Quest Diagnostics Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

-- Third quarter revenues of $1.89 billion, up 1.8% from 2017

-- Third quarter reported diluted EPS of $1.53, up 32.7% from 2017

-- Third quarter adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization of $1.68, up 25.4% from 2017

-- Updates outlook for full-year 2018. Reported revenues now expected to be approximately $7.62 billion. Reported diluted EPS now expected to be between $5.57 and $5.64 and adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense now expected to be between $6.53 and $6.60.

SECAUCUS, N.J., Oct. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 and updated its outlook for full-year 2018.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated logo. (PRNewsFoto/Quest Diagnostics Incorporated)

"We grew revenues and continued to deliver strong earnings growth in the third quarter," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO. "We had a productive quarter, announcing three acquisitions and a Professional Lab Services agreement. We are updating our full-year revenue guidance to reflect lower than expected revenue performance this year, which has been affected in large part by industry headwinds we called out in the previous quarter. Looking ahead, our acquisition pipeline, along with our expanding health plan access, including UnitedHealthcare beginning January 1, position us well for growth in 2019."

	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017			Change		2018			2017			Change
	(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Reported:
Net revenues (a)	$	1,889		$	1,856		1.8	%	$	5,692		$	5,537		2.8	%
Diagnostic Information Services revenues (a)	$	1,810		$	1,777		1.9	%	$	5,448		$	5,283		3.1	%
Revenue per requisition							(0.8)	%							0.3	%
Requisition volume							2.0	%							2.3	%
Operating income (a) (b)	$	304		$	298		1.8	%	$	881		$	896		(1.7)	%
Operating income as a percentage of net revenues (a) (b)	16.1		%	16.1		%	0	bps	15.5		%	16.2		%	(70)	bps
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics (b)	$	213		$	161		32.1	%	$	609		$	518		17.5	%
Diluted EPS (b)	$	1.53		$	1.15		32.7	%	$	4.37		$	3.68		18.8	%
Cash provided by operations	$	402		$	362		10.8	%	$	905		$	852		6.1	%
Capital expenditures	$	81		$	63		29.1	%	$	232		$	170		36.6	%

Adjusted:
Operating income (a)	$	311		$	325		(4.2)	%	$	954		$	965		(1.1)	%
Operating income as a percentage of net revenues (a)	16.5		%	17.5		%	(100)	bps	16.8		%	17.4		%	(60)	bps
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	215		$	174		23.6	%	$	632		$	524		20.5	%
Diluted EPS excluding amortization	$	1.68		$	1.35		25.4	%	$	4.95		$	4.02		23.4	%

(a)	Net revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 have been restated to reflect the impact of new revenue recognition rules that became effective January 1, 2018 and were adopted on a retrospective basis. Under the new rules, the Company reports uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction in net revenues; historically these amounts were classified as bad debt expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.

(b)	For further 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 EPS, see note 2 of the financial tables attached below.

Outlook for Full-Year 2018

The Company is updating its outlook for full-year 2018 as follows:

	Current Outlook		Previous Outlook
	Low	High	Low	High
Revenues (a)	Approximately $7.62 billion		$7.70 billion	$7.74 billion
Revenue increase (a)	Approximately 3%		4%	4.5%
Reported diluted EPS	$5.57	$5.64	$5.50	$5.64
Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization	$6.53	$6.60	$6.53	$6.67
Cash provided by operations	Approximately $1.3 billion		Approximately $1.3 billion
Capital expenditures	$350 million	$400 million	$350 million	$400 million

(a)

The updated outlook for revenue growth in 2018 represents management's estimates for 2018 versus 2017 reported revenues adjusted to reflect the impact of new revenue recognition rules that became effective January 1, 2018. Full-year 2017 revenues adjusted to reflect the new rules were $7,402 million. See note 5 of the financial tables attached below.

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 restructuring and integration charges, excess tax benefit ("ETB") associated with stock based compensation and other items; and (ii) the term "adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization" represents the company's diluted EPS before the impact of special items (described above) and amortization expense.

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 and 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 be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467, passcode: Investor; or via live webcast on the Company's website at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 866-483-9044 for domestic callers or 203-369-1586 for international callers. No passcode is required. Telephone replays will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on October 23, 2018 until midnight Eastern Time on November 6, 2018. 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 45,000 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 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Net revenues	$	1,889	$	1,856	$	5,692	$	5,537

Operating costs and expenses and other operating income:
Cost of services	1,222		1,190		3,691		3,525
Selling, general and administrative	354		348		1,068		1,061
Amortization of intangible assets	22		19		66		54
Other operating (income) expense, net	(13)		1		(14)		1
Total operating costs and expenses, net	1,585		1,558		4,811		4,641

Operating income	304		298		881		896

Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(41)		(38)		(124)		(112)
Other income (expense), net	3		(2)		2		12
Total non-operating expenses, net	(38)		(40)		(122)		(100)

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees	266		258		759		796
Income tax expense	(48)		(92)		(142)		(264)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes	9		9		32		25
Net income	227		175		649		557
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14		14		40		39
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	213	$	161	$	609	$	518


Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:
Basic	$	1.56	$	1.18	$	4.46	$	3.77

Diluted	$	1.53	$	1.15	$	4.37	$	3.68


Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	136		137		136		137
Diluted	139		140		139		140

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)

	September 30, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	263	$	137
Accounts receivable, net	1,097		924
Inventories	95		95
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	148		150
Total current assets	1,603		1,306
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,194		1,145
Goodwill	6,447		6,335
Intangible assets, net	1,168		1,119
Investment in equity method investees	456		462
Other assets	118		136
Total assets	$	10,986	$	10,503

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	1,085	$	1,021
Current portion of long-term debt	304		36
Total current liabilities	1,389		1,057
Long-term debt	3,394		3,748
Other liabilities	761		663
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	77		80
Stockholders' equity:
Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 217 and 216 shares issued as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	2		2
Additional paid-in capital	2,656		2,612
Retained earnings	7,546		7,138
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58)		(48)
Treasury stock, at cost; 81 shares as of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017	(4,829)		(4,783)
Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity	5,317		4,921
Noncontrolling interests	48		34
Total stockholders' equity	5,365		4,955
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	10,986	$	10,503

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in millions) (unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	649	$	557
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	228		197
Provision for doubtful accounts	2		5
Deferred income tax provision	52		90
Stock-based compensation expense	53		54
Other, net	7		(5)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(166)		(29)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	51		(3)
Income taxes payable	(1)		—
Other assets and liabilities, net	30		(14)
Net cash provided by operating activities	905		852

Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(219)		(299)
Capital expenditures	(232)		(170)
(Increase) decrease in investments and other assets	(4)		5
Net cash used in investing activities	(455)		(464)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	1,630		—
Repayments of debt	(1,665)		(5)
Purchases of treasury stock	(150)		(350)
Exercise of stock options	95		125
Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	(20)		(23)
Dividends paid	(198)		(186)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(41)		(38)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	12		—
Other financing activities, net	13		55
Net cash used in financing activities	(324)		(422)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	126		(34)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	137		384
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	263	$	350

Cash and cash equivalents	$	263	$	350
Restricted cash	—		—
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	263	$	350

Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	114	$	104
Income taxes	$	70	$	177

Notes to Financial TablesNotes to Financial Tables

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

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(in millions, except per share data)
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	213	$	161	$	609	$	518
Less: earnings allocated to participating securities	1		1		2		2
Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted	$	212	$	160	$	607	$	516

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	136		137		136		137
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and performance share units	3		3		3		3
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	139		140		139		140

Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:
Basic	$	1.56	$	1.18	$	4.46	$	3.77

Diluted	$	1.53	$	1.15	$	4.37	$	3.68

2) The following tables reconcile reported GAAP results to non-GAAP adjusted results:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018			2017			2018			2017
	(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Adjusted operating income:
Operating income	$	304		$	298		$	881		$	896
Restructuring and integration charges (a)	19			23			75			63
Other (b)	(12)			4			(2)			6
Adjusted operating income	$	311		$	325		$	954		$	965

Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues:
Operating income as a percentage of net revenues	16.1		%	16.1		%	15.5		%	16.2		%
Restructuring and integration charges (a)	1.0			1.2			1.3			1.1
Other (b)	(0.6)			0.2			—			0.1
Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues	16.5		%	17.5		%	16.8		%	17.4		%

Adjusted net income:
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$	213		$	161		$	609		$	518
Restructuring and integration charges (a)	19			23			75			64
Other (b)	(12)			9			(2)			4
Income tax benefit associated with special items (c)	(5)			(19)			(50)			(62)
Adjusted net income	$	215		$	174		$	632		$	524

Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense:
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.53		$	1.15		$	4.37		$	3.68
Restructuring and integration charges (a) (c)	0.10			0.10			0.40			0.28
Other (b) (c)	(0.06)			0.04			(0.01)			0.02
Amortization expense (d)	0.13			0.10			0.41			0.29
ETB	(0.02)			(0.04)			(0.12)			(0.25)
Certain income tax benefits (c) (e)	—			—			(0.10)			—
Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense	$	1.68		$	1.35		$	4.95		$	4.02

(a)

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions, systems conversions and integration incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, represents costs primarily associated with systems conversions and integration 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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in millions)
Cost of services	$	10	$	12	$	36	$	31
Selling, general and administrative	9		11		38		32
Other operating (income) expense, net	—		—		1		—
Operating income	$	19	$	23	$	75	$	63

Equity in earnings of equity method investee, net of taxes	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1

(b)

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, primarily represents a gain associated with the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our Mobile Medical Examination Services, Inc. ("MedXM") acquisition partially offset by non-cash asset impairment changes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily represents a gain associated with the decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our MedXM acquisition and an insurance claim for hurricane related losses partially offset by costs incurred related to certain legal matters and non-cash asset impairment changes. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges and incremental costs incurred as a result of the hurricanes. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges, incremental costs incurred as a result of the hurricanes and costs incurred related to certain legal matters, partially offset by a gain on the sale of an interest in an equity method investment. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of these other items on the company's consolidated statements of operations:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in millions)
Cost of sales	$	1	$	3	$	12	$	3
Selling, general and administrative	—		1		—		3
Other operating (income) expense, net	(13)		—		(14)		—
Operating income	$	(12)	$	4	$	(2)	$	6

Other non-operating income (expense), net	$	—	$	5	$	—	$	(2)

(c)	For restructuring and integration charges and other items, income tax impacts, where recorded, were primarily calculated using combined tax rates of 25.5% and 38.7% for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The following table summarizes the income tax expense (benefit) associated with special items:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in millions)
Restructuring and integration charges	$	(5)	$	(9)	$	(19)	$	(25)
Other	4		(3)		1		(1)
ETB	(4)		(7)		(17)		(36)
Certain income tax benefits (e)	—		—		(15)		—
	$	(5)	$	(19)	$	(50)	$	(62)

(d)

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 combined tax rates of 25.5% and 38.7% for 2018 and 2017, 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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
	(dollars in millions)
Amortization of intangible assets	$	22	$	19	$	66	$	54
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes	5		4		13		12
	$	27	$	23	$	79	$	66

(e)

Represents an income tax benefit associated with a change in a tax return accounting method that will enable the company to accelerate the deduction of certain expenses on its 2017 tax return at the federal corporate statutory tax rate in effect during 2017.


3)	For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the company repurchased 0.9 million shares of its common stock for $100 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the company repurchased 1.4 million shares of its common stock for $150 million. As of September 30, 2018, $0.8 billion remained available under the company's share repurchase authorizations.

4)	The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense represents management's estimates for the full-year 2018 before the impact of special items, including ETB, and amortization expense. Further impacts to earnings related to special items may occur throughout the remainder of the year. Additionally, the amount of ETB is dependent upon employee stock option exercises and the company's stock price, which are difficult to predict. The following table reconciles our 2018 outlook for adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense to the corresponding amounts determined under GAAP:

	Low		High
Diluted earnings per common share	$	5.57	$	5.64
Restructuring and integration charges (a)	0.62		0.62
Amortization expense (b)	0.58		0.58
Other	(0.01)		(0.01)
Certain income tax benefits	(0.10)		(0.10)
ETB	(0.13)		(0.13)
Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense	$	6.53	$	6.60

(a)	Represents estimated full-year pre-tax charges of $115 million primarily associated with systems conversions, integration and workforce reductions incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined tax rate of 25.5%.

(b)	Represents the estimated impact of amortization expense for 2018 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	$	90
Amortization expense included in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes	17
Total pre-tax amortization expense	$	107

Total amortization expense, net of an estimated tax benefit	$	80


5)	The outlook for 3% revenue growth in 2018 represents management's estimates for 2018 versus 2017 reported revenues adjusted to reflect the impact of new revenue recognition rules that became effective January 1, 2018. Under the new rules, the company will report uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction in net revenues when historically these amounts were classified as bad debt expense within selling, general and administrative expenses.

	The following tables reconcile our 2017 net revenues determined under previous revenue recognition rules with 2017 net revenue adjusted to reflect the impact of the new revenue recognition rules:

	Three Months Ended								Year Ended
	March 31, 2017		June 30, 2017		September 30, 2017		December 31, 2017		December 31, 2017
	(dollars in millions)
2017 Revenue on an adjusted basis:
Net revenues	$	1,899	$	1,943	$	1,931	$	1,936	$	7,709
Adjustment for adoption of new revenue recognition standard	(82)		(79)		(75)		(71)		(307)
2017 Revenue on an adjusted basis	$	1,817	$	1,864	$	1,856	$	1,865	$	7,402

2018 Revenue outlook:
2017 Revenue on an adjusted basis									$	7,402
2018 Equivalent revenue growth									3.0		%
2018 Revenue outlook									$	7,620

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

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