Amgen Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2018 Financial Results

On January 29, 2019 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018 in comparison to comparable periods in 2017 (Press release, Amgen, JAN 29, 2019, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2385241 [SID1234532934]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Key results include:

For the fourth quarter, total revenues increased 7 percent to $6.2 billion.
Product sales grew 8 percent globally. New and recently launched products including Repatha (evolocumab), Prolia (denosumab), KYPROLIS (carfilzomib) and XGEVA (denosumab) showed double-digit growth.
For the full year, total revenues increased 4 percent to $23.7 billion, with 3 percent product sales growth.
GAAP earnings per share (EPS) increased to $3.01 in the fourth quarter and to $12.62 for the full year driven by higher total revenues, a lower tax rate as the prior year was impacted by U.S. tax reform and lower weighted-average shares outstanding.
For the fourth quarter, GAAP operating income increased 6 percent to $2.4 billion and GAAP operating margin decreased 0.6 percentage points to 39.7 percent. For the full year, GAAP operating income increased 3 percent to $10.3 billion and GAAP operating margin decreased 0.3 percentage points to 45.5 percent.
Non-GAAP EPS increased 18 percent in the fourth quarter to $3.42 and 14 percent for the full year to $14.40 driven by higher total revenues, a lower tax rate and lower weighted-average shares outstanding.
For the fourth quarter, non-GAAP operating income increased 6 percent to $2.7 billion and non-GAAP operating margin decreased 0.6 percentage points to 45.3 percent. For the full year, non-GAAP operating income increased 2 percent to $11.9 billion and non-GAAP operating margin decreased 0.9 percentage points to 52.6 percent.
The Company generated $10.6 billion of free cash flow for the full year versus $10.5 billion in 2017.
2019 total revenues guidance of $21.8-$22.9 billion; EPS guidance of $11.55-$12.75 on a GAAP basis and $13.10-$14.30 on a non-GAAP basis.
"Through our continued solid operating performance in 2018, we met and exceeded our long-term financial commitments," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer. "Looking to the future, we are encouraged by our long-term growth prospects driven by our portfolio of newer products, pipeline and ongoing success in international expansion."

$Millions, except EPS and percentages

Q4’18

Q4’17

YOY Δ

FY’18

FY’17

YOY Δ

Total Revenues

$

6,230

$

5,802

7%

$

23,747

$

22,849

4%

GAAP Operating Income

$

2,382

$

2,245

6%

$

10,263

$

9,973

3%

GAAP Net Income (Loss)

$

1,928

$

(4,264)

*

$

8,394

$

1,979

*

GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share

$

3.01

$

(5.89)

*

$

12.62

$

2.69

*

Non-GAAP Operating Income

$

2,717

$

2,555

6%

$

11,857

$

11,658

2%

Non-GAAP Net Income

$

2,186

$

2,104

4%

$

9,573

$

9,246

4%

Non-GAAP EPS

$

3.42

$

2.89

18%

$

14.40

$

12.58

14%

* Change in excess of 100%

References in this release to "non-GAAP" measures, measures presented "on a non-GAAP basis" and to "free cash flow" (computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow) refer to non-GAAP financial measures. Adjustments to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and other items are presented on the attached reconciliations.

Product Sales Performance

Total product sales increased 8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2018 versus the fourth quarter of 2017. Product sales grew 3 percent for the full year.
Repatha sales increased 62 percent for the fourth quarter and 72 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand, offset partially by lower net selling price.
BLINCYTO (blinatumomab) sales increased 37 percent for the fourth quarter and 31 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
XGEVA sales increased 17 percent for the fourth quarter and 13 percent for the full year driven primarily by higher unit demand.
Prolia sales increased 14 percent for the fourth quarter and 16 percent for the full year driven primarily by higher unit demand.
KYPROLIS sales increased 11 percent for the fourth quarter and 16 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand, offset partially by net selling price.
Nplate (romiplostim) sales increased 10 percent for the fourth quarter and 12 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
Sensipar/Mimpara (cinacalcet) increased 8 percent for the fourth quarter driven by favorable changes in accounting estimates related to prior periods and higher net selling price, offset partially by lower unit demand. Sales increased 3 percent for the full year driven primarily by higher net selling price, offset partially by lower unit demand.
Vectibix (panitumumab) sales increased 6 percent for the fourth quarter and 8 percent for the full year driven by higher unit demand.
Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) sales increased 5 percent for the fourth quarter driven by higher unit demand due primarily to an order from the U.S. government, offset partially by lower net selling price. Sales decreased 1 percent for the full year driven by favorable changes in accounting estimates in the prior year, offset partially by favorable changes in inventory.
Parsabiv (etelcalcetide) was launched in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2018 and sales grew 18 percent sequentially in the fourth quarter.
Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) was launched in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2018 and generated $95 million in sales in the fourth quarter.
EPOGEN (epoetin alfa) sales decreased 2 percent for the fourth quarter driven by lower net selling price, offset partially by higher unit demand. Sales decreased 8 percent for the full year driven primarily by lower net selling price.
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) sales decreased 3 percent for the fourth quarter driven primarily by unfavorable changes in inventory levels and lower net selling price. Sales decreased 9 percent for the full year driven by lower unit demand.
Enbrel (etanercept) sales decreased 8 percent for the fourth quarter and the full year driven by lower unit demand and lower net selling price.
NEUPOGEN (filgrastim) sales decreased 40 percent for the fourth quarter driven by lower net selling price and lower unit demand. Sales decreased 34 percent for the full year driven by lower unit demand and lower net selling price.
Product Sales Detail by Product and Geographic Region

$Millions, except percentages

Q4’18

Q4’17

YOY Δ

US

ROW

TOTAL

TOTAL

TOTAL

Repatha

$

104

$

55

$

159

$

98

62%

BLINCYTO

37

26

63

46

37%

XGEVA

344

112

456

391

17%

Prolia

430

225

655

574

14%

KYPROLIS

153

98

251

227

11%

Nplate

112

70

182

165

10%

Sensipar/Mimpara

367

81

448

413

8%

Vectibix

74

94

168

159

6%

Neulasta

1,012

157

1,169

1,114

5%

Parsabiv

108

12

120

3

*

Aimovig

95

95

*

Biosimilars**

34

34

*

EPOGEN

264

264

270

(2%)

Aranesp

228

246

474

491

(3%)

Enbrel

1,263

52

1,315

1,423

(8%)

NEUPOGEN

43

32

75

126

(40%)

Other***

21

52

73

69

6%

Total product sales

$

4,655

$

1,346

$

6,001

$

5,569

8%

* Change in excess of 100%

** Biosimilars includes KANJINTI and AMGEVITA.

*** Other includes Bergamo, MN Pharma, IMLYGIC and Corlanor.

KANJINTI trade name is provisionally approved by the FDA.

$Millions, except percentages

FY’18

FY’17

YOY Δ

US

ROW

TOTAL

TOTAL

TOTAL

Repatha

$

358

$

192

$

550

$

319

72%

BLINCYTO

134

96

230

175

31%

Prolia

1,500

791

2,291

1,968

16%

KYPROLIS

583

385

968

835

16%

XGEVA

1,338

448

1,786

1,575

13%

Nplate

438

279

717

642

12%

Vectibix

288

403

691

642

8%

Sensipar/Mimpara

1,436

338

1,774

1,718

3%

Parsabiv

302

34

336

5

*

Aimovig

119

119

*

Biosimilars**

55

55

*

Neulasta

3,866

609

4,475

4,534

(1%)

Enbrel

4,807

207

5,014

5,433

(8%)

EPOGEN

1,010

1,010

1,096

(8%)

Aranesp

942

935

1,877

2,053

(9%)

NEUPOGEN

223

142

365

549

(34%)

Other***

85

190

275

251

10%

Total product sales

$

17,429

$

5,104

$

22,533

$

21,795

3%

* Change in excess of 100%

** Biosimilars includes KANJINTI and AMGEVITA.

*** Other includes Bergamo, MN Pharma, IMLYGIC and Corlanor.

KANJINTI trade name is provisionally approved by the FDA.

Operating Expense, Operating Margin and Tax Rate Analysis

On a GAAP basis:

Total Operating Expenses increased 8 percent in the fourth quarter and 5 percent for the full year. All expense categories benefited from savings from our transformation and process improvement efforts. Cost of Sales margin decreased 0.7 points in the fourth quarter due to lower royalty cost and the impact of Hurricane Maria charges in Q4 2017, offset partially by higher cost of manufacturing and higher acquisition-related intangibles amortization. For the full year, Cost of Sales margin decreased 0.5 points due to lower royalty cost, the favorable comparison to Hurricane Maria-related charges in 2017 and lower acquisition-related intangibles amortization, offset partially by higher cost of manufacturing. Research & Development (R&D) expenses increased 13 percent in the fourth quarter driven by higher spending on business development, our early oncology pipeline and late-stage development, offset partially by lower spending to support marketed products. For the full year, R&D expenses increased 5 percent driven by higher spending on our early pipeline, late-stage development and business development, offset partially by lower spending to support marketed products. Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 9 percent in the fourth quarter due primarily to investments in product launches and marketed product support, offset partially by the favorable comparison to Hurricane Maria-related charges in Q4 2017. For the full year, SG&A expenses increased 9 percent due primarily to investments in product launches and marketed product support.
Operating Margin decreased 0.6 percentage points in the fourth quarter to 39.7 percent, and decreased 0.3 percentage points for the full year to 45.5 percent.
Tax Rate decreased in the fourth quarter and the full year due to the impacts of U.S. corporate tax reform.
On a non-GAAP basis:

Total Operating Expenses increased 8 percent in the fourth quarter and 6 percent for the full year. All expense categories benefited from savings from our transformation and process improvement efforts. Cost of Sales margin decreased 1.1 points in the fourth quarter due to lower royalty cost and the impact of Hurricane Maria charges in Q4 2017, offset partially by higher cost of manufacturing. For the full year, Cost of Sales margin decreased 0.2 points due to lower royalty cost and the favorable comparison to Hurricane Maria-related charges in 2017, offset partially by higher cost of manufacturing. R&D expenses increased 13 percent in the fourth quarter driven by higher spending on business development, our early oncology pipeline and late-stage development, offset partially by lower spending to support marketed products. For the full year, R&D expenses increased 5 percent driven by higher spending on our early pipeline, late-stage development and business development, offset partially by lower spending to support marketed products. SG&A expenses increased 9 percent in the fourth quarter primarily due to investments in product launches and marketed product support, offset partially by the favorable comparison of Hurricane Maria-related charges in Q4 2017. For the full year, SG&A expenses increased 10 percent due primarily to investments in product launches and marketed product support.
Operating Margin decreased 0.6 percentage points in the fourth quarter to 45.3 percent, and decreased by 0.9 percentage points for the full year to 52.6 percent.
Tax Rate decreased 3.3 percentage points in the fourth quarter and 4.5 percentage points for the full year primarily due to the impacts of U.S. corporate tax reform.
$Millions, except percentages

GAAP

Non-GAAP

Q4’18

Q4’17

YOY Δ

Q4’18

Q4’17

YOY Δ

Cost of Sales

$1,096

$1,059

3%

$819

$816

—%

% of product sales

18.3%

19.0%

(0.7) pts.

13.6%

14.7%

(1.1) pts.

Research & Development

$1,182

$1,043

13%

$1,162

$1,025

13%

% of product sales

19.7%

18.7%

1.0 pts.

19.4%

18.4%

1.0 pts.

Selling, General & Administrative

$1,559

$1,427

9%

$1,532

$1,406

9%

% of product sales

26.0%

25.6%

0.4 pts.

25.5%

25.2%

0.3 pts.

Other

$11

$28

(61%)

$—

$—

NM

TOTAL Operating Expenses

$3,848

$3,557

8%

$3,513

$3,247

8%

Operating Margin

operating income as % of product sales

39.7%

40.3%

(0.6) pts.

45.3%

45.9%

(0.6) pts.

Tax Rate

11.8%

292.6%

(280.8) pts.

13.3%

16.6%

(3.3) pts.

NM: Not Meaningful

pts: percentage points

$Millions, except percentages

GAAP

Non-GAAP

FY’18

FY’17

YOY Δ

FY’18

FY’17

YOY Δ

Cost of Sales

$4,101

$4,069

1%

$3,001

$2,943

2%

% of product sales

18.2%

18.7%

(0.5) pts.

13.3%

13.5%

(0.2) pts.

Research & Development

$3,737

$3,562

5%

$3,657

$3,482

5%

% of product sales

16.6%

16.3%

0.3 pts.

16.2%

16.0%

0.2 pts.

Selling, General & Administrative

$5,332

$4,870

9%

$5,232

$4,766

10%

% of product sales

23.7%

22.3%

1.4 pts.

23.2%

21.9%

1.3 pts.

Other

$314

$375

(16%)

$—

$—

NM

TOTAL Operating Expenses

$13,484

$12,876

5%

$11,890

$11,191

6%

Operating Margin

operating income as % of product sales

45.5%

45.8%

(0.3) pts.

52.6%

53.5%

(0.9) pts.

Tax Rate

12.1%

79.4%

(67.3) pts.

13.5%

18.0%

(4.5) pts.

NM: Not Meaningful

pts: percentage points

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

The Company generated $3.0 billion of free cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2018 versus $2.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Company generated $10.6 billion of free cash flow for the full year 2018 versus $10.5 billion in 2017 due primarily to improvements in working capital, offset partially by higher tax payments.
The Company’s fourth quarter 2018 dividend of $1.32 per share was paid on Dec. 7, 2018, representing a 15 percent increase versus the fourth quarter of 2017. The Company’s first quarter 2019 dividend of $1.45 per share declared on Dec. 7, 2018, will be paid on March 8, 2019, to all stockholders of record as of Feb. 15, 2019, representing a 10 percent increase from that paid in each of the previous four quarters.
During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 11.1 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $2.2 billion. For the full year, the Company repurchased 94.5 million shares of common stock at a total cost of $17.9 billion. At the end of the fourth quarter, the Company had $5.1 billion remaining under its stock repurchase authorization.
$Billions, except shares

Q4’18

Q4’17

YOY Δ

FY’18

FY’17

YOY Δ

Operating Cash Flow

$

3.2

$

3.0

$

0.2

$

11.3

$

11.2

$

0.1

Capital Expenditures

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.7

0.7

0.1

Free Cash Flow

3.0

2.9

0.1

10.6

10.5

0.0

Dividends Paid

0.8

0.8

0.0

3.5

3.4

0.1

Share Repurchase

2.2

0.8

1.4

17.9

3.1

14.7

Avg. GAAP Diluted Shares (millions)

640

724

(84)

665

735

(70)

Avg. non-GAAP Diluted Shares (millions)

640

729

(89)

665

735

(70)

Cash and Investments

29.3

41.7

(12.4)

29.3

41.7

(12.4)

Debt Outstanding

33.9

35.3

(1.4)

33.9

35.3

(1.4)

Stockholders’ Equity

12.5

25.2

(12.7)

12.5

25.2

(12.7)

Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding

2019 Guidance
For the full year 2019, the Company expects:

Total revenues in the range of $21.8 billion to $22.9 billion.
On a GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $11.55 to $12.75 and a tax rate in the range of 12.5 percent to 13.5 percent.
On a non-GAAP basis, EPS in the range of $13.10 to $14.30 and a tax rate in the range of 14.0 percent to 15.0 percent.
Capital expenditures to be approximately $700 million.
Fourth Quarter Product and Pipeline Update
The Company provided the following updates on selected product and pipeline programs:

BLINCYTO

In January, the European Commission approved an expanded current indication to include adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative CD19 positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD).
Nplate

In December, the Company submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include the treatment of adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had ITP for 12 months or less and an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy.
In December, the FDA approved the sBLA for the treatment of pediatric patients one year of age and older with ITP for at least six months who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy.
Repatha

In January, the National Medical Products Administration approved a new indication for Repatha as the first PCSK9 inhibitor in China for adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary revascularization.
EVENITYTM (romosozumab)

In January, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare granted a marketing authorization for the treatment of osteoporosis in men and postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture.
In January, the FDA Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted in favor of approval for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture.
KANJINTI (ABP 980)

In December, a Biologics License Application (BLA) for KANJINTI, a biosimilar Herceptin (trastuzumab), was resubmitted to the FDA.
ABP 710

In December and January, the Company submitted a BLA to the FDA, and a Marketing Authorization Application to the EMA, respectively, for ABP 710, a biosimilar candidate to REMICADE (infliximab).
EVENITY is developed in collaboration with UCB globally, as well as our joint venture partner Astellas in Japan
EVENITY and KANJINTI trade names provisionally approved by the FDA
Herceptin is a registered trademark of Genentech
Remicade is a registered trademark of Johnson and Johnson

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this news release, management has presented its operating results for the fourth quarters and full years of 2018 and 2017, in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and on a non-GAAP basis. In addition, management has presented its full year 2019 EPS and tax rate guidance in accordance with GAAP and on a non-GAAP basis. These non-GAAP financial measures are computed by excluding certain items related to acquisitions, restructuring and certain other items, including the repatriation tax on accumulated foreign earnings and other impacts of U.S. corporate tax reform, from the related GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations for these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the news release. Management has also presented Free Cash Flow (FCF), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for the fourth quarters and full years of 2018 and 2017. FCF is computed by subtracting capital expenditures from operating cash flow, each as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Company believes that its presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to and facilitates additional analysis by investors. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an investor’s overall understanding of the financial performance and prospects for the future of the Company’s ongoing business activities by facilitating comparisons of results of ongoing business operations among current, past and future periods. The Company believes that FCF provides a further measure of the Company’s liquidity.

The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measures set forth in the news release in connection with its own budgeting and financial planning internally to evaluate the performance of the business, including to allocate resources and to evaluate results relative to incentive compensation targets. The non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.