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Encompass Health's (EHC) Q4 Earnings Miss Mark, Increase Y/Y
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Encompass Health Corporation (EHC - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of 97 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%. Nevertheless, the bottom line climbed 4.3% year over year.
EHC’s results gained from improved revenues, driven by a strong performance of its Inpatient Rehabilitation segment, partly offset by COVID-linked headwinds troubling the Home Health and Hospice segment, and escalating costs.
The year 2021 saw double-digit growth in revenues and an impressive adjusted EBITDA.
Encompass Health Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
EHC’s net operating revenues advanced 8.6% year over year to $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter, courtesy of solid discharge growth and favorable pricing in the inpatient rehabilitation segment. The top line also beat the consensus mark by 1.1%.
Adjusted EBITDA of $252.7 million rose 5.3% year over year in the quarter under review.
Total operating expenses of $1.1 billion increased 11.5% year over year due to higher salaries and benefits, other operating costs, general and administrative expenses.
General and administrative expenses excluding stock-based compensation increased 7.7% year over year to $36.2 million in the fourth quarter. This doesn’t include expenses related to the strategic alternatives review of its home health and hospice business.
Segmental Results
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Revenues at the segment amounted to $1 billion, which improved 11.7% year over year. This growth came on the back of an 11 % rise in revenues from the inpatient business, riding on favorable pricing and volume growth. The segment’s revenue growth was also driven by the 50.5% surge in outpatient and other business revenues.
Growth in net patient revenue per discharge of 1.2% primarily resulted from increased reimbursement rates, partially offset by payor mix (faster growth in Managed Care and Medicare Advantage).
Adjusted EBITDA grew 8.4% year over year to $236.3 million in the fourth quarter, attributable to improved revenues.
Home Health and Hospice
Encompass Health announced that it is looking forward to spin off its home health and hospice business to create an independent, publicly traded company and rebrand the HH&H Business as Enhabit Home Health & Hospice. It plans to complete the transaction in the first half of the current year.
Coming back to the fourth quarter, the segment’s revenues of $276.1 million dipped 1.8% year over year due to a 1.6% drop in revenues at the Home Health sub-unit and a 2.8% slip in Hospice business.
In this segment, EHC witnessed its home health total admissions and same- store total admissions grow 4.7% and 2.4% year over year, respectively.
Adjusted EBITDA declined 5.2% year over year to $52.6 million in the fourth quarter due to higher costs of services associated with industry-wide staffing challenges.
Financial Update (as of Dec 31, 2021)
Encompass Health exited 2021 with cash and cash equivalents of $54.8 million, down 75.5% the 2020-end figure.
Total assets of $6.86 billion increased 6.5% from the level at 2020 end.
Its long-term debt, net of current portion totaled $3.2 billion, which slid 0.2% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2020.
Adjusted free cash flow of $61.7 million was down 71% year over year.
2022 Outlook
Concurrent with fourth-quarter results, EHC raised its full-year outlook for certain metrics.
Since EHC has not yet arrived at a final decision regarding the home health and hospice business, it considered the existing business structure while providing guidances.
This year, management anticipates net operating revenues within $5.38-$5.50 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA is projected in the range of $1.015-$1.065 billion for 2022.
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations are forecast between $3.83 and $4.19 for the current year.
2021 Results
Revenues of Encompass Health for the year increased 10.3% year over year. Net income came in at $412.2, up 45% year over year. Earnings per share of EHC came in at $4.23 per share, up 46.4% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA for the full year rose 19.5% year over year.
Zacks Rank
Encompass Health currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Among other players from the Medical space that have reported results so far, the bottom-line results of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) and Anthem Inc. beat respective estimates while earnings of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) missed the mark.
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Encompass Health's (EHC) Q4 Earnings Miss Mark, Increase Y/Y
Encompass Health Corporation (EHC - Free Report) delivered fourth-quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of 97 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%. Nevertheless, the bottom line climbed 4.3% year over year.
EHC’s results gained from improved revenues, driven by a strong performance of its Inpatient Rehabilitation segment, partly offset by COVID-linked headwinds troubling the Home Health and Hospice segment, and escalating costs.
The year 2021 saw double-digit growth in revenues and an impressive adjusted EBITDA.
Encompass Health Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Encompass Health Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Encompass Health Corporation Quote
Behind the Headlines
EHC’s net operating revenues advanced 8.6% year over year to $1.3 billion in the fourth quarter, courtesy of solid discharge growth and favorable pricing in the inpatient rehabilitation segment. The top line also beat the consensus mark by 1.1%.
Adjusted EBITDA of $252.7 million rose 5.3% year over year in the quarter under review.
Total operating expenses of $1.1 billion increased 11.5% year over year due to higher salaries and benefits, other operating costs, general and administrative expenses.
General and administrative expenses excluding stock-based compensation increased 7.7% year over year to $36.2 million in the fourth quarter. This doesn’t include expenses related to the strategic alternatives review of its home health and hospice business.
Segmental Results
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Revenues at the segment amounted to $1 billion, which improved 11.7% year over year. This growth came on the back of an 11 % rise in revenues from the inpatient business, riding on favorable pricing and volume growth. The segment’s revenue growth was also driven by the 50.5% surge in outpatient and other business revenues.
Growth in net patient revenue per discharge of 1.2% primarily resulted from increased reimbursement rates, partially offset by payor mix (faster growth in Managed Care and Medicare Advantage).
Adjusted EBITDA grew 8.4% year over year to $236.3 million in the fourth quarter, attributable to improved revenues.
Home Health and Hospice
Encompass Health announced that it is looking forward to spin off its home health and hospice business to create an independent, publicly traded company and rebrand the HH&H Business as Enhabit Home Health & Hospice. It plans to complete the transaction in the first half of the current year.
Coming back to the fourth quarter, the segment’s revenues of $276.1 million dipped 1.8% year over year due to a 1.6% drop in revenues at the Home Health sub-unit and a 2.8% slip in Hospice business.
In this segment, EHC witnessed its home health total admissions and same- store total admissions grow 4.7% and 2.4% year over year, respectively.
Adjusted EBITDA declined 5.2% year over year to $52.6 million in the fourth quarter due to higher costs of services associated with industry-wide staffing challenges.
Financial Update (as of Dec 31, 2021)
Encompass Health exited 2021 with cash and cash equivalents of $54.8 million, down 75.5% the 2020-end figure.
Total assets of $6.86 billion increased 6.5% from the level at 2020 end.
Its long-term debt, net of current portion totaled $3.2 billion, which slid 0.2% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2020.
Adjusted free cash flow of $61.7 million was down 71% year over year.
2022 Outlook
Concurrent with fourth-quarter results, EHC raised its full-year outlook for certain metrics.
Since EHC has not yet arrived at a final decision regarding the home health and hospice business, it considered the existing business structure while providing guidances.
This year, management anticipates net operating revenues within $5.38-$5.50 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA is projected in the range of $1.015-$1.065 billion for 2022.
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations are forecast between $3.83 and $4.19 for the current year.
2021 Results
Revenues of Encompass Health for the year increased 10.3% year over year. Net income came in at $412.2, up 45% year over year. Earnings per share of EHC came in at $4.23 per share, up 46.4% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA for the full year rose 19.5% year over year.
Zacks Rank
Encompass Health currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Other Medical Sector Releases
Among other players from the Medical space that have reported results so far, the bottom-line results of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) and Anthem Inc. beat respective estimates while earnings of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) missed the mark.