On July 27, 2016 Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) (NYSE: LH) reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (Press release, LabCorp, JUL 27, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2188731 [SID:1234514065]).

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"Continued strong revenue growth and double-digit adjusted EPS growth demonstrate the soundness of our strategy," said David P. King, chairman and chief executive officer. "Our results reflect our customers’ growing enthusiasm for our differentiated offering as we improve health and improve lives around the globe by delivering world class diagnostics, bringing innovative medicines to patients faster and changing the way care is provided."

Consolidated Results

Second Quarter Results

Net revenue for the quarter was $2.38 billion, an increase of 7.4% over last year’s $2.22 billion. The increase in net revenue was primarily due to solid organic growth in both segments and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation. Organic revenue growth in the quarter, excluding currency, was 6.4%.

Operating income for the quarter was $366.9 million, compared to $323.3 million in the second quarter of 2015. The Company recorded restructuring charges and special items of $14.5 million in the quarter, compared to $23.1 million during the same period in 2015. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization of $45.3 million, restructuring and special items) for the quarter was $426.7 million, or 17.9% of net revenue, compared to $391.0 million, or 17.6%, in the second quarter of 2015. The increase in adjusted operating income and margin was primarily due to strong revenue growth, partially offset by personnel costs.

Net earnings in the quarter were $198.2 million, or $1.91 per diluted share, compared to $169.8 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, last year. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring and special items) were $2.31 in the quarter, an increase of 10.5% compared to $2.09 in the second quarter of 2015.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $343.6 million, compared to $396.7 million last year. The decrease in operating cash flow was primarily due to greater working capital requirements, partially offset by increased earnings. Capital expenditures totaled $67.0 million, compared to $69.1 million in the second quarter of 2015. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $276.6 million, compared to $327.6 million in the second quarter of 2015.

At the end of the quarter, the Company’s cash balance and total debt were $639.6 million and $6.1 billion, respectively. During the quarter, the Company invested $50.8 million in tuck-in acquisitions and paid down $338.7 million of debt.

Year-To-Date Results

The following year-to-date consolidated results of the Company include Covance as of February 19, 2015; prior to February 19, 2015, these consolidated results exclude Covance.

Net revenue was $4.68 billion, an increase of 17.2% over last year’s $3.99 billion. The increase was primarily due to the inclusion of Covance’s financial results for the entire first half of the year as well as solid organic growth in both segments and tuck-in acquisitions.

Operating income was $668.8 million, compared to $455.7 million in the first half of 2015. The Company recorded restructuring charges and special items of $43.8 million in the first half of the year, compared to $161.8 million during the same period in 2015. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization of $89.6 million, restructuring and special items) was $802.2 million, or 17.2% of net revenue, compared to $693.2 million, or 17.4%, in the first half of 2015. The increase in adjusted operating income was primarily due to strong revenue growth, partially offset by personnel costs. The decline in margin was due to the mix impact from the inclusion of Covance’s financial results for the entire first half of the year.

Net earnings in the first half of 2016 were $358.4 million, or $3.46 per diluted share, compared to $172.9 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, last year. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring and special items) were $4.33, compared to $3.85 in the first half of 2015.

Operating cash flow was $466.6 million, compared to $309.8 million in the first half of 2015. The Company’s operating cash flow was negatively impacted by $153.5 million last year due to non-recurring items relating to the acquisition of Covance. Excluding these items, operating cash flow was $463.3 million last year. Capital expenditures totaled $138.4 million, compared to $102.9 million in the first half of 2015. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $328.2 million, compared to $206.9 million in the first half of 2015. Excluding non-recurring items, free cash flow was $360.4 million last year.

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The following segment results exclude amortization, restructuring, special items and unallocated corporate expenses. Reconciliations of segment results to historically reported results are included in the Condensed Pro Forma Segment Information tables and notes.

Segment Results

LabCorp Diagnostics

Net revenue for the quarter was $1.66 billion, an increase of 5.4% over last year’s $1.58 billion. The increase in net revenue was the result of organic volume growth (measured by requisitions), price, mix and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation of 0.3%. Total volume (measured by requisitions) increased by 2.1% (organic volume of 1.2% and acquisition volume of 0.9%). Revenue per requisition increased by 3.5%.

Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring and special items) for the quarter was $356.5 million, or 21.5% of net revenue, compared to $337.0 million, or 21.4%, in the second quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to price, mix, organic volume, tuck-in acquisitions and the Company’s LaunchPad business process improvement initiative, partially offset by personnel costs. LaunchPad remains on track to deliver net savings of $150 million through the three-year period ending in 2017.

Covance Drug Development

Net revenue for the quarter was $722.4 million, an increase of 12.2% over last year’s $643.7 million. The increase in net revenue was primarily due to broad-based demand, partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency translation of approximately 70 basis points. Excluding the impact from currency and the expiration of the Sanofi site support agreement, net revenue increased 16.4% year over year.

Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring and special items) was $107.7 million, or 14.9% of net revenue, compared to $89.9 million, or 14.0%, in the second quarter of 2015. The increase was primarily due to strong revenue growth and cost synergies, partially offset by the expiration of the Sanofi site support agreement and personnel costs. The Company remains on track to deliver cost synergies of $100 million related to the acquisition of Covance through the three-year period ending in 2017.

During the quarter, net orders (gross orders less cancellations and reductions) were $818 million, representing a net book-to-bill of 1.13, and a trailing twelve month net book-to-bill of 1.17.

Outlook for 2016

The following updated guidance assumes foreign exchange rates effective as of June 30, 2016 for the remainder of the year:

Net revenue growth of 9.5% to 10.5% over 2015 net revenue of $8.51 billion, which includes the impact from approximately 50 basis points of negative currency. This is an increase from prior guidance of 8.5% to 10.5%, which included approximately 40 basis points of negative currency.
Net revenue growth in LabCorp Diagnostics of 4.5% to 5.5% over 2015 pro forma revenue of $6.21 billion, which includes the impact from approximately 10 basis points of negative currency. This is an increase from prior guidance of 4.0% to 5.5%, which included approximately 20 basis points of negative currency.
Net revenue growth in Covance Drug Development of 7.0% to 9.0% over 2015 pro forma revenue of $2.63 billion, which includes the impact from approximately 110 basis points of negative currency. This is an increase from prior guidance of 6.0% to 9.0%, which included approximately 50 basis points of negative currency. Excluding the impact from currency and the expiration of the Sanofi site support agreement, net revenue is expected to increase approximately 11% to 13%.
Adjusted EPS of $8.60 to $8.95, versus prior guidance of $8.55 to $8.95, and as compared to $7.91 last year.
Free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) of $900 million to $950 million, an increase of approximately 24% to 31% over the prior year, unchanged from prior guidance.
Use of Adjusted Measures

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 EPS, Adjusted Operating Income, and Free Cash Flow. 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 are included in the tables accompanying this press release.

The Company today is furnishing its Current Report on Form 8-K that will include additional information on its business and operations. This information will also be available on the Company’s website at www.labcorp.com. Analysts and investors are directed to the Current Report on Form 8-K and the website to review this supplemental information.

A conference call discussing LabCorp’s quarterly results will be held today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and is available by dialing 844-634-1444 (615-247-0253 for international callers). The access code is 43356831. A telephone replay of the call will be available through August 3, 2016 and can be heard by dialing 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 for international callers). The access code for the replay is 43356831.