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Anthem, Inc. reported first-quarter 2022 earnings of $8.25 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.81 by 5.6%. The bottom line improved 17.7% year over year.
ANTM's results benefited from an uptick in revenues, solid performances by its divisions and higher membership growth, partly offset by elevated costs.
Shares of Anthem gained 2.5% in the pre-market trading session, courtesy of its better-than-expected first-quarter results.
Operating revenues of Anthem in the first quarter totaled $37.9 billion, which rose 18% year over year. The improvement can be attributed to Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Commercial risk-based membership growth and the buyouts of MMM and Paramount that contributed to improved premium revenues. Premium rate increases combined with higher pharmacy product revenues within IngenioRx also contributed to the top-line growth. The top line beat the consensus mark by 1.4%.
As of Mar 31, 2022, medical enrollment of Anthem amounted to roughly 46.8 million, which grew 7.5% year over year, driven by higher enrollment across Commercial & Specialty Business as well as Government Business.
ANTM's benefit expense ratio of 86.1% deteriorated 50 basis points (bps) year over year due to the persistent shift in the business mix.
The SG&A expense ratio improved 70 bps year over year to 11.5% in the quarter under review, attributable to operating expense leverage linked with growing operating revenues.
Total expenses of $35.8 billion escalated 18.4% year over year due to increased benefit expenses, cost of products sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, and amortization of other intangible assets.
Segmental Results
Commercial & Specialty Business
Operating revenues improved 8.2% year over year to $10.3 billion in the first quarter.
The segment's operating gain of $1.1 billion declined 14.7% year over year due to net unfavorable effect of COVID and elevated expenses to drive growth and innovation. Operating margin deteriorated 290 bps year over year to 10.5% in the quarter under review.
Government Business
Operating revenues of $23.8 billion climbed 23.2% year over year in the first quarter.
Operating gain surged 65.1% year over year to $789 million. The upside can be attributed to the MMM buyout, rise in Medicaid membership and higher risk revenues in Medicare. Operating margin of the segment came in at 3.3%, which improved 80 bps year over year.
IngenioRx
Operating revenues from the segment amounted to $6.7 billion, up 14% year over year.
Operating gain of $398 million slipped 2.2% year over year due to the non-recurrence of a favorable out-of-period adjustment in the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, operating margin deteriorated 90 bps year over year to 6% in the quarter under review.
Other
Operating revenues of $3.2 billion climbed 35.9% year over year.
The segment reported an operating gain of $178 million, which increased by more than 22-fold from the prior-year quarter's figure.
Financial Update (as of Mar 31, 2022)
Anthem exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $6.2 billion, which increased 26.3% from the level at 2021 end.
Long-term debt, less current portion totaled nearly $20 billion, down 6% from the 2021-end figure.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter inched up 1.4% year over year to $2.5 billion.
Capital Deployment
In the first quarter, Anthem bought back shares worth $545 million. ANTM had around $3.6 billion remaining under its share buyback authorization as of Mar 31, 2022.
Anthem paid out a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share in the first quarter, adding up to a distribution of cash worth $309 million. Meanwhile, its board of directors announced a second-quarter 2022 dividend of $1.28 per share on Apr 19, 2022. The dividend will be paid on Jun 24, 2022, to shareholders of record as of Jun 10.
2022 Outlook
On the basis of better-than-expected first-quarter 2022 results, Anthem hiked its guidance for 2022 with respect to adjusted net income per share.
Adjusted net income is now anticipated to be more than $28.40 per share, higher than the prior outlook of "greater than 28.25". The revised guidance indicates a minimum growth of at least 9.3% from the 2021 reported figure.
Earlier management stated that operating revenues for 2022 are expected to be around $152 billion.
Medical enrollment is projected in the range of 45.6 million to 46.2 million.
For the current year, investment income is forecast to be $1.1 billion.
Anthem anticipates its operating cash flow to be more than $6.9 billion.
Of the Medical sector players that reported first-quarter results so far, the bottom line of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. UNH reported first-quarter 2022 earnings of $5.49 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7%. The bottom line improved 3.4% year over year owing to growing revenues.
Upcoming Releases
Here are some companies worth considering from the medical space as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle:
Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.17% and a Zacks Rank #1, currently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avanos Medical’s first-quarter 2022 earnings is pegged at 24 cents, which indicates a 4.4% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
AVNS beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters in 2021 and missed twice.
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank of 3, presently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Acadia Healthcare’s first-quarter 2022 earnings stands at 63 cents, suggesting growth of 34% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
ACHC’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters of 2021, missed and matched the same in the remaining two quarters.
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Anthem (ANTM) Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Hikes '22 EPS View
Anthem, Inc. reported first-quarter 2022 earnings of $8.25 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.81 by 5.6%. The bottom line improved 17.7% year over year.
ANTM's results benefited from an uptick in revenues, solid performances by its divisions and higher membership growth, partly offset by elevated costs.
Shares of Anthem gained 2.5% in the pre-market trading session, courtesy of its better-than-expected first-quarter results.
Anthem, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Anthem, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Anthem, Inc. Quote
Quarterly Operational Update
Operating revenues of Anthem in the first quarter totaled $37.9 billion, which rose 18% year over year. The improvement can be attributed to Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Commercial risk-based membership growth and the buyouts of MMM and Paramount that contributed to improved premium revenues. Premium rate increases combined with higher pharmacy product revenues within IngenioRx also contributed to the top-line growth. The top line beat the consensus mark by 1.4%.
As of Mar 31, 2022, medical enrollment of Anthem amounted to roughly 46.8 million, which grew 7.5% year over year, driven by higher enrollment across Commercial & Specialty Business as well as Government Business.
ANTM's benefit expense ratio of 86.1% deteriorated 50 basis points (bps) year over year due to the persistent shift in the business mix.
The SG&A expense ratio improved 70 bps year over year to 11.5% in the quarter under review, attributable to operating expense leverage linked with growing operating revenues.
Total expenses of $35.8 billion escalated 18.4% year over year due to increased benefit expenses, cost of products sold, selling, general and administrative expenses, and amortization of other intangible assets.
Segmental Results
Commercial & Specialty Business
Operating revenues improved 8.2% year over year to $10.3 billion in the first quarter.
The segment's operating gain of $1.1 billion declined 14.7% year over year due to net unfavorable effect of COVID and elevated expenses to drive growth and innovation. Operating margin deteriorated 290 bps year over year to 10.5% in the quarter under review.
Government Business
Operating revenues of $23.8 billion climbed 23.2% year over year in the first quarter.
Operating gain surged 65.1% year over year to $789 million. The upside can be attributed to the MMM buyout, rise in Medicaid membership and higher risk revenues in Medicare. Operating margin of the segment came in at 3.3%, which improved 80 bps year over year.
IngenioRx
Operating revenues from the segment amounted to $6.7 billion, up 14% year over year.
Operating gain of $398 million slipped 2.2% year over year due to the non-recurrence of a favorable out-of-period adjustment in the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, operating margin deteriorated 90 bps year over year to 6% in the quarter under review.
Other
Operating revenues of $3.2 billion climbed 35.9% year over year.
The segment reported an operating gain of $178 million, which increased by more than 22-fold from the prior-year quarter's figure.
Financial Update (as of Mar 31, 2022)
Anthem exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $6.2 billion, which increased 26.3% from the level at 2021 end.
Long-term debt, less current portion totaled nearly $20 billion, down 6% from the 2021-end figure.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter inched up 1.4% year over year to $2.5 billion.
Capital Deployment
In the first quarter, Anthem bought back shares worth $545 million. ANTM had around $3.6 billion remaining under its share buyback authorization as of Mar 31, 2022.
Anthem paid out a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share in the first quarter, adding up to a distribution of cash worth $309 million. Meanwhile, its board of directors announced a second-quarter 2022 dividend of $1.28 per share on Apr 19, 2022. The dividend will be paid on Jun 24, 2022, to shareholders of record as of Jun 10.
2022 Outlook
On the basis of better-than-expected first-quarter 2022 results, Anthem hiked its guidance for 2022 with respect to adjusted net income per share.
Adjusted net income is now anticipated to be more than $28.40 per share, higher than the prior outlook of "greater than 28.25". The revised guidance indicates a minimum growth of at least 9.3% from the 2021 reported figure.
Earlier management stated that operating revenues for 2022 are expected to be around $152 billion.
Medical enrollment is projected in the range of 45.6 million to 46.2 million.
For the current year, investment income is forecast to be $1.1 billion.
Anthem anticipates its operating cash flow to be more than $6.9 billion.
Zacks Rank
Anthem currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Other Medical Sector Releases
Of the Medical sector players that reported first-quarter results so far, the bottom line of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. UNH reported first-quarter 2022 earnings of $5.49 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7%. The bottom line improved 3.4% year over year owing to growing revenues.
Upcoming Releases
Here are some companies worth considering from the medical space as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle:
Avanos Medical, Inc. (AVNS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +4.17% and a Zacks Rank #1, currently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Avanos Medical’s first-quarter 2022 earnings is pegged at 24 cents, which indicates a 4.4% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
AVNS beat earnings estimates in two of the trailing four quarters in 2021 and missed twice.
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank of 3, presently. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Acadia Healthcare’s first-quarter 2022 earnings stands at 63 cents, suggesting growth of 34% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
ACHC’s earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters of 2021, missed and matched the same in the remaining two quarters.