Quest Diagnostics Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results; Updates Guidance for Full Year 2023

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

  • Second quarter revenues of $2.34 billion, down 4.7% from 2022
  • Second quarter reported diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $2.05, up 4.6% from 2022; and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.30, down 2.5% from 2022
  • Second quarter base business revenues of $2.30 billion, up 9.5% from 2022
  • Full year 2023 revenues now expected to be between $9.12 billion and $9.22 billion; reported diluted EPS now expected to be between $7.52 and $7.92; and adjusted diluted EPS expected to be between $8.50 and $8.90

SECAUCUS, N.J., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

“We had strong base business performance in the second quarter, with nearly double digit revenue growth year over year,” said Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO and President. “Demand for our services remained strong, boosted by the collaborations we have forged with health plans, hospitals and physicians amid a continued return to care. We are particularly encouraged by revenue growth in our base business of nearly ten percent from our health system customers.”

“Also in the second quarter we made substantial progress improving the profitability of our base business compared to the first quarter and prior year, despite persistently high employee turnover, which weighs on productivity and increases costs.”

Mr. Davis continued: “Our updated guidance reflects our expectations for revenue growth and improved profitability in the base business while we continue to operate in a tight labor market.”

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

Change

2023

2022

Change

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Reported:

Net revenues

$ 2,338

$ 2,453

(4.7) %

$ 4,669

$ 5,064

(7.8) %

Base business revenues (a)

$ 2,297

$ 2,098

9.5 %

$ 4,509

$ 4,110

9.7 %

COVID-19 testing revenues

$ 41

$ 355

(88.3) %

$ 160

$ 954

(83.2) %

Diagnostic Information Services revenues

$ 2,268

$ 2,384

(4.9) %

$ 4,527

$ 4,925

(8.1) %

Revenue per requisition

(4.9) %

(6.3) %

Requisition volume

0.2 %

(1.8) %

Organic requisition volume

(0.3) %

(2.1) %

Operating income (b)

$ 348

$ 388

(10.1) %

$ 653

$ 901

(27.5) %

Operating income as a percentage of net revenues (b)

14.9 %

15.8 %

(0.9) %

14.0 %

17.8 %

(3.8) %

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics (b)

$ 235

$ 234

— %

$ 437

$ 589

(25.8) %

Diluted EPS (b)

$ 2.05

$ 1.96

4.6 %

$ 3.83

$ 4.88

(21.5) %

Cash provided by operations

$ 444

$ 402

10.4 %

$ 538

$ 882

(39.1) %

Capital expenditures

$ 104

$ 76

36.3 %

$ 231

$ 139

65.8 %

Adjusted (b):

Operating income

$ 389

$ 435

(10.4) %

$ 739

$ 989

(25.2) %

Operating income as a percentage of net revenues

16.7 %

17.7 %

(1.0) %

15.8 %

19.5 %

(3.7) %

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$ 263

$ 281

(6.8) %

$ 495

$ 673

(26.5) %

Diluted EPS

$ 2.30

$ 2.36

(2.5) %

$ 4.34

$ 5.58

(22.2) %

(a)

Excludes COVID-19 testing.

(b)

For further details impacting the year-over-year comparisons related to operating income, operating income as a percentage of net revenues, net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics, and diluted EPS, see note 2 of the financial tables attached below.

Updated Guidance for Full Year 2023

The company updates its Full Year 2023 guidance as follows:

Updated Guidance

Prior Guidance

Low

High

Low

High

Net revenues

$9.12 billion

$9.22 billion

$8.93 billion

$9.08 billion

Net revenues decrease

(7.7) %

(6.7) %

(9.6) %

(8.1) %

Base business revenues (a)

$8.92 billion

$9.02 billion

$8.78 billion

$8.88 billion

Base business revenues increase

5.8 %

7.0 %

4.2 %

5.4 %

COVID-19 testing revenues

Approximately $200 million

$150 million

$200 million

COVID-19 testing revenues decrease

(86.2) %

(89.7) %

(86.2) %

Reported diluted EPS

$7.52

$7.92

$7.52

$8.02

Adjusted diluted EPS

$8.50

$8.90

$8.45

$8.95

Cash provided by operations

At least $1.3 billion

At least $1.3 billion

Capital expenditures

Approximately $400 million

Approximately $400 million

(a) Excludes COVID-19 testing

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As used in this press release the term “reported” refers to measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The term “adjusted” refers to non-GAAP operating performance measures that exclude special items such as restructuring and integration charges, amortization expense, excess tax benefits (“ETB”) associated with stock-based compensation, costs associated with donations, contributions, and other financial support through Quest for Health Equity (our initiative with the Quest Diagnostics Foundation to reduce health disparities in underserved communities), gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments, and other items.

Non-GAAP adjusted measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to GAAP results. Non-GAAP adjusted measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under GAAP. Management may use these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts and for incentive compensation purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and analysts to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, as well as to analyze the underlying trends in our business and to assess our performance. The additional tables attached below include reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted measures to GAAP measures.

Conference Call Information

Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, passcode: 7895081; or via live webcast on our website at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor. We suggest participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or, from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 26, 2023 until midnight Eastern Time on August 9, 2023, by phone at 888-566-0058 for domestic callers or 203-369-3035 for international callers. Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read our periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world’s largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management’s current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, the complexity of billing, reimbursement and revenue recognition for clinical laboratory testing, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners and other factors discussed in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the “Business,” “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of those reports.

This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

ADDITIONAL TABLES FOLLOW

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net revenues

$ 2,338

$ 2,453

$ 4,669

$ 5,064

Operating costs and expenses and other operating income:

Cost of services

1,546

1,611

3,106

3,257

Selling, general and administrative

416

422

855

847

Amortization of intangible assets

28

27

54

54

Other operating expense, net

5

1

5

Total operating costs and expenses, net

1,990

2,065

4,016

4,163

Operating income

348

388

653

901

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net

(37)

(36)

(72)

(73)

Other income (expense), net

6

(29)

13

(53)

Total non-operating expense, net

(31)

(65)

(59)

(126)

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees

317

323

594

775

Income tax expense

(75)

(77)

(140)

(187)

Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

7

4

12

35

Net income

249

250

466

623

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

14

16

29

34

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$ 235

$ 234

$ 437

$ 589

Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders:

Basic

$ 2.08

$ 2.00

$ 3.88

$ 4.97

Diluted

$ 2.05

$ 1.96

$ 3.83

$ 4.88

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

112

117

112

118

Diluted

114

119

114

120

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)

June 30,
2023

December 31,
2022

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 126

$ 315

Accounts receivable, net

1,235

1,195

Inventories

184

192

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

188

196

Total current assets

1,733

1,898

Property, plant and equipment, net

1,814

1,766

Operating lease right-of-use assets

611

585

Goodwill

7,733

7,220

Intangible assets, net

1,247

1,092

Investments in equity method investees

135

132

Other assets

152

144

Total assets

$ 13,425

$ 12,837

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$ 1,201

$ 1,396

Current portion of long-term debt

518

2

Current portion of long-term operating lease liabilities

156

153

Total current liabilities

1,875

1,551

Long-term debt

3,777

3,978

Long-term operating lease liabilities

508

489

Other liabilities

901

812

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

77

77

Stockholders’ equity:

Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both June 30, 2023 and
December 31, 2022; 162 shares issued as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022

2

2

Additional paid-in capital

2,284

2,295

Retained earnings

8,566

8,290

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(16)

(21)

Treasury stock, at cost; 50 and 51 shares as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022,
respectively

(4,587)

(4,673)

Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders’ equity

6,249

5,893

Noncontrolling interests

38

37

Total stockholders’ equity

6,287

5,930

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 13,425

$ 12,837

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

(in millions)

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$ 466

$ 623

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

219

213

(Credit) provision for credit losses

(1)

1

Deferred income tax benefit

(16)

(20)

Stock-based compensation expense

40

37

Other, net

1

33

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(38)

150

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(156)

(201)

Income taxes payable

5

(4)

Other assets and liabilities, net

18

50

Net cash provided by operating activities

538

882

Cash flows from investing activities:

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(609)

(106)

Capital expenditures

(231)

(139)

Increase in investments and other assets

(6)

Net cash used in investing activities

(840)

(251)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from borrowings

1,147

Repayments of debt

(828)

(1)

Purchases of treasury stock

(573)

Exercise of stock options

47

68

Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans

(28)

(27)

Dividends paid

(154)

(152)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners

(28)

(36)

Other financing activities, net

(43)

8

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

113

(713)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

(189)

(82)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

315

872

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 126

$ 790

Cash paid during the period for:

Interest

$ 80

$ 78

Income taxes

$ 134

$ 182

Notes to Financial Tables

1) The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

(in millions, except per share data)

Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders:

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$ 235

$ 234

$ 437

$ 589

Less: earnings allocated to participating securities

1

1

2

2

Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders - basic and diluted

$ 234

$ 233

$ 435

$ 587

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

112

117

112

118

Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock options and performance share units

2

2

2

2

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

114

119

114

120

Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics’ common stockholders:

Basic

$ 2.08

$ 2.00

$ 3.88

$ 4.97

Diluted

$ 2.05

$ 1.96

$ 3.83

$ 4.88

2) The following tables reconcile reported GAAP results to non-GAAP adjusted results:

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Operating
income

Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues

Income tax
expense (d)

Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes

Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics

Diluted EPS

As reported

$ 348

14.9 %

$ (75)

$ 7

$ 235

$ 2.05

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

7

0.3

(2)

5

0.05

Other (b)

6

0.3

(2)

4

0.04

Amortization expense

28

1.2

(7)

21

0.18

ETB

(2)

(2)

(0.02)

As adjusted

$ 389

16.7 %

$ (88)

$ 7

$ 263

$ 2.30

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Operating
income

Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues

Income tax
expense (d)

Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes

Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics

Diluted EPS

As reported

$ 653

14.0 %

$ (140)

$ 12

$ 437

$ 3.83

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

26

0.5

(7)

19

0.17

Other (b)

6

0.1

(2)

4

0.04

Gains and losses on investments (c)

(1)

3

2

0.02

Amortization expense

54

1.2

(14)

40

0.35

ETB

(7)

(7)

(0.07)

As adjusted

$ 739

15.8 %

$ (171)

$ 15

$ 495

$ 4.34

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Operating
income

Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues

Income tax
expense (d)

Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes

Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics

Diluted EPS

As reported

$ 388

15.8 %

$ (77)

$ 4

$ 234

$ 1.96

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

12

0.5

(3)

9

0.08

Other (b)

8

0.3

(2)

6

0.05

Gains and losses on investments (c)

(5)

9

16

0.13

Amortization expense

27

1.1

(7)

20

0.17

ETB

(4)

(4)

(0.03)

As adjusted

$ 435

17.7 %

$ (98)

$ 13

$ 281

$ 2.36

Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Operating
income

Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues

Income tax
expense (d)

Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net
of taxes

Net income
attributable to
Quest
Diagnostics

Diluted EPS

As reported

$ 901

17.8 %

$ (187)

$ 35

$ 589

$ 4.88

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

24

0.5

(6)

18

0.15

Other (b)

10

0.2

(3)

7

0.06

Gains and losses on investments (c)

(9)

9

28

0.23

Amortization expense

54

1.0

(14)

40

0.33

ETB

(9)

(9)

(0.07)

As adjusted

$ 989

19.5 %

$ (228)

$ 44

$ 673

$ 5.58

(a)

For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the pre-tax impact represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the pre-tax impact represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions, systems conversions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of restructuring and integration charges on our consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

(dollars in millions)

Cost of services

$ —

$ 4

$ 10

$ 7

Selling, general and administrative

7

8

16

17

Operating income

$ 7

$ 12

$ 26

$ 24

(b)

For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the pre-tax impact primarily represents the impairment of a corporate facility that is currently held for sale. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the pre-tax impact primarily represents a loss associated with the increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration accruals associated with previous acquisitions, and costs associated with donations, contributions and other financial support through Quest for Health Equity. The following table summaries the pre-tax impact of these other items on our consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

(dollars in millions)

Selling, general and administrative

$ 6

$ 2

$ 6

$ 4

Other operating expense, net

6

6

Operating income

$ 6

$ 8

$ 6

$ 10

(c)

For all periods presented, the pre-tax impact represents gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of gains and losses on investments on our consolidated statements of operations:

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

(dollars in millions)

Other income (expense), net

$ —

$ 12

$ —

$ 28

Equity in earnings of equity method
investees, net of taxes

$ —

$ 9

$ 3

$ 9

(d)

For restructuring and integration charges, gains and losses on investments, other items and amortization expense, income tax impacts, where recorded, were primarily calculated using combined statutory income tax rates of 25.5% for both 2023 and 2022.

3)

The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS represents management’s estimates for the full year 2023 before the impact of special items. Further impacts to earnings related to special items may occur throughout 2023. Additionally, the amount of ETB is dependent upon employee stock option exercises and our stock price, which are difficult to predict. The following table reconciles our 2023 outlook for diluted EPS under GAAP to our outlook for adjusted diluted EPS:

Low

High

Diluted EPS

$ 7.52

$ 7.92

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

0.35

0.35

Amortization expense (b)

0.72

0.72

Other (c)

0.04

0.04

Gains and losses on investments (d)

0.02

0.02

ETB

(0.15)

(0.15)

Adjusted diluted EPS

$ 8.50

$ 8.90

(a)

Represents estimated pre-tax charges of $53 million primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.

(b)

Represents estimated pre-tax amortization expenses of $110 million. Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.

(c)

Primarily represents an impairment charge for a corporate asset that is currently held for sale. Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.

(d)

Represents $3 million of pre-tax losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments. Income tax impacts were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

Company Codes: NYSE:DGX

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