On April 29, 2020 LabCorp(or the Company) (NYSE: LH) reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Press release, LabCorp, APR 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234556736]).

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"First and foremost, we are extremely proud of our dedicated and mission-driven colleagues around the world who are working tirelessly to develop and process COVID-19 diagnostic tests, to generate insights about the virus through innovative partnerships with leading companies like Adaptive Biotechnologies and Microsoft, Ciox Health, and Pacific Biosciences, and to accelerate the development of treatments and vaccines that will aid pandemic preparedness and prevention efforts," said Adam Schechter, president and CEO of LabCorp. "During the quarter we delivered solid performance across the company, especially considering the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking forward, despite the unpredictability of this health crisis, we are well positioned financially and strategically to continue to serve our customers and drive long-term shareholder value. We stand ready to serve and support patients, and we will continue to do everything we can, as quickly as possible, to support the global response."

Consolidated Results

First Quarter Results

Revenue for the quarter was $2.82 billion, an increase of 1.2% over $2.79 billion in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in revenue was due to acquisitions of 3.4%, partially offset by the disposition of a business of 0.5% and lower organic revenue of 1.8%. The lower organic revenue includes the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of 4.9% and lower Medicare and Medicaid pricing as a result of PAMA of 0.7%.

Operating loss for the quarter was ($192.6) million, compared to operating income of $318.2 million in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 (including the impairments to goodwill and other assets), higher personnel costs (primarily driven by merit increases and one additional payroll day), and PAMA, partially offset by other organic growth, acquisitions, and LaunchPad savings. The Company recorded restructuring charges, special items, impairments, and amortization, which together totaled $558.5 million in the quarter, compared to $93.2 million during the same period in 2019. This increase includes COVID-19 related impairments on goodwill and other assets of $437.4 million, or approximately 3.7% of the Company’s total goodwill and intangible assets. In addition, the Company recorded $21.9 million of other COVID-19 related costs. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) for the quarter was $365.9 million, resulting in a 12.9% operating margin, compared to $411.4 million, or 14.7%, in the first quarter of 2019. The $45.5 million decline in adjusted operating income and 190 basis point decline in adjusted operating margin were due to the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of $72 million and PAMA of $19.8 million.

Net losses for the quarter were ($317.2) million, compared to net earnings of $185.6 million in the first quarter of 2019. Diluted EPS were ($3.27) in the quarter compared to $1.86 in the same period in 2019. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) were $2.37 in the quarter, a decrease of 9.5% compared to $2.62 in the first quarter of 2019.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $203.8 million, compared to $165.8 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in operating cash flow was due to favorable working capital, partially offset by lower cash earnings as the result of COVID-19. Capital expenditures totaled $106.6 million, compared to $94.2 million a year ago. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $97.2 million, up 35.8% compared to $71.6 million in the first quarter of 2019.

At the end of the quarter, the Company’s cash balance and total debt were $323.6 million and $6.2 billion, respectively. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $100.0 million of stock, representing approximately 0.6 million shares.

First Quarter Segment Results

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

LabCorp Diagnostics

Revenue for the quarter, adjusting out the increase in accounts receivable reserves as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, was $1.70 billion, a decrease of 1.2% from $1.72 billion in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in revenue was due to a 2.9% decline in organic revenue, partially offset by acquisitions of 1.7%. The organic revenue decline includes the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of 5.4% and PAMA of 1.1%.

Total volume (measured by requisitions) decreased by 4.4% as organic volume declined by 6.1%, partially offset by acquisition volume of 1.6%. The decline in organic volume includes the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of 7.3% due to reduced demand for testing, which declined 50% to 55% versus the Company’s normal daily levels at the end of the quarter. This reduction in demand impacted testing volumes broadly and was marginally offset by an increase in demand for COVID-19 tests. In addition, organic volume was negatively impacted by lower consumer genetics demand, mostly offset by an additional one-half revenue day and favorable weather. Revenue per requisition increased by 3.4% due to mix and acquisitions, partially offset by the negative impact from PAMA and the September 2019 nonrenewal of the BeaconLBS – UnitedHealthcare contract pertaining to the Florida market. The increase related to mix was primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced the demand for routine testing at a rate greater than esoteric testing.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $254.2 million, or 14.9% of revenue, compared to $310.4 million, or 18.0%, in the first quarter of 2019. The $56.2 million decline in adjusted operating income and 310 basis point decline in adjusted operating margin were primarily due to the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of $62 million and PAMA of $19.8 million, partially offset by price mix. In addition, the benefit of LaunchPad savings essentially offset the higher personnel costs (including one additional payroll day). The Company remains on track to deliver approximately $200 million of net savings from its three-year Diagnostics LaunchPad initiative by the end of 2021.

Covance Drug Development

Revenue for the quarter was $1.14 billion, an increase of 6.4% over $1.07 billion in the first quarter of 2019. The increase in revenue was due to acquisitions of 6.2% and organic growth of 1.6% (which includes the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of 2.5%), partially offset by the disposition of a business of 1.2% and negative foreign currency translation of 0.1%.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $150.8 million, or 13.2% of revenue, compared to $138.0 million, or 12.8%, in the first quarter of 2019. The $12.8 million increase in adjusted operating income and 30 basis point increase in adjusted operating margin were primarily due to organic demand, acquisitions net of the disposition, and LaunchPad savings, partially offset by higher personnel costs and the estimated negative impact from COVID-19 of $12 million. The Company remains on track to deliver approximately $150 million of net savings from its three-year Drug Development LaunchPad initiative by the end of 2020.

Net orders and net book-to-bill during the trailing twelve months were $5.83 billion and 1.26, respectively. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $11.30 billion, unchanged from last quarter, and the Company expects approximately $3.9 billion of its backlog to convert into revenue in the next twelve months.

Outlook for 2020

Given the ongoing and rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is significant uncertainty regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic as well as any future government restrictions. As a result, the Company is withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance provided on February 13, 2020.

The Company has provided below some details on how COVID-19 is impacting LabCorp’s performance and some of the actions LabCorp is taking to help mitigate this impact as well as details regarding LabCorp’s liquidity.

COVID-19 Impact on Performance and Mitigating Actions LabCorp is Taking

LabCorp began the year with strong performance, in line with expectations; however, the Company has since been impacted by COVID-19, including overall customer caution as well as government restrictions and social distancing guidelines.

In LabCorp Diagnostics, demand for testing declined 50% to 55% versus the Company’s normal daily levels at the end of the first quarter. This reduction in demand impacted testing volumes broadly but was heavily weighted towards routine tests. This volume reduction in the base business appears to have stabilized. LabCorp expects to offset some of the volume shortfall by increasing capacity for its Serological Antibody tests to over 200 thousand tests per day by mid-May as well as increasing capacity for its Molecular COVID-19 tests (which include its at-home test kit offering).

In Covance Drug Development, performance has been challenged by COVID-19 due to actions clients are taking that are slowing clinical trial progress and the associated testing as well as reductions in trial site access in certain countries and interruptions in the supply chain that can temporarily delay study activity.

The Company is taking numerous actions to help mitigate the financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these actions include reducing our cash outflows through delaying certain capital expenditures, temporarily suspending its share repurchase program, and applying a heightened threshold to acquisition activity. The Company is also taking actions regarding its workforce including implementing furloughs; delaying hiring; reducing temporary and contract workers, intern positions, and overtime; suspending discretionary merit adjustment for all employees; and suspending 401(k) contributions for all U.S. employees. LabCorp is also taking actions to utilize available stimulus / CARES Act benefits including deferral of payroll taxes, CMS stimulus to providers, and suspension of Medicare sequestration.

Liquidity

The Company expects to deliver solid adjusted EPS and free cash flow in 2020. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $324 million of cash and $924 million available under its revolving credit facility, which matures in 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2020, $412 million of the Company’s senior notes become payable. The Company maintains investment grade debt ratings and believes that it will be able to repay these notes with available cash on hand, cash generated from operations, borrowings under its revolving credit facility, or through refinancing in the public debt market. LabCorp’s term loan and revolving credit facility require LabCorp to maintain a leverage ratio of 4.0x debt to last twelve months EBITDA. Violation of that covenant could preclude LabCorp from borrowing on the revolving credit facility and trigger required repayment of the Company’s $375 million term loan. While LabCorp expects to maintain compliance with this covenant, the Company is having discussions with its banks to add future flexibility to this covenant, given the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of Estimated COVID-19 Impact

The Company has provided in this press release the Company’s estimates for the net impact from COVID-19 on the Company’s revenue, operating income, operating margin, and Diagnostics’ volume. These estimates were determined using methodologies and assumptions that vary depending on the specific segment and situation. For LabCorp Diagnostics, estimates are based on comparisons to daily historical volume run rates prior to COVID-19. For Covance Drug Development, estimates are based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, discussions with clients/partners of measures that may delay clinical trial progress and the associated testing, volume reductions and location-specific actions to ensure worker safety in our facilities, the impact of remote versus in-person activities and services, and supply chain delays. The Company believes these estimates are useful to investors as an additional data point to consider in evaluating the Company’s operational performance in the quarter. It is the Company’s expectation that it will not be able to break-out the impact from COVID-19 in future quarters.

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 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 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 View Source 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. EDT and is available by dialing 844-634-1444 (615-247-0253 for international callers). The access code is 3137489. A telephone replay of the call will be available through May 13, 2020, and can be heard by dialing 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 for international callers). The access code for the replay is 3137489. A real-time webcast of LabCorp’s quarterly conference call on April 29, 2020, will be available at LabCorp Investor Relations website

beginning at 9:00 a.m. EDT. This webcast will be archived and accessible through April 16, 2021.