BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nLabcorp (NYSE: LH), a leading life sciences company, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and raised 2021 guidance.\n<\/p>\n\n\u201cWe delivered very strong results in the first quarter driven by revenue growth across both our Diagnostics and Drug Development businesses,\u201d said Adam H. Schechter, chairman and CEO, Labcorp. \u201cOverall revenue in our base business grew 14.6% as people continued to return to their pre-pandemic healthcare routines and our biopharmaceutical clients resumed their important research and development. Our drug development pipeline remained robust, with a book-to-bill of 1.47 on a trailing twelve-month basis driven by strong demand across major therapeutic areas.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\nIn the quarter, Labcorp continued to bring science and technology innovations to market quickly to improve health and improve lives. The company opened a fully automated kit production facility in Belgium to support its Central Lab customers, ultimately improving access and cost efficiency for biopharma and clinical trial clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the fight against COVID-19, Labcorp expanded its work with the CDC to identify variants to the virus, and now offers Pixel by Labcorp COVID-19 home collection kits in thousands of pharmacies across the United States.\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe are pleased with our strong first quarter performance and improved outlook, and are raising our full year adjusted EPS guidance range to between $20.00 and $24.00. I am proud of our more than 70,000 employees and their commitment to our patients and customers during this pandemic and the difference they are making in the lives of people around the world,\u201d said Schechter.\n<\/p>\n
Consolidated Results<\/b><\/p>\n
First Quarter Results<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\nRevenue for the quarter was $4.16 billion, an increase of 47.4% over $2.82 billion in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in revenue was due to organic growth of 45.0%, acquisitions of 0.9%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 1.4%. The 45.0% increase in organic revenue includes a 32.9% contribution from PCR and antibody testing (COVID-19 Testing) and a 12.2% increase in the company’s organic Base Business. Base Business includes Labcorp’s business operations except for COVID-19 Testing.\n<\/p>\n
\nOperating income for the quarter was $1,057.9 million, or 25.4% of revenue, compared to ($192.6) million, or (6.8%), in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in operating income and margin was primarily due to COVID-19 Testing, organic Base Business growth, acquisitions, and LaunchPad savings, partially offset by higher personnel costs. The company recorded amortization, restructuring charges, and special items, which together totaled $124.0 million in the quarter, compared to $558.5 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, and special items) for the quarter was $1,181.9 million, or 28.4% of revenue, compared to $365.9 million, or 12.9%, in the first quarter of 2020.\n<\/p>\n
\nNet earnings (losses) for the quarter were $769.6 million, compared to ($317.2) million in the first quarter of 2020. Diluted EPS were $7.82 in the quarter, up from ($3.27) in the same period in 2020. Adjusted EPS (excluding amortization, restructuring charges, and special items) were $8.79 in the quarter, up from $2.37 in the first quarter of 2020.\n<\/p>\n
\nOperating cash flow for the quarter was $1,157.6 million, compared to $203.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in operating cash flow was due to higher cash earnings and lower working capital. Capital expenditures totaled $95.4 million, down from $106.6 million a year ago. As a result, free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) was $1,062.2 million, up from $97.2 million in the first quarter of 2020.\n<\/p>\n
\nAt the end of the quarter, the company\u2019s cash balance and total debt were $1.9 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. During the quarter, the company invested $34.1 million on acquisitions, repurchased $68.5 million of stock representing approximately 0.3 million shares, and paid down $375.0 million of debt. As of March 31, 2021, the company had $731.5 million of authorization remaining under its share repurchase program.\n<\/p>\n
First Quarter Segment Results<\/b><\/p>\n
\nThe following segment results exclude amortization, restructuring charges, special items, and unallocated corporate expenses.\n<\/p>\n
Diagnostics<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\nRevenue for the quarter was $2.76 billion, an increase of 62.0% over $1.70 billion in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in revenue was primarily due to organic growth of 60.8%, acquisitions of 0.9%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 0.4%. The increase in organic revenue was due to a 54.5% contribution from COVID-19 Testing and a 6.3% increase in the Base Business, which includes the unfavorable impact of weather of approximately (2.0%).\n<\/p>\n
\nTotal volume (measured by requisitions) increased by 27.3% as organic volume increased by 26.6% and acquisition volume contributed 0.7%. The organic volume growth was due to a 27.9% contribution from COVID-19 Testing demand, partially offset by a (1.3%) reduction in organic Base Business, which includes the unfavorable impact from weather of approximately (2.0%). Price \/ mix increased by 34.7% primarily due to COVID-19 Testing of 26.6% and organic Base Business of 7.5%.\n<\/p>\n
\nAdjusted operating income for the quarter was $991.6 million, or 36.0% of revenue, compared to $254.2 million, or 14.9%, in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin were primarily due to the increase in COVID-19 Testing, organic Base Business growth and LaunchPad savings, partially offset by higher personnel costs. 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.\n<\/p>\n
Drug Development<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\nRevenue for the quarter was $1.44 billion, an increase of 25.7% over $1.14 billion in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in revenue was due to organic growth of 21.9%, acquisitions of 1.0%, and favorable foreign currency translation of 2.9%. The increase in organic revenue was due to a 19.7% increase in the Base Business and a 2.2% contribution from COVID-19 Testing performed through its Central Laboratories business. Drug Development benefited from broad-based demand across businesses, including COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic work.\n<\/p>\n
\nAdjusted operating income for the quarter was $234.1 million, or 16.3% of revenue, compared to $150.8 million, or 13.2%, in the first quarter of 2020. The increase in adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin were primarily due to organic Base Business growth, COVID-19 Testing, and LaunchPad savings, partially offset by higher personnel costs. The company continues to develop and execute new LaunchPad programs to support profitable growth in Drug Development.\n<\/p>\n
\nNet orders and net book-to-bill during the trailing twelve months were $7.61 billion and 1.47, respectively. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $13.97 billion, compared to $13.76 billion last quarter, and the company expects approximately $4.62 billion of its backlog to convert into revenue in the next twelve months.\n<\/p>\n
Outlook for 2021<\/b><\/p>\n
\nLabcorp is raising its 2021 full year guidance to reflect the improved recovery in the Diagnostics and Drug Development base businesses, while the COVID-19 Testing contribution remains within the original guidance range provided. The following guidance assumes foreign exchange rates effective as of March 31, 2021 for the remainder of the year. Enterprise level guidance includes the estimated impact from currently anticipated capital allocation, including acquisitions and share repurchases.\n<\/p>\n
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