We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Chemed (CHE) Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Grow Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
Chemed Corporation (CHE - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.92, up 7.4% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2%.
Reported EPS came in at $2.70, up 1.5% year over year.
Revenues in the reported quarter increased 5.2% year over year to $462 million but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9%.
Segmental Details
Chemed operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely, VITAS (a major provider of end-of-life care) and Roto-Rooter (a leading commercial and residential plumbing plus drain cleaning service provider).
In the first quarter, net revenues at VITAS totaled $306.8 million, reflecting an increase of 5.1% year over year. The top line improvement was driven by 0.6% growth in geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate and a 6.6% rise in days-of-care. A Medicare Cap liability partially offset this revenue improvement by 1.8%. Revenues were also impacted by acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments, the combination of which led to a revenue decline of 0.4% from the prior-year quarter.
Chemed Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Roto-Rooter reported sales of $155.3 million in the first quarter, reflecting an increase of 5.5% year over year. According to the company, revenues from water restoration increased 0.3% year over year to $27.7 million. The upside was driven by 3.4% year-over-year growth in commercial revenues and 5.9% rise in residential revenues.
Margin Details
Gross profit increased 4% year over year to $140.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. However, gross margin contracted 34 basis points (bps) year over year to 30.3%. Adjusted operating profit saw growth of 0.6% from the year-ago period to $66.1 million. However, the adjusted operating margin contracted 65 bps to 14.3%.
Operational Update
Chemed exited the first quarter of 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $8.8 million, a significant surge from $4.8 million at the end of 2018. The company had total debt of $100 million at the end of the first quarter, which reflected a decline from $142.5 million at the end of the year-ago quarter. During the first quarter, the company repurchased shares worth $49.2 million.
At the end of the quarter under review, net cash provided by operating activities was $73.6 million, compared with $65.2 million at the end of the year-ago period.
Guidance for 2019
Chemed has updated its guidance for 2019.
The company has reaffirmed VITAS Healthcare revenue growth (prior to Medicare Cap) rate expectation within the band of 5.5-6%. In 2019, admissions within this segment are anticipated to improve 3-4% and Average Daily Census is predicted to increase 4-5%, in line with the earlier-issued range. Medicare Cap billing limitations are expected to cap around $10 million.
The Roto-Rooter business is estimated to register revenue growth of 9-10% in the year, down from the band of 13-14% provided earlier. The projection was based on a 2% increase in job pricing, consistent growth in core plumbing plus drain cleaning services as well as revenue generation from water restoration services.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 revenues is pegged at $1.90 billion.
Adjusted EPS guidance for 2019 has been reiterated at the range of $12.65-$12.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.77 is within the guided range provided by the company.
Our Take
Chemed exited first-quarter 2019 on a dull note. Unfavorable acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments dented the top line during the quarter. Meanwhile, the contraction in margins was concerning.
On the brighter side, the company witnessed solid revenue growth across key subsidiaries.
Stryker delivered first-quarter 2019 EPS of $1.88, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.2%. Revenues of $3.52 billion were also in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Abbott reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of 63 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.3%. Worldwide sales totaled $7.54 billion, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.47 billion.
CONMED posted first-quarter 2019 EPS of 57 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents. Revenues were $218.4 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $213 million.
Is Your Investment Advisor Fumbling Your Financial Future?
See how you can more effectively safeguard your retirement with a new Special Report, “4 Warning Signs Your Investment Advisor Might Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future.”
Image: Bigstock
Chemed (CHE) Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Grow Y/Y
Chemed Corporation (CHE - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.92, up 7.4% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2%.
Reported EPS came in at $2.70, up 1.5% year over year.
Revenues in the reported quarter increased 5.2% year over year to $462 million but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9%.
Segmental Details
Chemed operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely, VITAS (a major provider of end-of-life care) and Roto-Rooter (a leading commercial and residential plumbing plus drain cleaning service provider).
In the first quarter, net revenues at VITAS totaled $306.8 million, reflecting an increase of 5.1% year over year. The top line improvement was driven by 0.6% growth in geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate and a 6.6% rise in days-of-care. A Medicare Cap liability partially offset this revenue improvement by 1.8%. Revenues were also impacted by acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments, the combination of which led to a revenue decline of 0.4% from the prior-year quarter.
Chemed Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Chemed Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Chemed Corporation Quote
Roto-Rooter reported sales of $155.3 million in the first quarter, reflecting an increase of 5.5% year over year. According to the company, revenues from water restoration increased 0.3% year over year to $27.7 million. The upside was driven by 3.4% year-over-year growth in commercial revenues and 5.9% rise in residential revenues.
Margin Details
Gross profit increased 4% year over year to $140.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. However, gross margin contracted 34 basis points (bps) year over year to 30.3%. Adjusted operating profit saw growth of 0.6% from the year-ago period to $66.1 million. However, the adjusted operating margin contracted 65 bps to 14.3%.
Operational Update
Chemed exited the first quarter of 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $8.8 million, a significant surge from $4.8 million at the end of 2018. The company had total debt of $100 million at the end of the first quarter, which reflected a decline from $142.5 million at the end of the year-ago quarter. During the first quarter, the company repurchased shares worth $49.2 million.
At the end of the quarter under review, net cash provided by operating activities was $73.6 million, compared with $65.2 million at the end of the year-ago period.
Guidance for 2019
Chemed has updated its guidance for 2019.
The company has reaffirmed VITAS Healthcare revenue growth (prior to Medicare Cap) rate expectation within the band of 5.5-6%. In 2019, admissions within this segment are anticipated to improve 3-4% and Average Daily Census is predicted to increase 4-5%, in line with the earlier-issued range. Medicare Cap billing limitations are expected to cap around $10 million.
The Roto-Rooter business is estimated to register revenue growth of 9-10% in the year, down from the band of 13-14% provided earlier. The projection was based on a 2% increase in job pricing, consistent growth in core plumbing plus drain cleaning services as well as revenue generation from water restoration services.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 revenues is pegged at $1.90 billion.
Adjusted EPS guidance for 2019 has been reiterated at the range of $12.65-$12.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.77 is within the guided range provided by the company.
Our Take
Chemed exited first-quarter 2019 on a dull note. Unfavorable acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments dented the top line during the quarter. Meanwhile, the contraction in margins was concerning.
On the brighter side, the company witnessed solid revenue growth across key subsidiaries.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Chemed currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks which posted solid results this earning season are Stryker Corporation (SYK - Free Report) , Abbott Laboratories (ABT - Free Report) and CONMED Corporation (CNMD - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stryker delivered first-quarter 2019 EPS of $1.88, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.2%. Revenues of $3.52 billion were also in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Abbott reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of 63 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.3%. Worldwide sales totaled $7.54 billion, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.47 billion.
CONMED posted first-quarter 2019 EPS of 57 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 54 cents. Revenues were $218.4 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $213 million.
Is Your Investment Advisor Fumbling Your Financial Future?
See how you can more effectively safeguard your retirement with a new Special Report, “4 Warning Signs Your Investment Advisor Might Be Sabotaging Your Financial Future.”
Click to get it free >>