CVS Health Reports Strong Third Quarter Results

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) today announced operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

KEY FINANCIAL DATA  

	Three Months Ended September 30,
In millions, except per share amounts	2021				2020				Change
Total revenues	$	73,794			$	67,056			$	6,738
Operating income	3,061				3,249				(188)
Adjusted operating income (1)	4,073				3,622				451
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.20			$	0.93			$	0.27
Adjusted EPS (2)	$	1.97			$	1.66			$	0.31

CEO COMMENTARY

"We outperformed expectations once again and continue to lead the way in changing how, when and where care is delivered for millions of Americans," said CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch. "Our services are responsive to evolving consumer needs, from administering millions of COVID-19 tests and vaccines to offering primary care accessible from virtually anywhere, and our touchpoints allow for unmatched impact."

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues increased to $73.8 billion, up 10.0% compared to prior year
• GAAP diluted EPS of $1.20, up 29.0% compared to prior year
• Adjusted EPS of $1.97, up 18.7% compared to prior year

YEAR-TO-DATE HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenues increased to $215.5 billion, up 8.2% compared to prior year
• GAAP diluted EPS of $4.98 and Adjusted EPS of $6.43
• Generated cash flow from operations of $14.3 billion
• Net repayments of long-term debt of $6.5 billion

2021 FULL YEAR GUIDANCE

• Revised GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $6.13 to $6.23 from $6.35 to $6.45
• Raised Adjusted EPS guidance range to $7.90 to $8.00 from $7.70 to $7.80
• Raised cash flow from operations guidance range to $13.0 billion to $13.5 billion from $12.5 billion to $13.0 billion

Consolidated Third Quarter Results and Operational Highlights

Operating Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year:

• Total revenues increased 10.0% driven by growth across all segments.
• Operating income decreased 5.8% primarily due to a $431 million goodwill impairment charge associated with the long-term care ("LTC") business in the Retail/LTC segment ("LTC goodwill impairment") recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2021 and the absence of a $271 million gain on the sale of the Coventry Health Care Workers' Compensation business ("Workers' Compensation business") recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease was partially offset by the increase in adjusted operating income described below.
• Adjusted operating income increased 12.5% primarily due to the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations and diagnostic testing and increased front store volume in the Retail/LTC segment, as well as improved purchasing economics and growth in specialty pharmacy in the Pharmacy Services segment.
• Interest expense decreased $129 million, or 17.6%, due to lower debt in the three months ended September 30, 2021.
• The effective income tax rate decreased to 26.0% compared to 32.5% primarily due to the absence of the impact of the sale of the Workers' Compensation business in the three months ended September 30, 2020 and the repeal of the non-deductible health insurer fee ("HIF") for 2021.

Other Highlights

• Paid down a net of $1.1 billion of long-term debt, while returning $659 million to shareholders through dividends during the three months ended September 30, 2021. Since the close of the acquisition of Aetna Inc. in November 2018, the Company has repaid a net of $18.7 billion of long-term debt.
• Administered more than 8 million COVID-19 tests and more than 11 million COVID-19 vaccines nationwide in the third quarter. The Company maintains a strong commitment to vaccine and testing equity and continues to optimize site locations and targeted outreach initiatives to reach vulnerable populations.
• Launched Aetna Virtual Primary Care, a first-of-its-kind health care solution that reimagines the primary care experience and makes it easier for people to get the services they need, anytime, anywhere. The virtual offering is augmented by access to in-person visits, including at MinuteClinic^® and HealthHUB^® locations.
• Hosted a one-day national career event to fill up to 25,000 clinical and retail jobs. The new pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses are aiding the Company during the busy fall and winter months by administering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and providing COVID-19 testing.

Health Care Benefits Segment

The Health Care Benefits segment offers a full range of insured and self-insured ("ASC") medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health products and services. The segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased 9.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by growth in the Government Services business, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of the repeal of the HIF for 2021.
• Adjusted operating income increased 2.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year. The increase in adjusted operating income was primarily driven by improved performance in the underlying Government Services business, largely offset by higher COVID-19 related costs, net of deferred care, in the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year.
• The MBR increased from 84.0% to 85.8% in the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by higher COVID-19 related costs, net of deferred care, and the repeal of the HIF for 2021. These increases were partially offset by higher favorable development of prior-periods' health care cost estimates in the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year.
• Medical membership as of September 30, 2021 of 23.7 million increased 187,000 members compared with June 30, 2021, reflecting increases across all product lines.
• The segment experienced favorable development of prior-periods' health care cost estimates in its Commercial and Government Services businesses during the three months ended September 30, 2021, primarily attributable to second quarter 2021 performance.
• Prior years' health care costs payable estimates developed favorably by $771 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This development is reported on a basis consistent with the prior years' development reported in the health care costs payable table in the Company's annual audited financial statements and does not directly correspond to an increase in 2021 operating results.

See the supplemental information on page 16 for additional information regarding the performance of the Health Care Benefits segment.

Pharmacy Services Segment

The Pharmacy Services segment provides a full range of pharmacy benefit management solutions to employers, health plans, government employee groups and government sponsored programs. The segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased 9.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increased pharmacy claims volume, growth in specialty pharmacy and brand inflation, partially offset by continued price compression.
• Adjusted operating income increased 9.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by improved purchasing economics which reflected increased contributions from the products and services of the Company's group purchasing organization and specialty pharmacy (including pharmacy and/or administrative services for providers and 340B covered entities). These increases were partially offset by continued price compression.
• Total pharmacy claims processed increased 6.9% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by net new business, COVID-19 vaccinations and increased new therapy prescriptions, which were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the three months ended September 30, 2020. Excluding the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations, total pharmacy claims processed increased 5.3% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year.

See the supplemental information on page 18 for additional information regarding the performance of the Pharmacy Services segment.

Retail/LTC Segment

The Retail/LTC segment fulfills prescriptions for medications, provides patient care programs, sells a wide assortment of health and wellness products and general merchandise, provides health care services through walk-in medical clinics, provides medical diagnostic testing, administers vaccinations and provides pharmacy services to long-term care facilities. The segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

• Total revenues increased 10.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations and diagnostic testing, increased prescription and front store volume, both of which were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the three months ended September 30, 2020, as well as brand inflation. These increases were partially offset by continued pharmacy reimbursement pressure and the impact of recent generic introductions. COVID-19 vaccinations, diagnostic testing and over-the-counter ("OTC") test kit sales contributed approximately 40% of the increase in the segment's revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year, as the prior year reflected the ongoing expansion of the Company's diagnostic testing program which began in April 2020 and no COVID-19 vaccinations or OTC test kit sales.
• Adjusted operating income increased 22.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by COVID-19 vaccinations and diagnostic testing, the increased prescription and front store volume described above and improved generic drug purchasing. These increases were partially offset by continued pharmacy reimbursement pressure and increased investments in the segment's capabilities and colleague compensation and benefits. COVID-19 vaccinations, diagnostic testing and OTC test kit sales contributed approximately one-third of the segment's adjusted operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2021.
• Prescriptions filled increased 8.0% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year primarily driven by COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as the continued adoption of patient care programs and increased new therapy prescriptions, both of which were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic during the three months ended September 30, 2020. Excluding the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations, prescriptions filled increased 4.9% on a 30-day equivalent basis for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the prior year.

See the supplemental information on page 19 for additional information regarding the performance of the Retail/LTC segment.

2021 Full Year Guidance

The Company revised its full year 2021 GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $6.13 to $6.23 from $6.35 to $6.45, raised its full year 2021 Adjusted EPS guidance range to $7.90 to $8.00 from $7.70 to $7.80 and raised its full year 2021 cash flow from operations guidance range to $13.0 billion to $13.5 billion from $12.5 billion to $13.0 billion.

The adjustments between GAAP diluted EPS and Adjusted EPS include, as applicable, adding back amortization of intangible assets, integration costs related to the Company's acquisition (the "Aetna Acquisition") of Aetna Inc. ("Aetna"), the LTC goodwill impairment, an acquisition purchase price adjustment outside of the acquisition accounting measurement period and a loss on early extinguishment of debt.

Teleconference and Webcast

The Company will be holding a conference call today for investors at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its third quarter results. An audio webcast of the call will be broadcast simultaneously for all interested parties through the Investor Relations section of the CVS Health website at http://investors.cvshealth.com. This webcast will be archived and available on the website for a one-year period following the conference call.

In addition, on November 10, 2021, CVS Health's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Shawn Guertin, will participate in a fireside chat with investors at the 30th Annual Credit Suisse Healthcare Conference at approximately 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). 

About CVS Health

CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and our over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Learn more at www.cvshealth.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Health Corporation. Statements in this press release that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, Ms. Lynch's quotation, the information under the heading "2021 Full Year Guidance" and the information included in the endnotes and reconciliations. By their nature, all forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and/or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons as described in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section and under the heading "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on CVS Health's forward-looking statements. CVS Health's forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. CVS Health does not assume any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, uncertainties or otherwise.

- Tables Follow -

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to analyze underlying business performance and trends. The Company believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures enhances the Company's and investors' ability to compare the Company's past financial performance with its current performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information to the financial measures presented in this press release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures determined or calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company's definitions of its non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Non-GAAP financial measures such as consolidated adjusted operating income, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and adjusted income attributable to CVS Health exclude from the relevant GAAP metrics, as applicable: amortization of intangible assets and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company's business nor reflect the Company's underlying business performance.

For the periods covered in this press release, the following items are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures described above, as applicable, because the Company believes they neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company's business nor reflect the Company's underlying business performance:

• The Company's acquisition activities have resulted in the recognition of intangible assets as required under the acquisition method of accounting which consist primarily of trademarks, customer contracts/relationships, covenants not to compete, technology, provider networks and value of business acquired. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are tested for impairment when events indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The amortization of intangible assets is reflected in the Company's unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations in operating expenses within each segment. Although intangible assets contribute to the Company's revenue generation, the amortization of intangible assets does not directly relate to the underwriting of the Company's insurance products, the services performed for the Company's customers or the sale of the Company's products or services. Additionally, intangible asset amortization expense typically fluctuates based on the size and timing of the Company's acquisition activity. Accordingly, the Company believes excluding the amortization of intangible assets enhances the Company's and investors' ability to compare the Company's past financial performance with its current performance and to analyze underlying business performance and trends. Intangible asset amortization excluded from the related non-GAAP financial measure represents the entire amount recorded within the Company's GAAP financial statements, and the revenue generated by the associated intangible assets has not been excluded from the related non-GAAP financial measure. Intangible asset amortization is excluded from the related non-GAAP financial measure because the amortization, unlike the related revenue, is not affected by operations of any particular period unless an intangible asset becomes impaired or the estimated useful life of an intangible asset is revised.
• During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, acquisition-related integration costs relate to the Aetna Acquisition. The acquisition-related integration costs are reflected in the Company's unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations in operating expenses within the Corporate/Other segment.
• During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the goodwill impairment charge relates to the LTC reporting unit within the Retail/LTC segment.
• In June 2021, the Company received $61 million related to a purchase price working capital adjustment for an acquisition completed during the first quarter of 2020. The resolution of this matter occurred subsequent to the acquisition accounting measurement period and is reflected in the Company's unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as a reduction of operating expenses within the Health Care Benefits segment.
• During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the gain on divestiture of subsidiary represents the pre-tax gain on the sale of the Workers' Compensation business, which the Company sold on July 31, 2020 for approximately $850 million. The gain on divestiture is reflected as a reduction in operating expenses in the Company's unaudited GAAP condensed consolidated statements of operations within the Health Care Benefits segment.
• During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the loss on early extinguishment of debt relates to the Company's repayment of approximately $2.0 billion of its outstanding senior notes in August 2021 pursuant to its tender offers for such senior notes. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the loss on early extinguishment of debt relates to the Company's repayment of $6.0 billion of its outstanding senior notes in August 2020 pursuant to its tender offers for such senior notes.
• The corresponding tax benefit or expense related to the items excluded from adjusted income attributable to CVS Health and Adjusted EPS above. The nature of each non-GAAP adjustment is evaluated to determine whether a discrete adjustment should be made to the adjusted income tax provision.

See endnotes (1) and (2) on page 22 for definitions of non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented on pages 13, 14 and 21.