Quest Diagnostics Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2016 Financial Results; Provides Guidance For Full Year 2017
-- Fourth quarter revenues of $1.86 billion, up 0.7% on a reported basis and up 1.9% on an equivalent basis versus 2015
-- Fourth quarter diluted EPS of $1.09 on a reported basis, down 15.5% from 2015; fourth quarter diluted EPS of $1.31 on an adjusted basis excluding amortization, up 10.1% from 2015
-- Full year revenues of $7.52 billion, up 0.3% on a reported basis and up 2.6% on an equivalent basis versus 2015
-- Full year diluted EPS of $4.51 on a reported basis, down 7.4% from 2015; full year diluted EPS of $5.15 on an adjusted basis excluding amortization, up 8.0% from 2015
-- Full year cash provided by operations of $1.1 billion, up 30.2% from 2015
-- Full year 2017 reported diluted EPS expected to be between $4.65 and $4.80, and adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense between $5.37 and $5.52

MADISON, N.J., Jan. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated logo.

 

"We grew revenues, operating income, margins and operating cash flow in the fourth quarter, capping a strong year in which we achieved our commitments and created value for shareholders," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, CEO and President. "We are laser focused on our two point strategy to accelerate growth and continue to drive operational excellence. Revenue growth in the quarter came from expanding relationships with hospital health systems and strength in several of our advanced diagnostic offerings. Our guidance for full year 2017 reflects expectations for continued acceleration of top-line growth and is consistent with the earnings outlook we provided at our Investor Day in November."


Three Months Ended December 31,


Twelve Months Ended December 31,


2016


2015


Change


2016


2015


Change


(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Reported:

















Net revenues

$

1,861



$

1,849



0.7

%


$

7,515



$

7,493



0.3

%

DIS revenues

$

1,773



$

1,738



2.0

%


$

7,138



$

6,965



2.5

%

Revenue per requisition





0.4

%






0.4

%

Requisition volume





1.5

%






2.0

%

Operating income (a)

$

276



$

239



15.4

%


$

1,277



$

1,399



(8.7)

%

Operating income as a pct of net revenues (a)

14.8

%


12.9

%


190 bps


17.0

%


18.7

%


(170) bps

Net income attributable to Quest
  Diagnostics (a)

$

155



$

188



(17.5)

%


$

645



$

709



(9.1)

%

Diluted earnings per share (a)

$

1.09



$

1.29



(15.5)

%


$

4.51



$

4.87



(7.4)

%

Cash provided by operations (b)

$

304



$

272



11.8

%


$

1,069



$

821



30.2

%

Capital expenditures

$

128



$

94



35.7

%


$

293



$

263



11.5

%













Adjusted:












Revenues on an equivalent basis

$

1,861



$

1,825



1.9

%


$

7,515



$

7,324



2.6

%

Operating income

$

305



$

288



6.1

%


$

1,230



$

1,203



2.3

%

Operating income as a pct of net  revenues

16.4

%


15.5

%


90 bps


16.4

%


16.1

%


30 bps

Net income attributable to Quest
  Diagnostics

$

173



$

157



9.6

%


$

682



$

640



6.4

%

Diluted earnings per share excluding 
  amortization

$

1.31



$

1.19



10.1

%


$

5.15



$

4.77



8.0

%

 

(a)    

For details impacting the year-over-year comparisons related to operating income, operating income as a percentage of net revenues, net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics and diluted earnings per share, see note 3 of the financial tables attached below.



(b)    

For details impacting the year-over-year comparisons related to cash provided by operations, see note 8 of the financial tables attached below.

 

Share Repurchase Authority Increase

In the fourth quarter the company's Board of Directors increased by $1 billion the amount available under the company's existing share repurchase program.  As of December 31, 2016, $1.4 billion remained available for repurchase under the program.

Outlook for Full Year 2017

The company estimates full year 2017 results as follows:


Low


High

Revenues

$7.64 billion


$7.72 billion

Revenue increase on a reported basis

1.7%


2.7%

Revenue increase on an equivalent basis (c)

2%


3%

Reported diluted EPS

$4.65


$4.80

Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization

$5.37


$5.52

Cash provided by operations

Approximately $1.1 billion

Capital expenditures

$250 million


$300 million

 

(c)    

Revenues on an equivalent basis for full year 2016 were $7.49 billion which represents the company's reported revenues, excluding all Focus Diagnostics products revenue, in 2016.    

 

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As used in this press release the term "reported" refers to measures under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").  The term "adjusted" refers to non-GAAP  measures as follows: (i) for the purpose of income measures the term "adjusted" refers to operating performance measures that exclude special items such as the gain on sale of the Focus Diagnostics products business, gain on the contribution to the clinical trials joint venture, retirement of debt and related refinancing charges, restructuring and integration charges, recognition of certain income tax benefits and other items; (ii) the term "adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization" represents the company's diluted EPS before the impact of special items and amortization; (iii) reference to "revenues on an equivalent basis" when comparing 2016 results to 2015 represents 2015 reported revenues excluding all clinical trials testing and Celera products revenues and Focus Diagnostics products revenues subsequent to April 2015; and (iv) reference to "revenues on an equivalent basis" when comparing full year 2017 estimates to 2016 represents 2016 reported revenues excluding all Focus Diagnostics products revenues.

Non-GAAP "adjusted" measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to GAAP results.  Non-GAAP "adjusted" measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under GAAP.  Management may use these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts or for incentive compensation purposes.  We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and analysts to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, as well as to analyze the underlying trends in our business and to assess our performance.  The additional tables attached below include reconciliations of adjusted measures to GAAP measures.

Conference Call Information

Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today.  The conference call can also be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 773-681-5898, passcode 3214469. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.  A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 866-373-9234 for domestic callers or 203-369-0282 for international callers. Telephone replays will be available from 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on January 26, 2017 until midnight Eastern Time on February 9, 2017.  Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company's periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes.  Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management.  Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 43,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners and other factors discussed in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and  Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the "Business," "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of those reports.

This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

ADDITIONAL TABLES FOLLOW


Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)






Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015

Net revenues

$

1,861



$

1,849



$

7,515



$

7,493









Operating costs, expenses and other income:








Cost of services

1,160



1,150



4,616



4,657

Selling, general and administrative

400



429



1,681



1,679

Amortization of intangible assets

18



20



72



81

Gain on disposition of business





(118)



(334)

Other operating expense (income), net

7



11



(13)



11

Total operating costs and expenses, net

1,585



1,610



6,238



6,094









Operating income

276



239



1,277



1,399









Other income (expense):








Interest expense, net

(36)



(36)



(143)



(153)

Other income (expense), net

2



3



(48)



(143)

Total non-operating expenses, net

(34)



(33)



(191)



(296)









Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in
  earnings of equity method investees

242



206



1,086



1,103

Income tax expense

(84)



(14)



(429)



(373)

Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

9



8



39



23

Net income

167



200



696



753

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

12



12



51



44

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$

155



$

188



$

645



$

709
















Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:







Basic

$

1.11



$

1.31



$

4.58



$

4.92

Diluted

$

1.09



$

1.29



$

4.51



$

4.87

















Weighted average common shares outstanding:








Basic

138



143



140



144

Diluted

141



144



142



145









 

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2016 and 2015

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)






December 31,
2016


December 31,
2015

Assets




Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$

359


$

133

Accounts receivable, net

926


901

Inventories

82


84

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

155


207

Assets held for sale

9


176

Total current assets

1,531


1,501

Property, plant and equipment, net

1,029


925

Goodwill

6,000


5,905

Intangible assets, net

949


984

Investment in equity method investees

443


473

Other assets

148


174

Total assets

$

10,100


$

9,962





Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity




Current liabilities:




Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

975


$

1,014

Current portion of long-term debt

6


159

Total current liabilities

981


1,173

Long-term debt

3,728


3,492

Other liabilities

654


514

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

77


70

Stockholders' equity:




Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity:




Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized at both December 31, 2016
  and 2015; 216 shares issued at both December 31, 2016 and 2015

2


2

Additional paid-in capital

2,545


2,481

Retained earnings

6,613


6,199

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(72)


(38)

Treasury stock, at cost; 79 shares and 73 shares at December 31, 2016 and 2015,
  respectively

(4,460)


(3,960)

Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity

4,628


4,684

Noncontrolling interests

32


29

Total stockholders' equity

4,660


4,713

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

10,100


$

9,962

 


Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(in millions)

(unaudited)




Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015

Cash flows from operating activities:




Net income

$

696



$

753


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

249



304


Provision for doubtful accounts

308



297


Deferred income tax provision

37



112


Stock-based compensation expense

69



52


Gain on disposition of business

(118)



(334)


Other, net

(6)



6


Changes in operating assets and liabilities:




Accounts receivable

(343)



(262)


Accounts payable and accrued expenses

56



(24)


Income taxes payable

42



(41)


Termination of interest rate swap agreements

54




Other assets and liabilities, net

25



(42)


Net cash provided by operating activities

1,069



821






Cash flows from investing activities:




Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(139)



(67)


Proceeds from sale of businesses

270




Capital expenditures

(293)



(263)


Investment in equity method investee



(33)


Decrease in investments and other assets

10



1


Net cash used in investing activities

(152)



(362)






Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from borrowings

1,869



2,453


Repayments of debt

(1,724)



(2,537)


Purchases of treasury stock

(590)



(224)


Exercise of stock options

73



60


Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans

(10)



(7)


Dividends paid

(223)



(212)


Distributions to noncontrolling interests

(41)



(42)


Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary



63


Payment of deferred business acquisition consideration



(51)


Other financing activities, net

(45)



(21)


Net cash used in financing activities

(691)



(518)






Net change in cash and cash equivalents

226



(59)


Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

133



192


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

359



$

133






Cash paid during the period for:




Interest

$

148



$

172


Income taxes

$

361



$

319


 

Notes to Financial Tables

1)

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(in millions, except per share data)

Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:








Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$

155



$

188



$

645



$

709


Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities





3



3


Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted

$

155



$

188



$

642



$

706










Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

138



143



140



144


Effect of dilutive securities:








Stock options and performance share units

3



1



2



1


Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

141



144



142



145










Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common
  stockholders:








Basic

$

1.11



$

1.31



$

4.58



$

4.92


Diluted

$

1.09



$

1.29



$

4.51



$

4.87


 

2)

In the second quarter of 2016, the company elected to early adopt the accounting standard update that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for stock-based compensation award transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, classification on the statement of cash flows and accounting for forfeitures, effective January 1, 2016.  As a result, certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform with the current period presentation.



3)

The following tables reconcile reported results to adjusted results:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Adjusted operating income:








Operating income

$

276



$

239



$

1,277



$

1,399


Gain on disposition of business (a)





(118)



(334)


Restructuring and integration charges (b)

23



22



78



105


Other (c)

6



27



(7)



33










Adjusted operating income

$

305



$

288



$

1,230



$

1,203


































Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues:








Operating income as a percentage of net revenues

14.8

%


12.9

%


17.0

%


18.7

%

Gain on disposition of business (a)





(1.5)



(4.4)


Restructuring and integration charges (b)

1.2



1.2



1.0



1.4


Other (c)

0.4



1.4



(0.1)



0.4










Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues

16.4

%


15.5

%


16.4

%


16.1

%






















Adjusted net income:









Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$

155



$

188



$

645



$

709


Gain on disposition of business (a)





(118)



(334)


Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges (d)





48



150


Restructuring and integration charges (b)

24



22



82



110


Other (c)

6



25





31


Income tax expense (benefit) associated with the special items (e)

(12)



(78)



25



(26)










Adjusted net income

$

173



$

157



$

682



$

640


































Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense:








Diluted earnings per common share

$

1.09



$

1.29



$

4.51



$

4.87


Gain on disposition of business (a) (e)





(0.24)



(1.30)


Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges (d) (e)



(0.01)



0.21



0.62


Restructuring and integration charges (b) (e)

0.10



0.09



0.35



0.46


Certain income tax benefits (e)



(0.40)





(0.40)


Other (c) (e)

0.03



0.11



(0.06)



0.14


Amortization expense (f)

0.09



0.11



0.38



0.38










Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense

$

1.31



$

1.19



$

5.15



$

4.77


































Revenue on an equivalent basis:








Net revenues

$

1,861



$

1,849



$

7,515



$

7,493


Excluded revenue (g)



(24)





(169)










Revenue on an equivalent basis

$

1,861



$

1,825



$

7,515



$

7,324


 

(a)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, represents the pre-tax gain on the sale of our Focus Diagnostics products business to DiaSorin S.p.A. for $300 million in cash, or $293 million net of transaction costs and working capital adjustments, which includes $25 million of proceeds held in escrow.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, represents the gain associated with the contribution of our clinical trials testing business to Q2 Solutions, the clinical trials joint venture with Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc.



(b)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, represents costs primarily associated with systems conversions and integration incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions and professional fees incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business.  The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of restructuring and integration charges on the company's consolidated statements of operations:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions)

Cost of services

$

15



$

12



$

40



$

63


Selling, general and administrative

7



10



37



42


Other operating expense, net

1





1












Operating income

$

23



$

22



$

78



$

105










Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

$

1



$



$

4



$

5


 

(c)

For the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, primarily represents a gain on escrow recovery associated with an acquisition, partially offset by costs associated with winding down subsidiaries, non-cash asset impairment charges and costs incurred related to certain legal matters.




For the three months ended December 31, 2015, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges and other costs associated with winding down subsidiaries as well as costs incurred related to certain legal matters.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges and other costs associated with Celera Products and the winding down of another subsidiary as well as costs incurred related to certain legal matters, partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $13 million associated with a decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our Summit Health, Inc. acquisition.  The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of these other items on the company's consolidated statement of operations:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions)

Cost of Sales

$



$

2



$



$

2


Selling, general and administrative



14



6



21


Other operating expense (income), net

6



11



(13)



10


Operating income

$

6



$

27



$

(7)



$

33










Other non-operating (income) expense, net

$



$

(2)



$

7



$

(2)


 

(d)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, represents charges associated with the March 2016 cash tender offer where the company purchased $200 million of its 6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037 and 5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, represents: charges associated with the March 2015 cash tender offer where the company purchased $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.95% Senior Notes due July 2037 and 5.75% Senior Notes due January 2040; and charges associated with the April 2015 redemption where the company redeemed all of its 5.45% Senior Notes due November 2015, $150 million of its 3.2% Senior Notes due April 2016 and all of its 6.4% Senior Notes due July 2017.  The following table summarizes the impact of pre-tax charges on retirement of debt and related refinancing charges on the company's consolidated statements of operations: 

   


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions)

Interest expense, net

$



$



$



$

6


Other non-operating expense, net





48



144











$



$



$

48



$

150


 

(e) 

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, for the gain on disposition of business, income tax expense resulted in a combined tax rate of 71.4%, which was significantly in excess of the statutory rate primarily due to a lower tax basis in the assets sold, specifically the goodwill associated with the disposition.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, for the gain on disposition of business, the associated deferred income tax liability was calculated using a combined tax rate of 43.3% and did not result in any significant current income taxes payable.  For the  retirement of debt and related refinancing charges, income tax benefits were calculated such that the combined tax rate was 38.9% and 40% for 2016 and 2015, respectively.  For the restructuring and integration charges and other items, income tax impacts, where recorded, were calculated using combined tax rates of 38.7% and 38.9% for 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The following table summarizes the income tax expense (benefit) associated with the special items:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions)

Gain on disposition of business

$



$



$

84



$

145


Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges



(2)



(18)



(60)


Restructuring and integration charges

(9)



(9)



(32)



(43)


Certain income tax benefits



(58)





(58)


Other

(3)



(9)



(9)



(10)











$

(12)



$

(78)



$

25



$

(26)


 


For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, certain income tax benefits represent the recognition of a deferred income tax benefit associated with winding down a subsidiary.



(f) 

Represents the impact of amortization expense on diluted earnings per common share, net of the income tax benefit.  The income tax benefit was primarily calculated using a combined tax rate of 38.7% and 38.9% for 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The pre-tax amortization expense that is excluded from the calculation of adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense is recorded in the company's statements of operations as follows:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2016


2015


2016


2015


(dollars in millions)

Amortization of intangible assets

$

18



$

20



$

72



$

81


Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

4



4



16



8











$

22



$

24



$

88



$

89


 

(g)

Effective July 1, 2015, the company contributed its clinical trials testing business to the Q2 Solutions joint venture.  In 2016, the company wound down its Celera products business and completed its exit from the products business as a result of the sale of Focus Diagnostics products on May 13, 2016.  For the three months ended December 31, 2015, excluded revenue represents Celera products and Focus Diagnostics products reported revenues.  Excluded revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, represents clinical trials testing reported revenues for the first and second quarters of 2015, Celera products reported revenues for all of 2015 and Focus Diagnostics products revenues subsequent to April 2015.



4)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the company recorded income tax expense of $84 million associated with the gain on sale of our Focus Diagnostics products business, consisting of $91 million of current income tax expense and a deferred income tax benefit of $7 million.  In connection with the gain associated with the contribution of our clinical trial testing business to the Q2 Solutions joint venture, the company recorded a deferred income tax liability of $145 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.



5)

Other operating expense (income), net includes miscellaneous income and expense items related to operating activities.  For the three months ended December 31, 2016, other operating expense (income), net principally consists of non-cash asset impairment charges.  Other operating expense (income), net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, principally consists of a gain on an escrow recovery associated with an acquisition, partially offset by non-cash asset impairment charges. 




For the three months ended December 31, 2015, other operating expense (income), net principally includes non-cash asset impairment charges associated with winding down a subsidiary.  Other operating expense (income), net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, principally includes non-cash asset impairment charges primarily associated with Celera products and the winding down of another subsidiary, partially offset by a gain of $13 million associated with a decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our Summit Health, Inc. acquisition.



6)

Other income (expense), net represents miscellaneous income and expense items related to non-operating activities, such as gains and losses associated with investments, other non-operating assets and early retirement of debt.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, other income (expense), net includes $48 million of charges on the retirement of debt associated with the March 2016 cash tender offer and non-cash asset impairment charges associated with certain investments of $7 million.  Other income (expense), net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, includes $144 million of charges on the retirement of debt associated with the March 2015 cash tender offer and April 2015 redemption.  



7)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the company repurchased 7.4 million shares of its common stock for $590 million, including 3.1 million shares repurchased under an accelerated share repurchase agreement during the second and third quarters of 2016.  As of December 31, 2016, $1.4 billion remained available under the Company's share repurchase authorizations.



8)

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by operations included $91 million of income taxes paid associated with the sale of Focus Diagnostics products and $47 million of pre-tax cash charges, or $30 million after the related cash tax benefit, related to the retirement of debt, which were partially offset by $54 million of proceeds received from the termination of interest rate swap agreements.




For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, net cash provided by operations included $146 million of pre-tax cash charges, or $89 million after the related cash tax benefit, related to the retirement of debt.



9)

The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense represents management's estimates for the full year 2017 before the impact of special items and amortization expense.  Further impacts to earnings related to special items may be incurred throughout 2017.  The following table reconciles our 2017 outlook for adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense to the corresponding amount determined under GAAP:

 


Low


High

Diluted earnings per common share

$

4.65



$

4.80


Restructuring and integration charges (a)

0.35



0.35


Amortization expense (b)

0.37



0.37






Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense

$

5.37



$

5.52


 


(a)       

Represents estimated full year pre-tax charges of $80 million primarily associated with systems conversions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business.  Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined tax rate of 38.7%.





(b)       

Represents the estimated impact of amortization expense for 2017 on the calculation of adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense.  Amortization expense used in the calculation is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

Amortization of intangible assets


$

69


Amortization expense included in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

16





Total pre-tax amortization expense


$

85





Total amortization expense, net of an estimated tax benefit


$

53


 

10)

The outlook for 2% to 3% revenue growth on an equivalent basis in 2017 represents management's estimates for 2017 versus reported 2016 revenues adjusted to exclude the 2016 revenues from the Focus Diagnostics products business.  The company completed its exit from the products business as a result of the sale of Focus Diagnostics products on May 13, 2016.  Consequently, our 2017 revenues will not include revenues associated with that business.  The following table reconciles our 2016 net revenues determined under GAAP with equivalent revenue for 2016:

 


Three Months Ended


Year Ended


March 31,
 2016


June 30,
 2016


September 30,
 2016


December 31,
 2016


December 31,
 2016


(dollars in millions)

2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis:














Net revenues

$

1,863


$

1,906


$

1,885


$

1,861


$

7,515

Excluded revenue (a)

(18)


(8)




(26)











2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis

$

1,845


$

1,898


$

1,885


$

1,861


$

7,489











2017 Revenue outlook:






Low


High

2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis







$

7,489


$

7,489

2017 Equivalent revenue growth







2%


3%











2017 Revenue outlook







$

7,640


$

7,720

 


(a) 

The 2016 excluded revenue is comprised of all of Focus Diagnostics products revenues reported in 2016.

Quest Diagnostics
Denny Moynihan, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800
Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated