

Aging baby boomers will drive up health care use.

“Patent Cliff” boon:  In 2011-12, $250 billion worth of drugs went off patent (including Lipitor). The change ramped up sales of generics, and saw major drugmakers develop improved drugs to replace those on which they’d lost patent protection.

30 million more prescription customers by 2020 – a result of Affordable Care Act.

More info below on size of the industry, key players and anticipated global consolidations.The 25,701 U.S. retail drugstores employ 721,320 nationwide. Total annual industry revenue is currently estimated at about $263 billion, with a 1.2% annual growth rate.

The top three chains (CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid) reported a combined total of more than $242 billion in sales in 2014, but the drug store industry is expected to continue consolidating. The three big players account for nearly half of all prescription revenue.

Another big piece of the market is held by in-store pharmacies operated by big box discounters such as Costco and Wal-Mart, and grocers like Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket operator.

CVS Health in June announced that it was buying Target’s money-losing 1,660 in-store pharmacies for $1.9 billion. CVS plans to rename and operate them under the CVS Pharmacy brand, adding them to the more than 7,400 drugstores it currently operates in 44 states.

CVS is also buying Omnicare, a pharmacy-related services provider for seniors.

Walgreen changed its name in December to Walgreens Boots Alliance, after buying the rest of European health and beauty retailer Boots Alliance. The merged company operates more than 12,800 stores in 11 countries.

Walgreens may buy Rite Aid to put the combined company on more even ground with CVS.