Centene Corporation Reports 2019 Second Quarter Results And Increases 2019 Guidance

ST. LOUIS, July 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation CNC announced today its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019, reporting diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.18, and Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.34.

In summary, the 2019 second quarter results were as follows:

Diluted and Adjusted Diluted EPS for the second quarter of 2019 benefited from solid operating performance across our business segments, the net impact of the reconciliation of the 2018 risk adjustment program exceeding our expectations by $0.05 per diluted share and a gain related to the acquisition of Ribera Salud of $0.03 per diluted share.

Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our strong second quarter results demonstrate Centene's favorable financial and operating momentum. Our pending WellCare acquisition will bolster and diversify our product offerings, significantly increase our scale and provide access to new markets - enhancing Centene's long-term growth outlook."

Second Quarter Highlights

• June 30, 2019 managed care membership of 15.0 million, an increase of 2.2 million members, or 17%, over June 30, 2018.
• Total revenues for the second quarter of 2019 of $18.4 billion, representing 29% growth compared to the second quarter of 2018.
• Health benefits ratio (HBR) of 86.7% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 85.7% in the second quarter of 2018.
• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense ratio of 9.1% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 9.6% for the second quarter of 2018.
• Adjusted SG&A expense ratio of 9.0% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 9.6% for the second quarter of 2018.
• Diluted EPS for the second quarter of 2019 of $1.18, compared to $0.75 for the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 57%.
• Adjusted Diluted EPS for the second quarter of 2019 of $1.34, compared to $0.90 for the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 49%.
• Operating cash flow of $917 million for the second quarter of 2019, representing 1.9x net earnings.

Other Events

• In July 2019, our Oregon subsidiary, Trillium Community Health Plan, was notified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) of its intent to award Trillium an expanded contract to serve as a coordinated care organization for six counties in the state. Pending successful completion of OHA's readiness review and additional contract negotiations, the contract is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2020.
• In June 2019, our Spanish subsidiary, Primero Salud, acquired additional ownership in Ribera Salud, increasing our ownership in the Spanish healthcare company from 50% to 90%.
• In June 2019, all proposals regarding the pending acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (WellCare) were approved by Centene and WellCare shareholders.

Accreditations & Awards

• In July 2019, FORTUNE announced Centene's position of #168 in its annual ranking of the largest companies globally by revenue.
• In July 2019, Centene was recognized with a 100 percent score on the Disability Equality Index (DEI) as one of the Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities.
• In May 2019, FORTUNE announced Centene's position of #51 in its annual ranking of America's largest companies by revenue.
• In May 2019, Centene and several of its subsidiaries earned Accreditation from NCQA, including California Health & Wellness and Health Net Community Solutions.

Membership

The following table sets forth our membership by line of business:

The following table sets forth additional membership statistics, which are included in the membership information above:

Revenues

The following table sets forth supplemental revenue information for the three months ended June 30, ($ in millions):

Statement of Operations: Three Months Ended June 30, 2019

• For the second quarter of 2019, total revenues increased 29% to $18.4 billion from $14.2 billion in the comparable period in 2018. The increase over the prior year was primarily due to the acquisition of Fidelis Care, growth in the Health Insurance Marketplace business, expansions and new programs in many of our states in 2018 and 2019, particularly Arkansas, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. These increases were partially offset by the health insurer fee moratorium in 2019.
• Sequentially, total revenues decreased 1% from the first quarter of 2019 primarily due to significant pass through payments from the States of California and New York in the first quarter.
• HBR of 86.7% for the second quarter of 2019 represents an increase from 85.7% in the comparable period in 2018. The increase was primarily attributable to the Health Insurance Marketplace business where margins have normalized, as expected, from the favorable performance in 2018. The increase was also due to the health insurer fee moratorium and the acquisition of Fidelis Care, which operates at a higher HBR.
• HBR increased sequentially from 85.7% in the first quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to the normal seasonality in the Health Insurance Marketplace business.
• The SG&A expense ratio was 9.1% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 9.6% in the second quarter of 2018. The Adjusted SG&A expense ratio was 9.0% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 9.6% in the second quarter of 2018. The SG&A and Adjusted SG&A expense ratios both decreased due to the acquisition of Fidelis Care, which operates at a lower SG&A expense ratio.
• The effective tax rate was 25.7% for the second quarter of 2019, compared to 36.9% in the second quarter of 2018. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due to the impact of the health insurer fee moratorium.

Balance Sheet

At June 30, 2019, the Company had cash, investments and restricted deposits of $15.9 billion, including $801 million held by unregulated entities. Medical claims liabilities totaled $7.4 billion. The Company's days in claims payable was 47 days, which is a decrease of one day over the first quarter of 2019. Total debt was $7.1 billion, which includes $513 million of borrowings on our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility at quarter end. The debt to capitalization ratio was 36.3% at June 30, 2019, excluding $158 million of non-recourse debt.

Outlook

The Company's annual guidance for 2019 has been updated to reflect the second quarter performance and the reinvestment of $0.05 per diluted share in Centene Forward related initiatives in the second half of 2019.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at approximately 8:30 AM (Eastern Time) to review the financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Michael Neidorff and Jeffrey Schwaneke will host the conference call.

Investors and other interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by dialing 1-877-883-0383 in the U.S. and Canada; +1-412-902-6506 from abroad, including the following Elite Entry Number: 9467577 to expedite caller registration; or via a live, audio webcast on the Company's website at www.centene.com, under the Investors section.

A webcast replay will be available for on-demand listening shortly after the completion of the call for the next twelve months or until 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at the aforementioned URL. In addition, a digital audio playback will be available until 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 in the U.S. and Canada, or +1-412-317-0088 from abroad, and entering access code 10132753.

Non-GAAP Financial Presentation

The Company is providing certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release as the Company believes that these figures are helpful in allowing investors to more accurately assess the ongoing nature of the Company's operations and measure the Company's performance more consistently across periods. The Company uses the presented non-GAAP financial measures internally to allow management to focus on period-to-period changes in the Company's core business operations. Therefore, the Company believes that this information is meaningful in addition to the information contained in the GAAP presentation of financial information. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Specifically, the Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial information that excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets and acquisition related expenses, as well as other items, allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company's performance over time. The tables below provide reconciliations of non-GAAP items ($ in millions, except per share data):

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), dual eligible programs and programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. Centene also provides healthcare services to groups and individuals delivered through commercial health plans. Centene operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, commercial programs, home-based primary care services, life and health management, vision benefits management, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene (the Company, our, or we) intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about our future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of our proposed acquisition (the WellCare Transaction) of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (WellCare), our recent acquisition (the Fidelis Care Acquisition) of substantially all the assets of New York State Catholic Health Plan, Inc., d/b/a Fidelis Care New York ( Fidelis Care), investments and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors we believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and events including but not limited to: the risk that regulatory or other approvals required for the WellCare Transaction may be delayed or not obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated that could require the exertion of management's time and our resources or otherwise have an adverse effect on us; the possibility that certain conditions to the consummation of the WellCare Transaction will not be satisfied or completed on a timely basis and, accordingly, the WellCare Transaction may not be consummated on a timely basis or at all; uncertainty as to the expected financial performance of the combined company following completion of the WellCare Transaction; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the WellCare Transaction will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the exertion of management's time and the Company's resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required, in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for the WellCare Transaction; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of the WellCare Transaction or that the integration of WellCare will be more difficult or time consuming than expected; the risk that potential litigation in connection with the WellCare Transaction may affect the timing or occurrence of the WellCare Transaction, cause it not to close at all, or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the WellCare Transaction; the possibility that competing offers will be made to acquire WellCare; the inability to retain key personnel; disruption from the announcement, pendency and/or completion of the WellCare Transaction, including potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that, following the WellCare Transaction, the combined company may not be able to effectively manage its expanded operations; our ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves; competition; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends;  changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; increased healthcare costs; changes in economic, political or market conditions; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and any regulations enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions or judicial actions, including the ultimate outcome of the District Court decision in "Texas v. United States of America" regarding the constitutionality of the ACA; rate cuts or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting our government businesses; our ability to adequately price products on federally facilitated and state-based Health Insurance Marketplaces; tax matters; disasters or major epidemics; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings; changes in expected contract start dates; provider, state, federal and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of our contracts with federal or state governments (including but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; challenges to our contract awards; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from acquired businesses, including, without limitation, the Fidelis Care Acquisition, will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period;  the exertion of management's time and our resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions, including the Fidelis Care Acquisition; disruption caused by significant completed and pending acquisitions, including, among others, the Fidelis Care Acquisition, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of acquisition transactions, including among others, the Fidelis Care Acquisition; changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price and accretion for acquisitions; the risk that acquired businesses, including Fidelis Care, will not be integrated successfully; the risk that, following the Fidelis Care Acquisition, we may not be able to effectively manage our expanded operations; restrictions and limitations in connection with our indebtedness; our ability to maintain the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and future growth; availability of debt and equity financing, on terms that are favorable to us; inflation; foreign currency fluctuations; and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Centene with the SEC on May 23, 2019, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, we cannot give assurances with respect to our future performance, including without limitation our ability to maintain adequate premium levels or our ability to control our future medical and selling, general and administrative costs.

[Tables Follow]

OPERATING RATIOS

MEDICAL CLAIMS LIABILITY

The changes in medical claims liability are summarized as follows (in millions):

Centene's claims reserving process utilizes a consistent actuarial methodology to estimate Centene's ultimate liability. Any reduction in the "Incurred related to: Prior period" amount may be offset as Centene actuarially determines "Incurred related to: Current period." As such, only in the absence of a consistent reserving methodology would favorable development of prior period claims liability estimates reduce medical costs. Centene believes it has consistently applied its claims reserving methodology. Additionally, approximately $68 million was recorded as a decrease to premium revenues resulting from development within "Incurred related to: Prior period" due to minimum HBR and other return of premium programs.

The amount of the "Incurred related to: Prior period" above represents favorable development and includes the effects of reserving under moderately adverse conditions, new markets where we use a conservative approach in setting reserves during the initial periods of operations, receipts from other third party payors related to coordination of benefits and lower medical utilization and cost trends for dates of service June 30, 2018, and prior.

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SOURCE Centene Corporation