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Pediatrix (MD) Q3 Earnings Miss on High Costs, Shares Down 12%

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Shares of Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. (MD - Free Report) declined 11.7% since it reported third-quarter 2023 results on Nov 2. Investors might be concerned about the earnings miss as well as the significant year-over-year decline in the bottom line, which stemmed from comparatively softer patient volumes and continued growth of practice-level expenses. A decline in the adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2023 may also have worried investors. Nevertheless, improved cash collection rates partly offset the negatives.

MD reported a third-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 32 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.6%. The bottom line dropped 20% year over year.

Its net revenues grew 3.4% year over year to $506.6 million in the quarter under review. The top line fell short of the consensus mark by a whisker.

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Quote

 

Q3 Update

Overall same-unit revenues improved 4.1% year over year in the third quarter, higher than our growth estimate of 2.8%. However, same-unit revenues attributable to patient volume dipped 1.2% year over year.

Same-unit revenues from net reimbursement-related factors improved 5.3% year over year on the back of better cash collection rates in the quarter under review.

Total operating expenses of $466.3 million increased 5.4% year over year and came higher than our estimate of $452.9 million. The increase was due to an elevated practice salaries and benefits expense level resulting from higher same-unit clinical compensation, incentive compensation and group health insurance costs.

Yet, general and administrative expenses of Pediatrix dipped 0.8% year over year to $57.4 million in the third quarter, lower than our estimate of $58 million.

Interest expenses of $10.4 million rose 9% year over year due to increased interest rates on MD’s adjustable-rate borrowings.

Adjusted EBITDA tumbled 13.6% year over year to $50.4 million, which lagged our estimate of $65.2 million.

Financial Update (as of Sep 30, 2023)

Pediatrix exited the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $21.2 million, which more than doubled from the figure at 2022 end.

Total assets of $2,326.3 million dipped 0.9% from the 2022-end level.

Total debt, including finance leases, net, amounted to $636.6 million. The figure decreased 2.3% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2022.

Total shareholders’ equity of $968 million improved 8.6% from the level at 2022 end.

MD generated net cash from operations of $68.1 million in the first nine months of 2023, which dipped 0.3% from the prior-year comparable period.

Share Repurchase Update

Pediatrix bought back a nominal number of its common shares for $0.1 million. It had a leftover capacity of $4.6 million under its $500 million repurchase program (approved in Aug 2018) as of Sep 30, 2023.

4Q23 Outlook

Management estimates fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA to stay in line with the third-quarter 2023 level.

2023 View Updated

Management presently projects adjusted EBITDA to lie between $200 million and $210 million this year, down from the earlier guidance of $235-$245 million. The midpoint of the revised outlook indicates a decline of 14.9% from the 2022 reported figure.

Interest expense is anticipated to be within $41.3-$42.3 million, up from the prior view of $40-$42.2 million. The midpoint of the updated guidance suggests 5.3% growth from the 2022 figure.  

Depreciation and amortization expense is currently estimated at $37 million, down from the previous outlook of $38 million. Income tax expense is expected to stay within $34.7-$37.7 million this year.

Income from continuing operations attributable to MD is forecasted to lie between $86 million and $94 million for 2023, down from the earlier view of $110-$120 million.

Zacks Rank

Pediatrix 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 have reported third-quarter 2023 results so far, the bottom-line results of The Cigna Group (CI - Free Report) , Bruker Corporation (BRKR - Free Report) and Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Cigna reported third-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings of $6.77 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7%. The bottom line improved 11.9% year over year. Adjusted revenues of $49.1 billion advanced 8% year over year. The top line outpaced the consensus mark by 2.3%. CI’s medical customer base was 19.6 million as of Sep 30, 2023, which witnessed a 9% year-over-year increase. The Evernorth Health Services segment generated adjusted revenues of $38.6 billion, which advanced 8% year over year. Adjusted operating income on a pretax basis rose 6% year over year to $1,716 million in the third quarter.

Bruker’s third-quarter 2023 adjusted EPS of 74 cents outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17.5%. The bottom line improved 12.1% year over year. It registered revenues of $742.8 million in the third quarter, up 16.3% year over year. The figure topped the consensus estimate by 3.3%. On a geographic basis, the United States witnessed a 10.1% year-over-year rise in revenues to $211.1 million. Within the BSI segment, BioSpin Group’s revenues rose 12.9% from the year-ago quarter to $198.3 million. In the quarter under review, its adjusted operating profit totaled $133.9 million, reflecting a 0.3% fall from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the adjusted operating margin in the third quarter contracted 299 bps to 18%.

Acadia Healthcare reported third-quarter 2023 adjusted earnings of 91 cents per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.4%. The bottom line advanced 13.8% year over year. Total revenues of ACHC rose 12.5% year over year to $750.3 million in the quarter under review. The top line beat the consensus mark by 3.6%. Total U.S. same-facility revenues amounted to $744.9 million, which advanced 13% year over year. The improvement can be attributed to 6.6% growth in revenue per patient day and a 6% rise in patient days. Admissions rose 5.1% year over year in the quarter under review. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding income from the Provider Relief Fund, was $175.9 million in the quarter under review. The figure improved 13.4% year over year.

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