WellCare Reports First Quarter 2013 Results
WellCare Reports First Quarter 2013 Results
TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYS: WCG) today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. As determined under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), net income for the first quarter of 2013 was $21.5 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared with $51.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012. Adjusted (non-GAAP) net income for the first quarter of 2013 was $27.5 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared with $57.3 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012.
Adjusted net income per diluted share for the first quarter of 2013 decreased by $0.69 compared with the same period in 2012. The decrease resulted mainly from an increase in the Company's medical benefits ratio (MBR). The increase in the MBR primarily was due to a lower level of favorable development of prior years' medical benefits payable recognized in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the first quarter of 2012. Other factors that caused the year-over-year increase in the Company MBR included the increase in the Medicare Advantage segment MBR, the change in the seasonal pattern of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) segment MBR, and the increased incidence of flu in 2013 compared with 2012, offset in part by the improvement in the Kentucky Medicaid program MBR. The impact of the increase in the Company MBR was offset in part by growth in premium revenue.
"First quarter results highlight the continued expansion and diversification of our business driven by the successful execution of our three-product strategy," said Alec Cunningham, WellCare's CEO. "Organic growth initiatives and acquisitions have delivered strong membership and revenue increases this year, and our investments in care management, quality, and service continue to enhance our position as a leader in government health care programs."
Highlights of Recent Accomplishments
Medicare Advantage membership increased 20% as of March 2013 compared with December 2012 as a result of the Company's strong performance during the Medicare Annual Election period and year-round enrollment of those newly eligible for Medicare and dual eligible beneficiaries. This growth also included the acquisition of the Desert Canyon Community Care plan in Arizona, adding WellCare's 14th Medicare Advantage state.
WellCare completed the acquisitions of two Medicaid health plans during the first quarter of 2013. On January 31, the Company completed its previously announced South Carolina acquisition, and on March 31, WellCare completed its previously announced acquisition of Missouri Care. On an annual basis, the Company currently expects these plans together to add approximately $500 million to its Medicaid segment premium revenue.
First quarter 2013 results for the Kentucky Medicaid program, including the MBR, were in line with the Company's expectation, and improved significantly in comparison to the results during 2012.
Effective March 1, the Company expanded its State of New York Medicaid managed long-term care service area to Nassau, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, increasing its presence to 13 counties.
Services began in March 2013 in Hawaii on a statewide basis under the Community Care Services Program, in which WellCare case manages, authorizes and facilitates the delivery of behavioral health services to Medicaid-eligible adults who have serious mental illnesses.
WellCare's new enhanced Medicare PDP that offers members relatively low out-of-pocket costs continued to grow more rapidly than anticipated during the first quarter. Enhanced plan membership was 126,000 as of March 2013, compared with 110,000 members in January.
Company Operations for the First Quarter of 2013
The Company completed the acquisition of Missouri Care at the end of the first quarter of 2013. Consequently, first quarter membership, revenues, and expenses do not include Missouri Care activity. Certain balance sheet and cash flow items for the quarter were affected by the transaction.
Membership as of March 31, 2013, increased 7% to 2.7 million compared with the same period in 2012. Premium revenue for the first quarter of 2013 increased 26% year over year to $2.2 billion. Medical benefits expense for the first quarter of 2013 was $2.0 billion, an increase of 31% from the first quarter of 2012.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense as determined under GAAP was $213 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared with $162 million for the same period in 2012. Adjusted (non-GAAP) SG&A expense was $191 million in the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 29% from $149 million for the same period last year. The increase was driven primarily by increased membership, including membership associated with acquisitions. The adjusted administrative expense ratio was 8.6% in the first quarter of 2013, compared with 8.4% for the same period in 2012. The increase resulted primarily from growth initiatives including acquisition integration costs, as well as service and technology investments.
Medicaid Segment Operations
Medicaid segment membership increased by 204,000, or 14% year over year, to 1.7 million members as of March 31, 2013. The increase resulted mainly from growth in the Kentucky and Florida Medicaid programs, as well as membership associated with the South Carolina acquisition. Premium revenue was $1.3 billion for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 22% year over year, and was driven mainly by membership growth. The Medicaid segment MBR was 87.7% for the first quarter of 2013, which was in line with the Company's expectation. The MBR increased from 85.7% in the first quarter of 2012.
Medicare Advantage Segment Operations
Medicare Advantage segment membership as of March 31, 2013, increased by 106,000 year over year, or 71%, to 256,000 members. Premium revenue for the quarter grew 64% year over year to $719 million. The growth resulted from the Company's acquisitions in California and Arizona, as well as from organic sales activity. The Medicare Advantage segment MBR was 87.0% for the first quarter of 2013, which was consistent with the Company's expected range of results. The MBR increased from 78.8% in the first quarter of 2012.
Prescription Drug Plan Segment Operations
PDP segment membership as of March 31, 2013, decreased 140,000 year over year, or 16%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in membership assigned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to the Company's plans, offset in part by growth in WellCare's enhanced PDP. Premium revenue for the quarter decreased 19% to $223 million as a result of the membership decline and the outcome of the 2013 bids.
The PDP segment MBR was 103.6% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with 98.9% in 2012. The 2013 MBR was above the Company's expectation, which resulted from the Company's new enhanced PDP and greater than anticipated membership in that plan. The enhanced PDP has a higher seasonal first quarter MBR compared with the Company's basic PDP.
Cash Flow and Financial Condition
Net cash provided by operating activities as determined under GAAP was $31 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.
On a non-GAAP basis, modified for the timing of receipts from, and payments to, WellCare's government customers, net cash provided by operating activities was $64 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared with $16 million for the first quarter of 2012. The increase was driven primarily by the impact of the Company's year-over-year growth, offset in part by the decrease in net income as determined under GAAP.
As of March 31, 2013, unregulated cash and investments were approximately $336 million, compared with $194 million as of December 31, 2012. The increase resulted primarily from increased borrowings under the Company's credit facility, partially offset by payments for acquisitions.
Days in claims payable were 40 days as of March 31, 2013, compared with 40 days as of December 31, 2012, and 43 days as of March 31, 2012.
Financial Outlook
The Company is updating its financial outlook for the year ending December 31, 2013:
Adjusted net income per diluted share is expected to be between approximately $4.60 and $4.90. The previous guidance was for adjusted net income per diluted share of between approximately $4.50 and $4.85. The improved outlook principally is due to the favorable development of prior years' medical benefits payable included in the Company's first quarter results, offset by the impact, beginning in April, of the U.S. federal budget sequestration to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare PDP segments.
Premium revenue in total is expected to be between $8.9 and $9.0 billion.
Premium revenues and MBRs for each of the Company's segments are anticipated as follows:
Segments | Premium Revenue Year-over-year Changes | MBRs | ||||
Medicaid | Increase 19% to 21% | 87.25% to 88.25% | ||||
Medicare Advantage | Increase approximately 50% | 86.25% to 87.25% | ||||
Medicare PDP | Decrease 20% to 25% | 85.00% to 86.00% | ||||
The adjusted administrative expense ratio is expected to be between approximately 8.7% and 8.9%.
All elements of the Company's outlook exclude the impact of Medicaid premium taxes.
Webcast
A discussion of WellCare's first quarter 2013 results will be webcast live on Friday, May 3, 2013, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A replay will be available beginning approximately one hour following the conclusion of the live broadcast and will be available for 30 days. The webcast is available via the Company's web site at www.wellcare.com and at www.earnings.com.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind, and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The Company served approximately 2.7 million members nationwide as of March 31, 2013. For more information about WellCare, please visit the Company's website at www.wellcare.com.
Basis of Presentation
In addition to results determined under GAAP, premium revenue as described in this news release excludes the impact of premium taxes. Both the Company and segment MBRs, as well as the Company's administrative expense ratio, are calculated as a percentage of premium revenue, excluding premium taxes. Additionally, net income and certain other operating results described in this news release are reported after adjustment for certain SG&A expenses related to previously disclosed government investigations and related litigation and resolution costs that management believes are not indicative of long-term business operations. Please refer to the schedule in this news release that provides supplemental information reconciling results determined under GAAP to adjusted (non-GAAP) results.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding the Company's financial outlook contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause WellCare's actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WellCare's progress on top priorities such as improving health care quality and access, ensuring a competitive cost position, and delivering prudent, profitable growth, WellCare's ability to effectively manage growth, WellCare's ability to address operational challenges relating to new business, WellCare's ability to effectively integrate acquisitions, potential reductions in Medicaid and Medicare revenue, including due to sequestration, and WellCare's ability to estimate and manage medical benefits effectively.
Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), included under the captions "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other subsequent filings by WellCare with the SEC, which contain discussions of WellCare's business and the various factors that may affect it. WellCare undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments, or otherwise.
WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC. | ||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||
Revenues: | ||||||
Premium | $ | 2,230,984 | $ | 1,768,171 | ||
Medicaid premium taxes | 21,341 | 20,376 | ||||
Total premium | 2,252,325 | 1,788,547 | ||||
Investment and other income | 4,332 | 2,786 | ||||
Total revenues | 2,256,657 | 1,791,333 | ||||
Expenses: | ||||||
Medical benefits | 1,987,283 | 1,521,791 | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 213,376 | 161,688 | ||||
Medicaid premium taxes | 21,341 | 20,376 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10,177 | 6,970 | ||||
Interest | 1,607 | 1,150 | ||||
Total expenses | 2,233,784 | 1,711,975 | ||||
Income before income taxes | 22,873 | 79,358 | ||||
Income tax expense | 1,355 | 28,126 | ||||
Net income | $ | 21,518 | $ | 51,232 | ||
Net income per common share: | ||||||
Basic | $ | 0.50 | $ | 1.19 | ||
Diluted | $ | 0.49 | $ | 1.18 | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||
Basic | 43,325,381 | 42,938,284 | ||||
Diluted | 43,952,459 | 43,461,607 | ||||
WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC. | ||||||||
March 31, | Dec. 31, | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,378,284 | $ | 1,100,495 | ||||
Investments | 270,888 | 220,344 | ||||||
Premiums receivable, net | 435,245 | 387,294 | ||||||
Pharmacy rebates receivable, net | 120,157 | 126,832 | ||||||
Funds receivable for the benefit of members | 40,733 | 126,646 | ||||||
Income taxes receivable | 24,148 | 15,615 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net | 94,390 | 96,276 | ||||||
Deferred income tax asset | 23,348 | 27,208 | ||||||
Total current assets | 2,387,193 | 2,100,710 | ||||||
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net | 139,705 | 131,518 | ||||||
Goodwill | 238,939 | 223,839 | ||||||
Other intangible assets, net | 72,012 | 53,028 | ||||||
Long-term investments | 89,696 | 96,700 | ||||||
Restricted investments | 67,691 | 67,364 | ||||||
Other assets | 3,166 | 2,357 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,998,402 | $ | 2,675,516 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
Medical benefits payable | $ | 881,355 | $ | 732,994 | ||||
Unearned premiums | 171 | 146 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 14,581 | 18,582 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses and liabilities | 180,867 | 221,055 | ||||||
Current portion of amount payable related to investigation resolution | 58,365 | 37,305 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 38,000 | 15,000 | ||||||
Other payables to government partners | 66,143 | 88,344 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 1,239,482 | 1,113,426 | ||||||
Deferred income tax liability | 49,100 | 42,058 | ||||||
Amount payable related to investigation resolution | 33,304 | 68,171 | ||||||
Long-term debt | 317,500 | 120,000 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 7,799 | 8,697 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 1,647,185 | 1,352,352 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | - | - | ||||||
Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value (20,000,000 authorized, no shares issued or outstanding) | - | - | ||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value (100,000,000 authorized, 43,438,387 and 43,212,375 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively) | 434 | 432 | ||||||
Paid-in capital | 476,441 | 469,434 | ||||||
Retained earnings | 875,604 | 854,086 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,262 | ) | (788 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders' equity | 1,351,217 | 1,323,164 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 2,998,402 | $ | 2,675,516 | ||||
WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC. | ||||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 21,518 | $ | 51,232 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10,177 | 6,970 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation expense | 3,716 | 6,381 | ||||||
Incremental tax benefit from equity-based compensation | (2,140 | ) | (2,531 | ) | ||||
Deferred taxes, net | 9,589 | (13,645 | ) | |||||
Provision for doubtful receivables | 2,956 | 3,614 | ||||||
Changes in operating accounts, net of effects from acquisitions: | ||||||||
Premiums receivable, net | (13,571 | ) | (208,800 | ) | ||||
Pharmacy rebates receivable, net | 6,675 | 7,545 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net | 3,545 | 1,565 | ||||||
Medical benefits payable | 76,994 | (21,830 | ) | |||||
Unearned premiums | 25 | 206,968 | ||||||
Accounts payables and other accrued expenses | (45,833 | ) | (36,523 | ) | ||||
Other payables to government partners | (22,201 | ) | (9,461 | ) | ||||
Amount payable related to investigation resolution | (13,807 | ) | (38,435 | ) | ||||
Income taxes receivable/payable, net | (6,491 | ) | 52,663 | |||||
Other, net | (31 | ) | 2,578 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 31,121 | 8,291 | ||||||
Cash used in investing activities: | ||||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (39,178 | ) | - | |||||
Purchases of investments | (144,577 | ) | (111,888 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale and maturities of investments | 138,233 | 74,087 | ||||||
Purchases of restricted investments | (4,894 | ) | (3,522 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from maturities of restricted investments | 4,935 | 3,444 | ||||||
Additions to property, equipment and capitalized software, net | (15,877 | ) | (15,431 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (61,358 | ) | (53,310 | ) | ||||
Cash provided by financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from debt, net of financing costs paid | 228,545 | - | ||||||
Proceeds from exercises of stock options | 4,004 | 8,480 | ||||||
Incremental tax benefit from equity-based compensation | 2,140 | 2,531 | ||||||
Repurchase and retirement of shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements | (2,753 | ) | (3,958 | ) | ||||
Payments on debt | (9,500 | ) | (1,875 | ) | ||||
Payments on capita | ||||||||
