CVS Health Reports First Quarter Results

2019 EPS Guidance Raised And Narrowed To Reflect Strong Performance Year-to-Date

WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

First Quarter Year-over-Year Highlights:

• Revenues increased 34.8% to $61.6 billion
• GAAP operating income increased 34.8% to $2.7 billion
• Adjusted operating income increased 56.8% to $3.6 billion
• GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.09
• Adjusted EPS ^(a) of $1.62
• Generated cash flow from operations of $1.9 billion

2019 Full Year Guidance:

• Revised GAAP operating income guidance range to $11.8 billion to $12.0 billion from $11.7 billion to $12.1 billion
• Narrowed and raised the mid-point of the guidance range for adjusted operating income ⁽¹⁾ to $15.0 billion to $15.2 billion from $14.8 billion to $15.2 billion
• Narrowed GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $4.90 to $5.05 from $4.88 to $5.08
• Raised Adjusted EPS ⁽²⁾ guidance range to $6.75 to $6.90 from $6.68 to $6.88
• Confirmed cash flow from operations guidance range of $9.8 billion to $10.3 billion

CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) today announced operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo stated, “We generated strong first quarter results, providing positive momentum to start the year. Following the close of our Aetna acquisition in late November, our first full quarter of combined operations was a success in many ways. In the quarter we continued to advance our integration efforts while beginning to launch new innovations such as our HealthHUB^® concept stores. With our differentiated collection of health care assets we are uniquely positioned to lead the transformation of the U.S. health care system. We remain relentlessly focused on creating value for clients and customers while driving both near and longer-term returns for our shareholders.”

Consolidated First Quarter Results

• Effective for the first quarter of 2019, the Company realigned the composition of its segments to correspond with changes to its operating model and how the business is managed. As a result of this realignment, the Company’s SilverScript^® Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (“PDP”) moved from the Pharmacy Services segment to the Health Care Benefits segment. In addition, the Company moved the mail order and specialty pharmacy operations of Aetna Inc. (“Aetna”), which it acquired on November 28, 2018 (the “Aetna Acquisition”), from the Health Care Benefits segment to the Pharmacy Services segment. Prior period segment financial information has been retrospectively adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.
• Revenues and adjusted revenues ⁽³⁾ increased 34.8% and 34.9%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. Revenue growth was primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition, as well as increased volume and brand name drug price inflation in both the Pharmacy Services and Retail/LTC segments. The increase was partially offset by continued price compression in the Pharmacy Services segment, reimbursement pressure in the Retail/LTC segment and an increased generic dispensing rate.
• Operating expenses and adjusted operating expenses ⁽⁴⁾ increased 67.9% and 60.6%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase in both operating expenses and adjusted operating expenses was primarily driven by the impact of the Aetna Acquisition. The increase in operating expenses was also due to an increase in intangible amortization related to the Aetna Acquisition, a $135 million store rationalization charge recorded during the first quarter of 2019 primarily related to operating lease right-of-use asset impairment charges in connection with the planned closure of 46 underperforming retail pharmacy stores in the second quarter of 2019, and an increase in acquisition-related integration costs. The increase in operating expenses was partially offset by the absence of the $86 million pre-tax loss associated with the divestiture of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018.
• Operating income and adjusted operating income increased 34.8% and 56.8%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to the Aetna Acquisition, partially offset by reimbursement pressure and the investment of a portion of the savings from tax reform in wages and benefits in the Retail/LTC segment and continued price compression in the Pharmacy Services segment. The increase in operating income was also partially offset by the other increases in operating expenses described above.
• Net income increased 43.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher operating income described above, partially offset by higher interest expense primarily due to financing activity associated with the Aetna Acquisition.
• The effective income tax rate was 26.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 32.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in the effective income tax rate compared to the prior year was primarily due to the impact of the non-deductible goodwill included in the loss associated with the divestiture of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Pharmacy Services Segment

The Pharmacy Services segment provides a full range of pharmacy benefit management services to employers, health plans, government employee groups and government sponsored programs. The segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased 3.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily due to brand name drug price inflation as well as increased total pharmacy claims volume, partially offset by continued price compression and an increased generic dispensing rate.
• Total pharmacy claims processed increased 2.8% on a 30-day equivalent basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by net new business and the continued adoption of Maintenance Choice^® offerings.
• Operating income and adjusted operating income decreased 5.7% and 4.2%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by continued price compression and investments related to the Company’s agreement with Anthem Inc. during the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in operating income also was due to increased intangible amortization related to Aetna’s mail order and specialty pharmacy operations.

See the supplemental information on page 17 for additional information regarding the performance of the Pharmacy Services segment.

Retail/LTC Segment

The Retail/LTC segment fulfills prescriptions for medications, provides patient care programs, sells a wide-assortment of general merchandise, provides health care services through walk-in clinics and provides services to long-term care facilities. The segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased 3.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by increased prescription volume and brand name drug price inflation, partially offset by continued reimbursement pressure and the impact of generic drug introductions.
• Front store revenues represent approximately 22.7% of total Retail/LTC segment revenues. Front store revenues increased in the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increases in health product sales.
• Total prescription volume grew 5.5%, on a 30-day equivalent basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The growth was driven mainly by the continued adoption of patient care programs, collaborations with PBMs and the Company’s preferred status in a number of Medicare Part D networks.
• Operating income and adjusted operating income decreased 23.8% and 18.9%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to (i) continued reimbursement pressure, (ii) increased operating expenses primarily driven by the investment of a portion of the savings from tax reform in wages and benefits and higher legal costs and (iii) declining year-over-year performance in our long-term care business. The decrease in operating income also was driven by the $135 million store rationalization charge recorded during the first quarter of 2019 described above, partially offset by the absence of the $86 million pre-tax loss associated with the divestiture of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

See the supplemental information on page 18 for additional information regarding the performance of the Retail/LTC segment.

Health Care Benefits Segment

The Health Care Benefits segment provides a full range of insured and self-insured (“ASC”) medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health products and services. For periods prior to the Aetna Acquisition (which occurred on November 28, 2018), the Health Care Benefits segment consisted solely of the Company’s SilverScript PDP business. The segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased $16.6 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflect strong membership growth in the Health Care Benefits segment’s Medicare products.
• Operating income and adjusted operating income increased $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition. The increase in operating income was partially offset by an increase in intangible amortization related to the Aetna Acquisition. Operating loss and adjusted operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 reflect the seasonality of earnings for the Company’s SilverScript PDP business. The quarterly earnings of the Company’s SilverScript PDP business generally increase as the year progresses.
• Medical membership as of March 31, 2019 increased compared with December 31, 2018, reflecting increases in Medicare, Commercial ASC and Medicaid products, partially offset by declines in Commercial Insured products.
• The Health Care Benefits segment experienced favorable development of prior-years’ health care cost estimates in its Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid products, primarily attributable to fourth quarter 2018 performance and provider recoveries.
• Prior years’ health care costs payable estimates developed favorably by $446 million during the first quarter of 2019. This development is reported on a basis consistent with the prior years’ development reported in the health care costs payable table in the Company’s annual audited financial statements, and does not directly correspond to an increase in 2019 operating results.

See the supplemental information on page 19 for additional information regarding the performance of the Health Care Benefits segment.

2019 Full Year Guidance

The Company revised its full year 2019 consolidated GAAP operating income guidance range to $11.8 billion to $12.0 billion from $11.7 billion to $12.1 billion and narrowed and raised the mid-point of the guidance range for full year adjusted operating income to $15.0 billion to $15.2 billion from $14.8 billion to $15.2 billion. The Company also narrowed the GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $4.90 to $5.05 from $4.88 to $5.08, and raised the Adjusted EPS guidance range to $6.75 to $6.90 from $6.68 to $6.88.

The Company also provided guidance for the second quarter of 2019. GAAP diluted EPS is projected to be in the range of $1.20 to $1.24, and Adjusted EPS is projected to be in the range of $1.68 to $1.72.

The adjustments between GAAP operating income and GAAP diluted EPS and adjusted operating income and Adjusted EPS include adding back amortization of intangible assets, integration costs related to the Aetna Acquisition, and a store rationalization charge.

Teleconference and Webcast

The Company will be holding a conference call today for investors at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern time) to discuss its first quarter results. An audio webcast of the call will be broadcast simultaneously for all interested parties through the Investor Relations section of the CVS Health website at http://investors.cvshealth.com. This webcast will be archived and available on the website for a one-year period following the conference call.

About the Company

CVS Health is the nation’s premier health innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Whether in one of its pharmacies or through its health services and plans, CVS Health is pioneering a bold new approach to total health by making quality care more affordable, accessible, simple and seamless. CVS Health is community-based and locally focused, engaging consumers with the care they need when and where they need it. The Company has more than 9,900 retail locations, approximately 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year and expanding specialty pharmacy services. CVS Health also serves an estimated 38 million people through traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including rapidly expanding Medicare Advantage offerings and a leading standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The Company believes its innovative health care model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Health Corporation. Statements in this press release that are forward-looking include the information under the headings “2019 Full Year Guidance” and the related endnotes and reconciliations and the information in Mr. Merlo’s quoted statement. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons as described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section and under the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on CVS Health’s forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management’s then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. CVS Health does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, as of any future date.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted operating income, adjusted earnings per share (EPS), adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health, adjusted revenues and adjusted operating expenses exclude from the relevant GAAP metrics, as applicable:

• Amortization of intangible assets; and
• Other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance.

For the periods covered in this press release, the following items are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures described above, as applicable, because the Company believes they neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance:

• Intangible assets relate to the Company’s acquisition activities and are amortized over their useful lives. The amortization of intangible assets is reflected in the Company’s unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations in operating expenses within each segment. The amortization of intangible assets is not directly related to the core performance of the Company’s business operations.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2019, acquisition-related integration costs relate to the Aetna Acquisition. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, acquisition-related transaction and integration costs relate to the acquisitions of Aetna and Omnicare, Inc. The acquisition-related transaction and integration costs are reflected in the Company’s unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations in operating expenses primarily within the Corporate/Other segment.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the store rationalization charge primarily relates to operating lease right-of-use asset impairment charges in connection with the planned closure of 46 underperforming retail pharmacy stores in the second quarter of 2019. The store rationalization charge is reflected in the Company’s unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations in operating expenses within the Retail/LTC segment.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the loss on divestiture of subsidiary represents the pre-tax loss on the sale of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary for $725 million and is reflected in operating expenses in the Company’s unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statement of operations within the Retail/LTC segment.
• During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded interest expense of $273 million related to bridge financing costs and interest expense on the $40 billion of senior notes issued on March 9, 2018 (“2018 Notes”). The interest expense was reduced by related interest income of $42 million on the proceeds of the 2018 Notes. All amounts are for the periods prior to the close of the Aetna Acquisition, which occurred on November 28, 2018, and were recorded within the Corporate/Other segment.
• The corresponding tax benefit or expense related to the items excluded from adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health and Adjusted EPS above. The nature of each non-GAAP adjustment is evaluated to determine whether a discrete adjustment should be made to the adjusted income tax provision.

The Company uses non-GAAP measures, including those described above, to analyze underlying business performance and trends. The Company believes that providing these non-GAAP measures enhances the Company’s and investors’ ability to compare the Company’s past financial performance with its current performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information to the financial measures presented in this press release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s definitions of adjusted operating income, Adjusted EPS, adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health, adjusted revenues and adjusted operating expenses may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements reported by other companies.

See endnotes (1) through (4) for definitions of non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented on pages 12 through 14 and 21 through 22 in this press release.

Endnotes

⁽¹⁾ The Company defines adjusted operating income as operating income (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance such as acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, store rationalization charges, gains/losses on divestitures, interest income on financings associated with proposed acquisitions (for periods prior to the acquisition), and any other items specifically identified herein. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” earlier in this press release for additional information regarding the items excluded from operating income.

⁽²⁾ The Company defines adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health as net income attributable to CVS Health (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance such as acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, store rationalization charges, gains/losses on divestitures, net interest expense on financings associated with proposed acquisitions (for periods prior to the acquisition), the corresponding tax benefit or expense related to the items excluded from adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health, the corresponding impact to income allocable to participating securities, net of tax, related to the items excluded from net income attributable to CVS Health in determining adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health, and any other items specifically identified herein. GAAP diluted EPS and Adjusted EPS, respectively, are calculated by dividing net income attributable to CVS Health and adjusted net income attributable to CVS Health by the Company’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” earlier in this press release for additional information regarding the items excluded from net income attributable to CVS Health and GAAP diluted EPS.

⁽³⁾ The Company defines adjusted revenues as total revenues (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of certain items that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance such as interest income on financings associated with proposed acquisitions (for periods prior to the acquisition) and any other items specifically identified herein. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” earlier in this press release for additional information regarding the items excluded from total revenues.

⁽⁴⁾ The Company defines adjusted operating expenses as operating expenses (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance such as acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, store rationalization charges, gains/losses on divestitures, and any other items specifically identified herein. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” earlier in this press release for additional information regarding the items excluded from operating expenses.

⁽⁵⁾ Enterprise prescriptions include prescriptions dispensed through the Company’s retail pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies, and mail order pharmacies as well as prescription claims managed through our pharmacy benefit manager, with an elimination for managed prescription claims filled through CVS Health dispensing channels.

⁽⁶⁾ Includes an adjustment to convert 90-day prescriptions to the equivalent of three 30-day prescriptions. This adjustment reflects the fact that these prescriptions include approximately three times the amount of product days supplied compared to a normal prescription.

⁽⁷⁾ Pharmacy network revenues, pharmacy claims processed and generic dispensing rate do not include Maintenance Choice^® activity, which is included within the mail choice category. Pharmacy network is defined as claims filled at retail and specialty retail pharmacies, including the Company’s retail pharmacies and long-term care pharmacies, but excluding Maintenance Choice activity. Maintenance Choice permits eligible client plan members to fill their maintenance prescriptions through mail order delivery or at a CVS Pharmacy retail store for the same price as mail order.

⁽⁸⁾ Mail choice is defined as claims filled at a Pharmacy Services mail order facility, which includes specialty mail claims inclusive of Specialty Connect^® claims picked up at a retail pharmacy, as well as prescriptions filled at the Company’s retail pharmacies under the Maintenance Choice program.

⁽⁹⁾ Same store sales and prescription volume exclude revenues from MinuteClinic, and revenues and prescriptions from stores in Brazil and LTC operations.

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SOURCE CVS Health Corporation

Company Codes: NYSE:CVS