On October 27, 2022 Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a leading global life sciences company, reported results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2022, and updated full-year guidance (Press release, LabCorp, OCT 27, 2022, View Source [SID1234622457]).

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"Labcorp made important strategic progress this quarter and is well positioned to deliver sustained value and growth," said Adam Schechter, chairman and CEO of Labcorp. "We are focusing on science, innovation and technology to serve our customers’ needs. Our Diagnostics Base Business performed well, and our Drug Development Base Business fundamentals remain strong, despite challenging year-over-year comparisons due to COVID-19. We continue to manage inflationary headwinds and labor constraints through our LaunchPad initiatives. And, we are accelerating the planned spin-off of our Clinical Development business to mid-2023 pending customary approvals."

Labcorp advanced key partnerships and collaborations during the quarter and, earlier this month, completed transactions that establish its long-term laboratory relationship with Ascension. By acquiring select laboratory assets and managing Ascension hospital labs in 10 states, Labcorp is expanding access to its comprehensive services for patients and health care providers. The company is now performing thousands of tests across the health system.

In July, the company announced a planned spin-off of its Clinical Development business. Since that time, Labcorp has established a Spin Management Office consisting of dedicated resources and external advisors with significant spin transaction experience. In addition, working with advisors, Labcorp is in the process of identifying members of the executive team, the CEO and the Board of Directors of the new company. Labcorp is also defining the transition service agreements and preparing the audited financial statements. With the progress to date, Labcorp is targeting completion of the spin-off with an accelerated timeframe of mid-2023, subject to satisfaction of certain customary conditions, including, among others, the receipt of final approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, the receipt of appropriate assurances regarding the tax-free nature of the separation, and the effectiveness of any required filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Labcorp is focused on innovating and delivering its customers valuable solutions across all clinical areas. The company enhanced its neurology offering and rounded out its portfolio in the quarter with the launch of paraneoplastic and other neuro autoimmune panels. Labcorp continues to experience growing demand for its at-home testing options available through Labcorp OnDemand, and believes its pipeline of consumer-focused offerings is strong. The company is also furthering its leadership position in oncology and maintains the broadest portfolio and capabilities in oncology diagnostics today.

On Oct. 12, 2022, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.72 per share of common stock, payable on Dec. 9, 2022, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 17, 2022.

Consolidated Results

Third Quarter Results

Revenue for the quarter was $3.61 billion, a decrease of (11.2%) from $4.06 billion in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease was due to organic revenue of (10.7%) and foreign currency translation of (1.3%), partially offset by acquisitions 0.8%. The (10.7%) decrease in organic revenue was driven by a (11.8%) decrease in COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing (COVID-19 Testing), partially offset by a 1.1% increase in the company’s organic Base Business. Base Business includes Labcorp’s operations except for COVID-19 Testing.

Operating income for the quarter was $469.4 million, or 13.0% of revenue, compared to $766.9 million, or 18.9%, in the third quarter of 2021. The company recorded amortization, restructuring charges, and special items, which together totaled $119.6 million in the quarter, compared to $140.2 million during the same period in 2021. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, and special items) for the quarter was $589.1 million, or 16.3% of revenue, compared to $907.1 million, or 22.3%, in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease in operating income and margin was primarily due to a reduction in COVID-19 Testing and the impact from acquisitions. Organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings were essentially offset by higher personnel expense and other inflationary costs.

Net earnings for the quarter were $352.8 million compared to $587.3 million in the third quarter of 2021. Diluted EPS were $3.90 in the quarter compared to $6.05 during the same period in 2021. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, and special items) were $4.68 in the quarter compared to $6.82 in the third quarter of 2021.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $373.8 million compared to $767.3 million in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease in operating cash flow was due to lower cash earnings partially offset by favorable working capital. Capital expenditures totaled $103.5 million compared to $117.8 million a year ago. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $270.3 million compared to $649.5 million in the third quarter of 2021.

At the end of the quarter, the company’s cash balance and total debt were $0.4 billion and $5.3 billion, respectively. During the quarter, the company invested $458.7 million on acquisitions, paid out $64.9 million in dividends, and repurchased $400.0 million of stock representing approximately 1.5 million shares.

Year-To-Date Results

Revenue was $11.20 billion, a decrease of (7.1%) from $12.06 billion, in the first nine months of 2022. The decrease was due to lower organic revenue of (6.9%) and foreign currency translation of (0.9%), partially offset by acquisitions net of divestitures of 0.6%. The (6.9%) decrease in organic revenue was due to a (8.9)% decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 2.0% increase in the Company’s organic Base Business.

Operating income was $1,683.2 million, or 15.0% of revenue, compared to $2,528.9 million, or 21.0%, in the first nine months of 2021. The company recorded amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments, which together totaled $356.0 million in the first nine months of 2022 compared to $400.0 million during the same period in 2021. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) was $2,039.2 million, or 18.2% of revenue, compared to $2,928.9 million, or 24.3%, in the first nine months of 2021. The decrease in operating income and margin was primarily due to lower COVID-19 Testing and higher personnel costs, partially offset by a recovery in the Base Business.

Net earnings were $1,203.0 million compared to $1,824.3 million in the first nine months of 2021. Diluted EPS were $13.02 in the first nine months of 2022 compared to $18.63 during the same period in 2021. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) were $15.77 in the first nine months of 2022 compared to $21.75 during the same period in 2021.

Operating cash flow was $1,302.3 million compared to $2,412.1 million in the first nine months of 2021. The decrease in operating cash flow was primarily due to lower cash earnings. Capital expenditures totaled $364.0 million compared to $310.4 million during the same period in 2021. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $938.3 million compared to $2,101.7 million in the first nine months of 2021.

Third Quarter Segment Results

The following segment results exclude amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and unallocated corporate expenses.

Diagnostics

Revenue for the quarter was $2.21 billion, a decrease of (15.7%) from $2.62 billion in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to organic revenue of (16.4%), partially offset by acquisitions of 0.9%. The (16.4%) decrease in organic revenue was due to a (18.4%) decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 1.9% increase in the Base Business. Total Base Business growth compared to the Base Business in the prior year was 3.7%.

Total volume (measured by requisitions) decreased by (10.3%) as organic volume decreased by (10.9%) and acquisition volume contributed 0.6%. Organic volume was impacted by a (12.8%) decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 1.9% increase in Base Business. Price/mix decreased by (5.4%) due to a decrease in COVID-19 Testing of (5.5%). Base Business volume was up 3.1% compared to the Base Business last year, and price/mix was up 0.6%.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $439.8 million, or 19.9% of revenue, compared to $774.9 million, or 29.6%, in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease in adjusted operating income and margin was primarily due to a reduction in COVID-19 Testing. The benefit of Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings were offset by higher personnel expense and other inflationary costs.

Drug Development

Revenue for the quarter was $1.41 billion, a decrease of (3.7%) from $1.46 billion in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to foreign currency translation of (3.4%). The benefit of acquisitions of 0.5% was offset by a (0.7%) decline in Base Business organic growth, which was negatively impacted by approximately 5.0% due to reduced COVID-19 related work and the Ukraine/Russia crisis.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $210.7 million, or 15.0% of revenue, compared to $226.1 million, or 15.5%, in the third quarter of 2021. Adjusted operating income and margin decreased due to a reduction in COVID-19 related work, the Ukraine/Russia crisis, inflationary costs, and the mix impact of acquisitions, partially offset by organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings.

Net orders and net book-to-bill during the trailing twelve months were $7.20 billion and 1.25, respectively. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $15.25 billion, an increase of 6.0% compared to last year. The company expects approximately $4.66 billion of its backlog to convert into revenue in the next twelve months.

Outlook for 2022

Labcorp is updating 2022 full year guidance to reflect its third quarter performance and fourth quarter outlook. The following guidance assumes foreign exchange rates effective as of September 30, 2022, for the remainder of the year. Enterprise level guidance includes the estimated impact from currently anticipated capital allocation, including acquisitions, share repurchases and dividends.

The company has provided in this press release and accompanying tables "adjusted" financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP, including adjusted net income, adjusted EPS (or adjusted net income per share), adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, free cash flow, and certain segment information. The company believes these adjusted measures are useful to investors as a supplement to, but not as a substitute for, GAAP measures, in evaluating the company’s operational performance. The company further believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors in evaluating operating results and trends, and growth and shareholder returns, as well as in comparing the company’s financial results with the financial results of other companies. However, the company notes that these adjusted measures may be different from and not directly comparable to the measures presented by other companies. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures and an identification of the components that comprise "special items" used for certain adjusted financial information are included in the tables accompanying this press release.

The company today is providing an investor relations presentation with additional information on its business and operations, which is available in the investor relations section of the company’s website at www.Labcorp.com. Analysts and investors are directed to the website to review this supplemental information.

A conference call discussing Labcorp’s quarterly results will be held today at 9:00 a.m. ET and is available by registering at this link, which will provide a dial-in number and unique PIN to access the call. It is recommended that participants join 10 minutes prior to the start of the call, although participants may register and join at any time during the call. A live webcast of Labcorp’s quarterly conference call on Oct. 27, 2022, will be available at the Labcorp Investor Relations website beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. This webcast will be archived and accessible through Oct. 13, 2023.