Express Scripts Reports Strong Third Quarter Earnings

October 28, 2009 4:01 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX) announced third quarter net income from continuing operations of $196.9 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. Excluding non-recurring items in the quarter, including a legal settlement and items related to the previously announced acquisition of WellPoint's pharmacy benefit management business ("NextRx"), earnings was $0.81 per diluted share. These earnings for the quarter include $0.18 per share of dilution related to the pre-close debt and equity issuances which were completed in the second quarter of 2009. Excluding all aforementioned items, the Company had earnings of $0.99, which compares to third quarter 2008 results of $0.81, a 22% increase.

"Our third quarter results reflect an unwavering commitment to our business model of alignment. Our world-class clinical offerings enabled by our unique behavior centric approach, provides a value proposition unmatched in the marketplace," stated George Paz, president, chief executive officer and chairman. "Our results are a testament to our ability to provide plan sponsors and patients a pharmacy benefit that optimizes health outcomes while driving out waste."

Third Quarter 2009 Highlights (2009 data reflected on an adjusted basis. See Table 2)

    --  Total adjusted claims of 126.3 million, up 2% from 2008
    --  Gross profit increased 18% from 2008
    --  EBITDA per adjusted claim was $3.38, an increase of 18% from 2008

    --  Record cash flow from continuing operations of $395.3 million, up 62%
        from 2008

Guidance

The Company previously provided 2009 earnings per diluted share guidance in a range of $3.72 to $3.82, which excluded any impact related to the NextRx transaction. Due to strong underlying fundamentals in the core business, the Company now believes 2009 earnings on the same basis will be in a range of $3.76 to $3.82, representing 21% to 23% growth over 2008.

The following factors are not reflected in the guidance range above:

    --  NextRx results post-close
    --  2009 financing costs related to the NextRx transaction of $0.41 per
        diluted share

    --  Estimated net non-recurring items for the year, mainly pertaining to the
        NextRx transaction, in a range of $0.36 to $0.38 per diluted share

The Company anticipates closing the NextRx transaction in the next four to six weeks. As previously stated, the Company expects the transaction will be moderately accretive, excluding amortization costs, in 2010; however the Company will provide full 2010 guidance with its fourth quarter earnings release.

About Express Scripts

Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest PBM companies in North America, providing PBM services to thousands of client groups, including managed-care organizations, insurance carriers, employers, third-party administrators, public sector, workers' compensation, and union-sponsored benefit plans.

Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services, including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery services, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical- and drug-data analysis services. The Company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products directly to patients or their physicians, and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services.

Express Scripts is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found at http://www.express-scripts.com, which includes expanded investor information and resources. More information on the Center for Cost-Effective Consumerism can be found at http://www.consumerology.org.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact these forward-looking statements can be found in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Form 10-Q on file with the SEC. A copy of this form can be found at the Investor Relations section of Express Scripts' web site at http://www.express-scripts.com.

We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW




                               EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
                  Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations

                                    Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                      September 30,           September 30,
                                   -------------------     ------------------
      (in millions, except
       per share data)                 2009      2008         2009       2008
                                       ----      ----         ----       ----

    Revenues(1)                    $5,619.4  $5,450.5    $16,545.5  $16,472.1
    Cost of revenues (1)            5,006.8   4,930.1     14,804.8   14,983.0
                                    -------   -------     --------   --------
        Gross profit                  612.6     520.4      1,740.7    1,489.1
    Selling, general and
     administrative                   254.1     189.7        646.7      547.1
                                      -----     -----        -----      -----
    Operating income                  358.5     330.7      1,094.0      942.0
                                      -----     -----      -------      -----
    Other (expense) income:
        Non-operating charges,
         net                              -      (2.0)           -       (2.0)
        Undistributed loss
         from joint venture               -         -            -       (0.3)
        Interest income                 2.0       2.1          4.1       10.8
        Interest expense              (48.0)    (15.7)      (142.7)     (56.1)
                                      -----     -----       ------      -----
                                      (46.0)    (15.6)      (138.6)     (47.6)
                                      -----     -----       ------      -----
    Income before income taxes        312.5     315.1        955.4      894.4
    Provision for income taxes        115.6     112.1        351.8      321.1
                                      -----     -----        -----      -----
    Net income from continuing
     operations                       196.9     203.0        603.6      573.3
    Net income (loss) from
     discontinued operations,
     net of tax                         0.7      (1.1)         0.7       (4.0)
                                        ---      ----          ---       ----
    Net income                       $197.6    $201.9       $604.3     $569.3
                                     ======    ======       ======     ======

    Weighted average number
     of common shares
       outstanding during
       the period:
        Basic:                        274.5     247.1        259.7      249.3
        Diluted:                      277.2     250.3        262.1      252.7

    Basic earnings per share:
          Continuing operations       $0.72     $0.82        $2.32      $2.30
          Discontinued operations         -         -            -      (0.02)
          Net earnings                 0.72      0.82         2.33       2.28

    Diluted earnings per share:
          Continuing operations       $0.71     $0.81        $2.30      $2.27
          Discontinued operations         -         -            -      (0.02)
          Net earnings                 0.71      0.81         2.31       2.25

    (1) Includes retail pharmacy co-payments of $708.4 million and $733.7
        million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008,
        respectively and $2,252.2 million and $2,445.5 million for the nine
        months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.



                            EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
                    Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet

                                                  September 30,  December 31,
    (in millions, except share data)                 2009         2008
                                                     ----         ----
     Assets
     Current assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents                  $3,942.4       $530.7
       Restricted cash and investments                 8.1          4.8
       Short-term investments                      1,202.7          8.4
       Receivables, net                            1,249.8      1,155.9
       Inventories                                   184.2        203.0
       Deferred taxes                                126.2        118.2
       Prepaid expenses and other
       current assets                                 29.6         22.8
                                                      ----         ----
            Total current assets                   6,743.0      2,043.8
     Property and equipment, net                     265.7        222.2
     Goodwill                                      2,870.3      2,881.1
     Other intangible assets, net                    317.2        332.6
     Other assets                                     32.9         29.5
                                                      ----         ----
            Total assets                         $10,229.1     $5,509.2
                                                 =========     ========

     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
     Current liabilities:
       Claims and rebates payable                 $1,400.9     $1,380.7
       Accounts payable                              585.1        496.4
       Accrued expenses                              524.2        420.5
       Current maturities of long-term debt          540.1        420.0
       Current liabilities of
        discontinued operations                        5.6          4.1
                                                       ---          ---
            Total current liabilities              3,055.9      2,721.7
     Long-term debt                                3,472.2      1,340.3
     Other liabilities                               393.5        369.0
                                                     -----        -----
            Total liabilities                      6,921.6      4,431.0
                                                   -------      -------

     Stockholders' Equity:
        Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares
         authorized, $0.01 par value per share;
         and no shares issued and outstanding            -            -
        Common stock, 1,000,000,000 shares
         authorized, $0.01 par value;
         shares issued: 345,274,000 and
         318,958,000, respectively;
         shares outstanding: 274,720,000 and
         247,649,000, respectively                     3.5          3.2
       Additional paid-in capital                  2,244.0        640.8
       Accumulated other comprehensive income         14.2          6.2
       Retained earnings                           3,965.3      3,361.0
                                                   -------      -------
                                                   6,227.0      4,011.2
       Common stock in treasury at cost,
        70,554,000 and
        71,309,000 shares, respectively           (2,919.5)    (2,933.0)
                                                  --------     --------
            Total stockholders' equity             3,307.5      1,078.2
                                                   -------      -------
            Total liabilities and stockholders'
             equity                              $10,229.1     $5,509.2
                                                 =========     ========



                              EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
            Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

                                                              Nine Months
                                                                 Ended
                                                             September 30,
                                                            ---------------
     (in millions)                                             2009    2008
                                                               ----    ----

     Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                              $604.3  $569.3
     Net (income) loss from discontinued
     operations, net of tax                                    (0.7)    4.0
                                                               ----     ---
          Net income from continuing operations               603.6   573.3
     Adjustments to reconcile net income
      to net cash provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                         73.5    72.9
         Deferred financing fees                               59.0     1.8
         Non-cash adjustments to net income                    77.1    98.8
          Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
              Claims and rebates payable                       20.2    33.7
              Other net changes in operating
               assets and liabilities                          80.0   (53.4)
                                                               ----   -----
     Net cash provided by operating
      activities - continuing operations                      913.4   727.1
     Net cash provided by operating
      activities - discontinued operations                     13.1     1.9
                                                               ----     ---
     Net cash flows provided by operating activities          926.5   729.0
                                                              -----   -----

     Cash flows from investing activities:
         Purchase of short-term investments                (1,198.9)      -
         Purchases of property and equipment                  (90.5)  (59.9)
         Acquisition, net of cash                                 -  (246.5)
         Short-term investments transferred from cash             -   (49.3)
         Proceeds from sale of businesses                         -    27.7
         Other                                                  5.4    (0.9)
                                                                ---    ----
     Net cash used in investing activities                 (1,284.0) (328.9)
                                                           --------  ------

     Cash flows from financing activities:
         Proceeds on long-term debt, net of discounts       2,491.6       -
         Net proceeds from stock issuance                   1,569.1       -
         Deferred financing fees                              (69.5)      -
         Repayment of long-term debt                         (240.1) (180.1)
         Tax benefit relating to employee
          stock compensation                                    7.7    39.2
         Treasury stock acquired                                  -  (494.4)
         Net proceeds from employee stock plans                 7.1    29.2
                                                                ---    ----
     Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities    3,765.9  (606.1)
                                                            -------  ------

     Effect of foreign currency translation adjustment          3.3    (1.6)
                                                                ---    ----

     Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   3,411.7  (207.6)
     Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         530.7   434.7
                                                              -----   -----
     Cash and cash equivalents at end of period            $3,942.4  $227.1
                                                           ========  ======



                                   Table 1
                 Unaudited Consolidated Selected Information
                                (in millions)

                                              Three Months    Nine Months
                                                 Ended          Ended
                                               September      September
                                                  30,            30,
                                            -------------   ------------
     Claims Volume                            2009   2008    2009   2008
                                              ----   ----    ----   ----
     Network                                  95.2   91.5   284.1  285.8
     Home Delivery & Specialty                10.3   10.6    30.4   31.6
     Other(1)                                  0.9    0.8     2.4    2.4
                                               ---    ---     ---    ---
       Total claims                          106.4  102.9   316.9  319.8
                                             -----  -----   -----  -----

      Total adjusted claims(2)               126.3  123.5   376.0  381.1
                                             =====  =====   =====  =====

     Depreciation and Amortization (D&A):
     Gross profit D&A                         $5.8   $5.7   $18.9  $20.0
     Selling, general & administrative D&A    18.0   17.6    54.6   52.9
                                              ----   ----    ----   ----
          Total D&A                          $23.8  $23.3   $73.5  $72.9
                                             =====  =====   =====  =====

     Generic Fill Rate
     Network                                  69.6%  67.3%   69.2%  66.9%
     Home Delivery                            58.3%  57.2%   57.5%  56.0%
     Overall                                  68.3%  66.2%   67.9%  65.7%
    ---------                                 ----   ----    ----   ----
    (1) Other claims represent:  (a) drugs distributed through patient
        assistance programs (b) drugs distributed where we have been selected
        by the pharmaceutical manufacturer as part of a limited distribution
        network and (c) Emerging Market claims.
    (2) Total adjusted claims reflect home delivery claims multiplied by 3,
        as home delivery claims are typically 90 day claims.



                                  Table 2
                           EBITDA Reconciliation
                    (in millions, except per claim data)

    The following is a reconciliation of net income from continuing
     operations to EBITDA(1) from continuing operations.  The Company
     believes net income is the most directly comparable measure
     calculated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

                                         Three Months     Nine Months
                                            Ended            Ended
                                          September        September
                                             30,              30,
                                       -------------    ---------------
                                         2009   2008     2009      2008
                                         ----   ----     ----      ----
    Net income from continuing
     operations, as reported           $196.9 $203.0   $603.6    $573.3
       Provision for income taxes       115.6  112.1    351.8     321.1
       Depreciation and amortization     23.8   23.3     73.5      72.9
       Interest expense, net             46.0   13.6    138.6      45.3
        Undistributed loss from
        joint venture                       -      -        -       0.3
       Non-operating charges, net           -    2.0        -       2.0
                                           --    ---       --       ---
    EBITDA from continuing
     operations, as reported            382.3  354.0  1,167.5   1,014.9
    Non-recurring transaction
     related costs (2)                    9.6      -     21.3         -
    Non-recurring legal settlement (3)   35.0      -     35.0         -
    Non-recurring benefit related to
     insurance recovery (4)                 -      -    (15.0)        -
                                           --     --    -----        --
    Adjusted EBITDA from
     continuing operations             $426.9 $354.0 $1,208.8  $1,014.9

    Total adjusted claims               126.3  123.5    376.0     381.1

    Adjusted EBITDA per adjusted claim  $3.38  $2.87    $3.21     $2.66

    The Company is providing EBITDA excluding the impact of non-recurring
    charges in order to compare the underlying financial performance to prior
    periods.

    (1)EBITDA  is earnings before taxes, depreciation and amortization, net
       interest and other income (expense); or alternatively calculated as
       operating income plus depreciation and amortization.  EBITDA is
       presented because it is a widely accepted indicator of a company's
       ability to service indebtedness and is frequently used to evaluate a
       company's performance.  EBITDA, however, should not be considered as an
       alternative to net income, as a measure of operating performance, as an
       alternative to cash flow, as a measure of liquidity or as a substitute
       for any other measure computed in accordance with accounting principles
       generally accepted in the United States. In addition, our definition
       and calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that used by other
       companies.
    (2) Transaction related costs include those costs directly related to our
       pending acquisition of NextRx, primarily comprised of professional fees
       of $11.7 million ($7.4 million net of tax) incurred in Q2 2009 and $9.6
       million ($6.1 million net of tax) incurred in Q3 2009, included in
       selling, general and administrative expense.
    (3) Non-recurring charge related to a legal settlement of $35.0 million
        ($22.1 million, net of tax) in Q3 2009, included in selling, general
        and administrative expense.
    (4) Non-recurring benefit related to insurance recovery of $15.0 million
        ($9.5 million, net of tax) in Q2 2009, included as a reduction to
        selling, general and administrative expense.



                                    Table 3
                          Calculation of Adjusted EPS

                                                Three Months    Nine Months
                                                    Ended         Ended
                                                  September     September
                                                     30,           30,
                                                  ---------    ---------
                                                  2009  2008   2009   2008
                                                  ----  ----   ----   ----
                                                    (per diluted share)
    GAAP EPS from continuing operations          $0.71 $0.81  $2.30  $2.27

    Items included in GAAP results:
    Non-recurring transaction related costs (1)   0.02     -   0.05      -

    Non-recurring termination of bridge
     financing(2)                                    -     -   0.14      -

    Non-recurring charge related to
     legal settlement (3)                         0.08     -   0.08      -

    Non-recurring benefit related to
     insurance recovery (4)                          -     -  (0.03)     -
                                                    --    --  -----     --

    Adjusted EPS from continuing operations      $0.81 $0.81  $2.54  $2.27

    Other items included in GAAP results:
    Impact of pre-closing financing
     of NextRx acquisition (5)                   $0.18    $-  $0.23     $-

     The Company is providing diluted earnings per share excluding the
      impact of non-recurring charges in order to compare the underlying
      financial performance to prior periods.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    (1) Transaction related costs include those costs directly related to
     our pending acquisition of NextRx, primarily comprised of
     professional fees of $11.7 million ($7.4 million net of tax) incurred
     in Q2 2009 and $9.6 million ($6.1 million net of tax) incurred in Q3
     2009, included in selling, general and administrative expense.
    (2) Financing costs include bridge loan fees of $58.4 million ($36.9
        million net of tax) in Q2 2009 included in interest expense.  These
        fees were incurred to terminate the temporary bridge financing once
        permanent financing was secured.
    (3) Non-recurring charge related to legal settlement of $35.0 million
        ($22.1 million, net of tax) in Q3 2009, included in selling, general
        and administrative expense.
    (4) Non-recurring benefit related to insurance recovery of $15.0
        million ($9.5 million, net of tax) in Q2 2009, included as a
        reduction to selling, general and administrative expense.
    (5) Impact from financing of NextRx transaction completed in June
        2009 (26.45 million shares and $2.5 billion of public debt).  Year to
        date costs includes $48.8 million of interest expense, offset by $2.3
        million of interest income (total, net $29.4 million after tax).



                                      Table 4
                             2009 Guidance Information

                                                   Estimated
                                                      Year            Year
                                                     Ended           Ended
                                                    December        December
                                                       31,             31,
                                                      2009            2008
                                                  -----------       --------
    Revised 2009 EPS guidance
    (excluding the impact of NextRx
     and other non-recurring items)           $3.76   to       $3.82     $3.10

    GAAP items not included in guidance:

    Q2 / Q3 non-recurring charges
     related to the NextRx transaction (1)   $(0.19)          $(0.19)

    Q4 non-recurring charges
     related to the NextRx transaction (1)    (0.12)    to     (0.14)

    Q3 legal settlement (2)                   (0.08)           (0.08)

    Q2 non-recurring benefit related
     to insurance recovery (3)                 0.03             0.03

    Full year impact of transaction
     financing (4)                            (0.41)           (0.41)

    NextRx results post-close (5)            TBD based on closing date
    ------------------------------           -------------------------

    (1) The Company incurred other non-recurring charges related to the
        transaction which are described in more detail in Table 3. The Company
        estimates further costs to be incurred in Q4 2009 of $50 million - $60
        million, primarily for professional fees (banking, legal and
        accounting) and IT build out.
    (2) The Company incurred a non-recurring charge related to a  legal
        settlement in Q3 2009 (unrelated to the NextRx transaction).  See
        Table 3.
    (3) The Company incurred a non-recurring gain related to an insurance
        recovery in Q2 2009 (unrelated to the NextRx transaction).
        See Table 3.
    (4) The Company completed financing for the proposed NextRx acquisition
        during Q2 2009 ($2.5 billion public offering of senior notes and
        issuance of 26.45 million shares of common stock).  The incremental
        interest expense for the year is expected to be $88.2 million, which
        will be partially offset by interest income in an amount that will
        vary based on the closing date of the acquisition.
    (5) NextRx results of operations are not included in guidance, and will
        vary based on the closing date of the acquisition.

SOURCE Express Scripts, Inc.


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