BURLINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LabCorp (NYSE: LH), a leading life sciences company, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, and raised full-year guidance.

“Labcorp delivered another quarter of strong performance as we continue to leverage innovation, science and technology to accelerate our strategy,” said Adam Schechter, chairman and CEO of Labcorp. “Our Base Business continued to perform well and grew 14.6%. As a result of our third-quarter performance and improved outlook for the balance of the year, we are raising our full-year financial guidance.”

Labcorp’s strong execution against its strategy to improve health care progressed as the company continued its important work to help fight the pandemic. In oncology, Labcorp remained committed to its life-saving work and expanded testing, treatment and clinical trial access for people with cancer. The company intensified its customer focus and made key strides in women’s health, including the acquisition of Ovia Health, a trusted digital health platform providing family planning, pregnancy and parenting support. Additionally, Labcorp maintained its COVID-19 response by addressing testing needs and assisting in the development of vaccines and therapies.

Consolidated Results

Third Quarter Results

Revenue for the quarter was $4.06 billion, an increase of 4.3% over $3.90 billion in the third quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to organic growth of 3.4%, acquisitions of 0.4%, and foreign currency translation of 0.5%. The 3.4% increase in organic revenue is driven by a 10.2% increase in the company’s organic Base Business, partially offset by a (6.8%) decrease in COVID-19 PCR and antibody testing (COVID-19 Testing). Base Business includes Labcorp’s operations except for COVID-19 Testing.

Operating income for the quarter was $766.9 million, or 18.9% of revenue, compared to $1,047.1 million, or 26.9%, in the third quarter of 2020. The company recorded amortization, restructuring charges, and special items, which together totaled $140.2 million in the quarter, compared to $108.7 million during the same period in 2020. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, and special items) for the quarter was $907.1 million, or 22.3% of revenue, compared to $1,155.8 million, or 29.7%, in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in operating income and margin was primarily due to a reduction in COVID-19 Testing and higher personnel costs, partially offset by organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings.

Net earnings for the quarter were $587.3 million compared to $703.4 million in the third quarter of 2020. Diluted EPS were $6.05 in the quarter compared to $7.17 during the same period in 2020. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, and special items) were $6.82 in the quarter compared to $8.41 in the third quarter of 2020.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $767.3 million compared to $786.2 million in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in operating cash flow was due to lower cash earnings, partially offset by favorable working capital. Capital expenditures totaled $117.8 million compared to $77.2 million a year ago. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $649.5 million compared to $709.0 million in the third quarter of 2020.

At the end of the quarter, the company’s cash balance and total debt were $2.0 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. During the quarter, the company invested $291.9 million on acquisitions and repurchased $300.0 million of stock representing approximately 1.1 million shares.

Year-To-Date Results

Revenue was $12.06 billion, an increase of 27.1% from $9.49 billion, in the first nine months of 2020. The increase was due to organic growth of 25.2%, acquisitions of 0.8%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 1.2%. The organic revenue increase includes a 18.2% contribution from the company’s organic Base Business and a 7.0% increase in COVID-19 Testing.

Operating income was $2,528.9 million, or 21.0% of revenue, compared to $1,152.2 million, or 12.1%, in the first nine months of 2020. The company recorded amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments, which together totaled $400.0 million in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $750.2 million during the same period in 2020. This decrease was primarily due to the goodwill impairment recorded in the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted operating income (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) was $2,928.9 million, or 24.3% of revenue, compared to $1,902.4 million, or 20.0%, in the first nine months of 2020. The increase in operating income and margin was primarily due to a recovery in the Base Business and higher COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by higher personnel costs.

Net earnings were $1,824.3 million compared to $617.8 million in the first nine months of 2020. Diluted EPS were $18.63 in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $6.31 during the same period in 2020. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and impairments) were $21.75 in the first nine months of 2021 compared to $13.36 during the same period in 2020.

Operating cash flow was $2,412.1 million compared to $1,360.7 million in the first nine months of 2020. The increase in operating cash flow was due to higher cash earnings and favorable working capital. Capital expenditures totaled $310.4 million compared to $282.3 million during the same period in 2020. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $2,101.7 million compared to $1,078.4 million in the first nine months of 2020.

Third Quarter Segment Results

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

Diagnostics

Revenue for the quarter was $2.62 billion, a decrease of (3.2%) from $2.70 billion in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease was due to organic revenue of (3.9%), partially offset by acquisitions of 0.4% and favorable foreign currency translation of 0.3%. The decrease in organic revenue was due to a (9.7%) reduction from COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 5.8% increase in the Base Business.

Total volume (measured by requisitions) increased by 0.2% as acquisition volume contributed 0.2% and organic volume decreased by (0.1%). Organic volume was impacted by a (5.9%) decrease in COVID-19 Testing, partially offset by a 5.9% increase in Base Business. Price/mix decreased by (3.4%) due to COVID-19 Testing of (3.8%), partially offset by currency of 0.3%, and acquisitions of 0.2%. Organic Base Business volume was up 7.7% compared to last year, while price/mix was up 1.3%.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $774.9 million, or 29.6% of revenue, compared to $1,003.9 million, or 37.1%, in the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin was primarily due to a reduction in COVID-19 Testing and higher personnel costs, partially offset by organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings. 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.

Drug Development

Revenue for the quarter was $1.46 billion, an increase of 17.5% over $1.24 billion in the third quarter of 2020. The increase was due to organic Base Business growth of 19.9%, acquisitions of 0.4%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 1.0%, partially offset by lower COVID-19 Testing performed through its Central Laboratories business of (3.5%) and divestitures of (0.3%). Drug Development’s Base Business benefited from broad-based growth, including COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic work.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was $226.1 million, or 15.5% of revenue, compared to $209.7 million, or 16.9%, in the third quarter of 2020. Adjusted operating income grew primarily due to organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings, partially offset by lower COVID-19 Testing and higher personnel costs. The decline in adjusted operating margin was due to the mix impact of lower COVID-19 Testing. For comparability to peers, Drug Development excludes expense related to the Enterprise component of its bonus, which is included in unallocated corporate expense.

Net orders and net book-to-bill during the trailing twelve months were $7.77 billion and 1.34, respectively. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $14.39 billion, an increase of 15.4% compared to last year. The company expects approximately $4.93 billion of its backlog to convert into revenue in the next twelve months.

Outlook for 2021

Labcorp is raising 2021 full year guidance to reflect its strong third-quarter performance and improved full-year outlook. The following guidance assumes foreign exchange rates effective as of September 30, 2021, for the remainder of the year. Enterprise level guidance includes the estimated impact from currently anticipated capital allocation, including acquisitions and share repurchases.

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 and an identification of the components that comprise “special items” used for certain adjusted financial information 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 http://www.labcorp.com. 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. ET and is available by dialing 877-898-8036 (720-634-2811 for international callers). The conference ID is 4893731. A telephone replay of the call will be available through November 11, 2021, and can be heard by dialing 855-859-2056 (404-537-3406 for international callers). The conference ID for the replay is 4893731. A live online broadcast of Labcorp’s quarterly conference call on October 28, 2021, will be available at Labcorp Investor Relations website beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. This webcast will be archived and accessible through October 14, 2022.

About Labcorp

Labcorp is a leading global life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. Through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development capabilities, we provide insights and accelerate innovations to improve health and improve lives. With more than 70,000 employees, we serve clients in more than 100 countries. Labcorp (NYSE: LH) reported revenue of $14 billion in 2020. Learn more about us at www.labcorp.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @Labcorp.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the estimated 2021 guidance and the related assumptions, (ii) the impact of various factors on operating and financial results, including the projected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition, as well as general economic and market conditions, (iii) our responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, (iv) future business strategies, (v) expected savings and synergies (including from the LaunchPad initiative and from acquisitions), and (vi) opportunities for future growth.

Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control, including without limitation, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and financial condition and on general economic, business, and market conditions, our ability (or inability) to execute on our plans to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, competitive actions and other unforeseen changes and general uncertainties in the marketplace, changes in government regulations, including healthcare reform, customer purchasing decisions, including changes in payer regulations or policies, other adverse actions of governmental and third-party payers, changes in testing guidelines or recommendations, federal, state, and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the effect of public opinion on the company’s reputation, the outcome of our review of our structure and changes in capital allocation strategy, adverse results in material litigation matters, the impact of changes in tax laws and regulations, failure to maintain or develop customer relationships, our ability to develop or acquire new products and adapt to technological changes, failure in information technology, systems or data security, adverse weather conditions, the number of revenue days in a financial period, employee relations, personnel costs, and the effect of exchange rate fluctuations. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect the company’s ability to implement the company’s business strategy and actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

The company has no obligation to provide any updates to these forward-looking statements even if our expectations change. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Further information on potential factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect operating and financial results is included in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q, including in each case under the heading RISK FACTORS, and in the company’s other filings with the SEC. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with a review of the company’s filings with the SEC including the information in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent Forms 10-Q, under the heading MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

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- Tables to Follow -

The consolidated revenue and adjusted segment operating income are presented net of intersegment transaction eliminations and other amounts not used in determining segment performance. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP measures. See the subsequent reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.

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