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Chemed (CHE) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Margins Up
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Chemed Corporation (CHE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.22, up 25.9% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.2%.
The company’s GAAP (reported) EPS was $3.96, up 21.5% year over year.
Full-year adjusted EPS was $13.31, reflecting an 8.8% increase from the year-ago period. However, the company lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.86.
Chemed Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Revenues in the reported quarter improved 14.2% year over year to $522.3 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.6%.
Yearly revenues were $1.94 billion, reflecting an 8.7% increase from a year ago. However, the metric was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
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 fourth quarter, net revenues at VITAS totaled $339.9 million, reflecting rise of 10.7% year over year. The top-line improvement was driven by a 5.5% increase in geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate, 6.1% rise in days-of-care and a rise in Medicare Cap billing limitation that dented revenue growth by 0.3%. However, revenue growth was partially offset by acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments, the combination of which led to a revenue decline of 0.7% from the prior-year quarter.
Roto-Rooter reported sales of $182.4 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting growth of 21.2% year over year. On a unit for unit basis, excluding the Oakland and HSW acquisitions completed in July and September 2019, the segment registered revenues of $162 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 (a year-over-year increase of 7.9%).
Per the company, total commercial revenues (including acquisitions) registered growth of 26.4% on 34.9% rise in drain cleaning revenues, and 25.2% improvement in commercial plumbing and excavation. However, commercial water restoration revenues declined 8.8%.
Total residential revenues (including acquisitions) registered growth of 19.4% on a 25.5% rise in residential drain cleaning revenues, an 18.1% improvement in plumbing and excavation, and a 16.3% increase in residential water restoration.
Margin in Detail
Gross profit rose 20.3% year over year to $174.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Gross margin expanded 171 basis points (bps) year over year to 33.5%.
Adjusted operating profit grew 16.5% from the year-ago period to $91.7 million. Moreover, the adjusted operating margin expanded 35 bps to 17.6% on 24.8% escalation in adjusted operating expenses.
Operational Update
Chemed exited the year with cash and cash equivalents of $6.2 million, marking a significant improvement from $4.8 million at the end of 2018. The company had long-term debt of $90 million at the end of 2019, which increased from $89.2 million at the end of 2018. During the fourth quarter, it repurchased shares worth $20.7 million.
At the end of 2019, cash flow from operating activities was $301.2 million compared with $287.1 million at the end of 2018.
Guidance
For 2020, Chemed expects revenue growth of 8.5-9.5% for VITAS (prior to Medicare Cap). Admissions and Average Daily Census in 2020 are expected to grow 3.5-4.5%, whereas High acuity days-of-care are projected at 4.1% of total 2020 days-of-care. It expects to witness $18-million billing limitations for Medicare Cap in 2020.
Chemed expects revenue growth of 13-14% for Roto-Rooter in 2020. The projection is based on unit-for-unit revenue growth of 4-5% in core plumbing and drain cleaning services, and continued but slowing revenue growth in water restoration services combined with 12 months of revenues in the Oakland and HSW acquisitions.
For 2020, the company anticipates adjusted EPS (excluding adjustments like non-cash expenses for stock options and tax benefits from stock options) of $16.20-$16.50. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $15.67.
Our Take
Chemed exited 2019 with better-than-expected results, wherein earnings and revenues surpassed estimates. Notably, the company witnessed solid revenue growth across both key subsidiaries. Expansion in both margins in the quarter buoys optimism.
However, unfavorable acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments dented the top line in the quarter.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Chemed currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks, which reported solid results this earnings season, are Stryker Corporation (SYK - Free Report) , STERIS plc (STE - Free Report) and ResMed Inc. (RMD - Free Report) .
Stryker delivered fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of $2.49, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%. Its fourth-quarter revenues of $4.13 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 0.7%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
STERIS reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS of $1.45, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%. Net revenues of $774.3 million outpaced the consensus estimate by 3.3%. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
ResMed currently has a Zacks Rank #2. It reported second-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS of $1.21, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.8%. Its revenues of $736.2 million outpaced the consensus mark by 1.5%.
Free: Zacks’ Single Best Stock Set to Double
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This pioneering tech ticker had soared to all-time highs and then subsided to a price that is irresistible. Now a pending acquisition could super-charge the company’s drive past competitors in the development of true Artificial Intelligence. The earlier you get in to this stock, the greater your potential gain.
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Chemed (CHE) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Margins Up
Chemed Corporation (CHE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.22, up 25.9% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.2%.
The company’s GAAP (reported) EPS was $3.96, up 21.5% year over year.
Full-year adjusted EPS was $13.31, reflecting an 8.8% increase from the year-ago period. However, the company lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.86.
Chemed Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Chemed Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Chemed Corporation Quote
Revenues in Detail
Revenues in the reported quarter improved 14.2% year over year to $522.3 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.6%.
Yearly revenues were $1.94 billion, reflecting an 8.7% increase from a year ago. However, the metric was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
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 fourth quarter, net revenues at VITAS totaled $339.9 million, reflecting rise of 10.7% year over year. The top-line improvement was driven by a 5.5% increase in geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate, 6.1% rise in days-of-care and a rise in Medicare Cap billing limitation that dented revenue growth by 0.3%. However, revenue growth was partially offset by acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments, the combination of which led to a revenue decline of 0.7% from the prior-year quarter.
Roto-Rooter reported sales of $182.4 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting growth of 21.2% year over year. On a unit for unit basis, excluding the Oakland and HSW acquisitions completed in July and September 2019, the segment registered revenues of $162 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 (a year-over-year increase of 7.9%).
Per the company, total commercial revenues (including acquisitions) registered growth of 26.4% on 34.9% rise in drain cleaning revenues, and 25.2% improvement in commercial plumbing and excavation. However, commercial water restoration revenues declined 8.8%.
Total residential revenues (including acquisitions) registered growth of 19.4% on a 25.5% rise in residential drain cleaning revenues, an 18.1% improvement in plumbing and excavation, and a 16.3% increase in residential water restoration.
Margin in Detail
Gross profit rose 20.3% year over year to $174.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Gross margin expanded 171 basis points (bps) year over year to 33.5%.
Adjusted operating profit grew 16.5% from the year-ago period to $91.7 million. Moreover, the adjusted operating margin expanded 35 bps to 17.6% on 24.8% escalation in adjusted operating expenses.
Operational Update
Chemed exited the year with cash and cash equivalents of $6.2 million, marking a significant improvement from $4.8 million at the end of 2018. The company had long-term debt of $90 million at the end of 2019, which increased from $89.2 million at the end of 2018. During the fourth quarter, it repurchased shares worth $20.7 million.
At the end of 2019, cash flow from operating activities was $301.2 million compared with $287.1 million at the end of 2018.
Guidance
For 2020, Chemed expects revenue growth of 8.5-9.5% for VITAS (prior to Medicare Cap). Admissions and Average Daily Census in 2020 are expected to grow 3.5-4.5%, whereas High acuity days-of-care are projected at 4.1% of total 2020 days-of-care. It expects to witness $18-million billing limitations for Medicare Cap in 2020.
Chemed expects revenue growth of 13-14% for Roto-Rooter in 2020. The projection is based on unit-for-unit revenue growth of 4-5% in core plumbing and drain cleaning services, and continued but slowing revenue growth in water restoration services combined with 12 months of revenues in the Oakland and HSW acquisitions.
For 2020, the company anticipates adjusted EPS (excluding adjustments like non-cash expenses for stock options and tax benefits from stock options) of $16.20-$16.50. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $15.67.
Our Take
Chemed exited 2019 with better-than-expected results, wherein earnings and revenues surpassed estimates. Notably, the company witnessed solid revenue growth across both key subsidiaries. Expansion in both margins in the quarter buoys optimism.
However, unfavorable acuity mix shift, fluctuations in net room and board and contractual adjustments dented the top line in the quarter.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Chemed currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks, which reported solid results this earnings season, are Stryker Corporation (SYK - Free Report) , STERIS plc (STE - Free Report) and ResMed Inc. (RMD - Free Report) .
Stryker delivered fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted EPS of $2.49, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%. Its fourth-quarter revenues of $4.13 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 0.7%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
STERIS reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS of $1.45, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%. Net revenues of $774.3 million outpaced the consensus estimate by 3.3%. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
ResMed currently has a Zacks Rank #2. It reported second-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS of $1.21, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.8%. Its revenues of $736.2 million outpaced the consensus mark by 1.5%.
Free: Zacks’ Single Best Stock Set to Double
Today you are invited to download our latest Special Report that reveals 5 stocks with the most potential to gain +100% or more in 2020. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This pioneering tech ticker had soared to all-time highs and then subsided to a price that is irresistible. Now a pending acquisition could super-charge the company’s drive past competitors in the development of true Artificial Intelligence. The earlier you get in to this stock, the greater your potential gain.
See 5 Stocks Set to Double>>