Upgrade to SI Premium - Free Trial

UnitedHealth Group Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

October 15, 2019 5:55 AM

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Strong and diversified performance continued across UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in the third quarter 2019.

“Optum and UnitedHealthcare are driving value for our customers, creating momentum to finish the year strongly and move into 2020 with an intense focus on accelerating the growth of our businesses by advancing quality, affordability and satisfaction for those we serve,” said David S. Wichmann, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

Based on strong third quarter 2019 results and its positive view for the rest of the year, the Company increased its full year net earnings outlook to $14.15 to $14.25 per share and adjusted net earnings to a range of $14.90 to $15.00 per share, both increasing $0.15 per share at the mid-point.

Quarterly Financial Performance

Three Months Ended

September 30,

2019

September 30,

2018

June 30,

2019

Revenues

$60.4 billion

$56.6 billion

$60.6 billion

Earnings from Operations

$5.0 billion

$4.6 billion

$4.7 billion

Net Margin

5.9%

5.6%

5.4%

UnitedHealthcare provides health care benefits globally, serving individuals and employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value health care consumers receive by reducing the total cost of care, enhancing the quality of care received, improving health and wellness and simplifying the health care experience.

Quarterly Financial Performance

Three Months Ended

September 30,

2019

September 30,

2018

June 30,

2019

Revenues

$48.1 billion

$45.9 billion

$48.6 billion

Earnings from Operations

$2.7 billion

$2.6 billion

$2.6 billion

Operating Margin

5.5%

5.6%

5.4%

Optum is a health services business serving the global health care marketplace, including payers, care providers, health systems, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using market-leading information, data analytics, technology and clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance: optimizing care quality, reducing health care costs and improving the consumer and physician experience.

Quarterly Financial Performance

Three Months Ended

September 30,

2019

September 30,

2018

June 30,

2019

Revenues

$28.8 billion

$25.4 billion

$28.0 billion

Earnings from Operations

$2.4 billion

$2.0 billion

$2.1 billion

Operating Margin

8.2%

8.0%

7.5%

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, UnitedHealth Group will discuss the Company’s results, strategy and future outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time today. UnitedHealth Group will host a live webcast of this conference call from the Investors page of the Company’s website (www.unitedhealthgroup.com). Following the call, a webcast replay will be available on the same site through October 29, 2019. The conference call replay can also be accessed by dialing 1-800-839-1162. This earnings release and the Form 8-K dated October 15, 2019, can also be accessed from the Investors page of the Company’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release presents non-GAAP financial information provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the accompanying tables found at the end of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this document include “forward-looking” statements which are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities law. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors including: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage medical costs; new or changes in existing health care laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application; the DOJ’s legal action relating to the risk adjustment submission matter; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in quality scores impacting revenue; reductions in revenue or delays to cash flows received under government programs; changes in Medicare, the CMS star ratings program or the application of risk adjustment data validation audits; cyber-attacks, other privacy/data security incidents, or our failure to comply with related regulations; risks and uncertainties associated with the pharmacy benefits management industry; competitive pressures; changes in or challenges to our public sector contract awards; our ability to contract on competitive terms with physicians, hospitals and other service providers; failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; failure to manage successfully our strategic alliances or complete or receive anticipated benefits of strategic transactions; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; downgrades in our credit ratings; our investment portfolio performance; impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products do not operate as intended; and our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or from external financings to fund our obligations, maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle, or continue repurchasing shares of our common stock. This above list is not exhaustive. We discuss these matters, and certain risks that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations more fully in our filings with the SEC, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may vary materially from expectations expressed or implied in this document or any of our prior communications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
Earnings Release Schedules and Supplementary Information
Quarter Ended September 30, 2019
- Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
- Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
- Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
- Supplemental Financial Information - Businesses
- Supplemental Financial Information - Business Metrics
- Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Revenues
Premiums

$

47,397

$

44,613

$

142,074

$

133,155

Products

7,546

7,344

23,971

21,050

Services

4,942

4,217

13,756

12,590

Investment and other income

466

382

1,453

1,035

Total revenues

60,351

56,556

181,254

167,830

Operating costs
Medical costs

39,041

36,158

117,164

108,448

Operating costs

8,960

8,479

25,892

25,371

Cost of products sold

6,627

6,718

21,606

19,373

Depreciation and amortization

709

611

2,002

1,791

Total operating costs

55,337

51,966

166,664

154,983

Earnings from operations

5,014

4,590

14,590

12,847

Interest expense

(449

)

(353

)

(1,267

)

(1,026

)

Earnings before income taxes

4,565

4,237

13,323

11,821

Provision for income taxes

(936

)

(953

)

(2,752

)

(2,603

)

Net earnings

3,629

3,284

10,571

9,218

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

(91

)

(96

)

(273

)

(272

)

Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders

$

3,538

$

3,188

$

10,298

$

8,946

Diluted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders

$

3.67

$

3.24

$

10.65

$

9.09

Adjusted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders (a)

$

3.88

$

3.41

$

11.22

$

9.60

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

963

983

967

984

(a) See page 6 for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions)

(unaudited)

September 30,

December 31,

2019

2018

Assets
Cash and short-term investments

$

15,818

$

14,324

Accounts receivable, net

10,964

11,388

Other current assets

16,759

12,980

Total current assets

43,541

38,692

Long-term investments

36,840

32,510

Other long-term assets

93,328

81,019

Total assets

$

173,709

$

152,221

Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
Medical costs payable

$

20,939

$

19,891

Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt

6,387

1,973

Other current liabilities

35,315

31,345

Total current liabilities

62,641

53,209

Long-term debt, less current maturities

38,507

34,581

Other long-term liabilities

12,814

8,204

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

1,991

1,908

Equity

57,756

54,319

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity

$

173,709

$

152,221

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions)

(unaudited)

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2019

2018

Operating Activities
Net earnings

$

10,571

$

9,218

Noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization

2,002

1,791

Deferred income taxes and other

(4

)

(127

)

Share-based compensation

525

512

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities

(836

)

1,923

Cash flows from operating activities

12,258

13,317

Investing Activities
Purchases of investments, net of sales and maturities

(2,028

)

(3,729

)

Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software

(1,421

)

(1,505

)

Cash paid for acquisitions, net

(8,200

)

(5,824

)

Other, net

338

(187

)

Cash flows used for investing activities

(11,311

)

(11,245

)

Financing Activities
Common share repurchases

(5,101

)

(3,650

)

Dividends paid

(2,908

)

(2,454

)

Net change in commercial paper and long-term debt

8,192

1,200

Other, net

404

1,211

Cash flows from (used for) financing activities

587

(3,693

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(37

)

(97

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

1,497

(1,718

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

10,866

11,981

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

12,363

$

10,263

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - BUSINESSES

(in millions, except percentages)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Revenues
UnitedHealthcare

$

48,105

$

45,937

$

145,595

$

137,242

Optum

28,763

25,391

83,152

73,718

Eliminations

(16,517

)

(14,772

)

(47,493

)

(43,130

)

Total consolidated revenues

$

60,351

$

56,556

$

181,254

$

167,830

Earnings from Operations
UnitedHealthcare

$

2,655

$

2,559

$

8,251

$

7,316

Optum (a)

2,359

2,031

6,339

5,531

Total consolidated earnings from operations

$

5,014

$

4,590

$

14,590

$

12,847

Operating Margin
UnitedHealthcare

5.5

%

5.6

%

5.7

%

5.3

%

Optum

8.2

%

8.0

%

7.6

%

7.5

%

Consolidated operating margin

8.3

%

8.1

%

8.0

%

7.7

%

Revenues
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual

$

14,291

$

13,734

$

42,407

$

40,856

UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement

20,698

18,789

62,649

56,573

UnitedHealthcare Community & State

10,670

11,054

33,038

32,471

UnitedHealthcare Global

2,446

2,360

7,501

7,342

OptumHealth

$

8,133

$

6,052

$

21,994

$

17,752

OptumInsight

2,617

2,254

7,145

6,508

OptumRx

18,454

17,437

55,194

50,484

Optum eliminations

(441

)

(352

)

(1,181

)

(1,026

)

(a)

Earnings from operations for Optum for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 included $748 and $2,062 for OptumHealth; $632 and $1,589 for OptumInsight; and $979 and $2,688 for OptumRx, respectively. Earnings from operations for Optum for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 included $622 and $1,680 for OptumHealth; $534 and $1,382 for OptumInsight; and $875 and $2,469 for OptumRx, respectively.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - BUSINESS METRICS
UNITEDHEALTHCARE CUSTOMER PROFILE
(in thousands)
People Served September 30,
2019
June 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
September 30,
2018
Commercial:
Risk-based

8,605

8,325

8,495

8,450

Fee-based

19,230

19,090

18,420

18,365

Total Commercial

27,835

27,415

26,915

26,815

Medicare Advantage

5,230

5,190

4,945

4,915

Medicaid

5,965

6,360

6,450

6,630

Medicare Supplement (Standardized)

4,510

4,495

4,545

4,540

Total Public and Senior

15,705

16,045

15,940

16,085

Total UnitedHealthcare - Domestic Medical

43,540

43,460

42,855

42,900

International

5,845

6,070

6,220

6,070

Total UnitedHealthcare - Medical

49,385

49,530

49,075

48,970

Supplemental Data
Medicare Part D stand-alone

4,415

4,430

4,710

4,725

OPTUM PERFORMANCE METRICS
September 30,
2019
June 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
September 30,
2018
OptumHealth Consumers Served (in millions)

95

95

93

92

OptumInsight Contract Backlog (in billions)

$

19.0

$

18.5

$

17.0

$

15.7

OptumRx Quarterly Adjusted Scripts (in millions)

325

343

348

331

Note: UnitedHealth Group served 136 million unique individuals across all businesses at September 30, 2019.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE(a)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

Projected
Year Ended
December 31,

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

GAAP net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders

$

3,538

$

3,188

$

10,298

$

8,946

$13,650 - $13,750

Intangible amortization

262

221

729

661

~1,000

Tax effect of intangible amortization

(64

)

(54

)

(180

)

(165

)

~(245)

Adjusted net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth

Group common shareholders

$

3,736

$

3,355

$

10,847

$

9,442

$14,405 - $14,505

GAAP diluted earnings per share

$

3.67

$

3.24

$

10.65

$

9.09

$14.15 - $14.25

Intangible amortization per share

0.27

0.22

0.75

0.67

~1.00

Tax effect per share of intangible amortization

(0.06

)

(0.05

)

(0.18

)

(0.16

)

~(0.25)

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$

3.88

$

3.41

$

11.22

$

9.60

$14.90 - $15.00

(a)

Adjusted net earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted net earnings per share excludes from the relevant GAAP metric, as applicable, intangible amortization and other items, if any, that do not relate to the Company's underlying business performance. Management believes that the use of adjusted net earnings per share provides investors and management useful information about the earnings impact of acquisition-related intangible asset amortization. As amortization fluctuates based on the size and timing of the Company’s acquisition activity, management believes this exclusion provides a more useful comparison of the Company's underlying business performance and trends from period to period. While intangible assets contribute to the Company’s revenue generation, the intangible amortization is not directly related. Therefore, the related revenues are included in adjusted earnings per share.

Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group.

Investors:

Brett Manderfeld

Senior Vice President

952-936-7216

Media:

Matt Stearns

Senior Vice President

202-276-0085

Source: UnitedHealth Group

Categories

Business Wire Press Releases

Next Articles