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Coventry Health Care Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH) today reported consolidated operating results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Operating revenues totaled $3.0 billion for the quarter with net earnings of $150.3 million, or $1.01 earnings per diluted share (EPS). These results include a favorable impact from the Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (MA-PFFS) product of $0.05 EPS. Excluding the impact of MA-PFFS results(1), core earnings for the quarter were $142.1 million, or $0.96 EPS.

For the year ended December 31, 2010, total operating revenues were $11.6 billion with net earnings of $438.6 million, or $2.97 EPS. These results include a favorable impact from the MA-PFFS product of $0.45 EPS and an unfavorable impact from the previously announced Louisiana provider class action litigation of $1.18 EPS. Excluding the impact of MA-PFFS results(1) and the provider class action charge(2), core earnings for the year were $546.4 million, or $3.70 EPS.

“I continue to be pleased with the fundamental performance of our seven core businesses which exceeded our expectations during 2010. This should position us well as we enter 2011, a year with unique challenges and opportunities as we implement healthcare reform mandates,” said Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry. “More importantly, I am pleased with the long-term positioning of our core businesses including our health plans and our ability to seize opportunities and grow in 2012 and beyond.”

Fourth Quarter 2010 Consolidated Highlights

  • Closed the Mercy Health Plan acquisition on October 1, 2010, adding approximately 180,000 members and strengthening our position in the Midwest region
  • Commercial risk membership of 1,641,000, an increase of 108,000 members sequentially
  • Sequential membership growth in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid
  • Excellent liquidity position
    • Approximately $850 million of deployable free cash at the parent
    • Debt to Capital of 27.6%

Selected Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Highlights

  • Health Plan Commercial Group Risk. Reported commercial group risk premium yields rose to $316.34 per member per month (PMPM) in the quarter, an increase of 3.1% from the prior year quarter. Reported commercial group risk premium yields rose to $314.58 PMPM for the full year, an increase of 4.3% from the prior full year. The health plan commercial group risk medical loss ratio (MLR) was 81.3% in the quarter, a decrease of 160 basis points (bps) from the prior year quarter. The health plan commercial group risk MLR was 79.2% for the full year, a decrease of 270 bps from the prior full year.
  • Medicare Advantage. As of December 31, 2010, Medicare Advantage Coordinated Care Plan (MA-CCP) membership was 224,000, an increase of 38,000 members from the prior year quarter, largely driven by the acquisition of Mercy Health Plans which closed on October 1, 2010. The MA-CCP MLR was 84.1% in the quarter and 82.0% for the full year. During the fourth quarter, the MA-PFFS product line contributed $0.05 EPS largely due to favorable medical cost experience during the claims run-out process. When combined with the $0.40 EPS contribution reported through the third quarter, the total full year contribution from the MA-PFFS product line was $0.45 EPS. As previously announced, the Company did not renew this product line effective January 1, 2010.
  • Medicare Part D. As of December 31, 2010, Medicare Part D membership was 1,628,000, a decrease of 55,000 members from the prior year quarter. The Medicare Part D MLR was 64.7% in the quarter, an increase of 30 bps from the prior year quarter. The Medicare Part D MLR was 83.7% for the full year, a decrease of 200 bps from the prior full year.
  • Medicaid. As of December 31, 2010, Medicaid membership was 468,000, an increase of 66,000 members from the prior year quarter, largely driven by new markets in Nebraska and Pennsylvania. The Medicaid MLR was 85.4% in the quarter, a decrease of 40 bps from the prior year quarter. The Medicaid MLR was 85.7% for the full year, a decrease of 190 bps from the prior full year.

2011 FULL YEAR GUIDANCE

  • Risk revenue of $10.35 billion to $10.80 billion
  • Management services revenue of $1.16 billion to $1.19 billion
  • Consolidated revenue of $11.51 billion to $11.99 billion
  • Consolidated MLR of 82.0% to 82.8%
  • Cost of sales expense of $255.0 million to $263.0 million
  • Selling, general, and administrative expense (SG&A) of $2.00 billion to $2.04 billion
  • Depreciation and amortization expense of $135.0 million to $141.0 million
  • Other income of $69.0 million to $74.0 million
  • Interest expense of $80.0 million to $85.0 million
  • Tax rate of 36.0% to 37.0%
  • Diluted share count of 147.0 million to 150.0 million
  • EPS of $2.50 to $2.70
 

RECONCILIATION OF 2010 GAAP EPS TO 2010 CORE EPS

 

2010 GAAP EPS

$2.97

Remove favorable impact of MA-PFFS(1) ($0.45 )
Remove unfavorable impact of litigation charge(2)   $1.18  

2010 Core EPS

 

$3.70

 
 
 

RECONCILIATION OF 2010 CORE EPS TO 2011 EPS GUIDANCE MIDPOINTS

 

2010 Core EPS

$3.70

Increase in commercial group MLR from 79.2% in 2010 to a range of 81% +/- 50 bps in 2011 ($0.43 )
Increase in individual MLR from 66% in 2010 to a range of 76% +/- 100 bps in 2011 ($0.15 )
Gross margin reduction for loss of approximately 500,000 Medicare Part D members in 2011 ($0.34 )
Reset of MA-CCP MLR from 82.0% to 2011 bid levels in the mid 80%’s ($0.28 )
All other, net   $0.10  

Midpoint of 2011 EPS Guidance

 

$2.60

 
 

ADDITIONAL SELECTED ASSUMPTIONS FOR 2011 GUIDANCE

  • Commercial risk membership flat to slightly down
  • Stable fee based businesses
  • Medicaid membership growth percentage in the mid single digits
  • Medicaid MLR in the high 80%’s
  • Stable Medicare Part D MLR
  • Guidance does not assume any further impact from capital deployment activities

Mr. Allen F. Wise, chairman and chief executive officer of Coventry, will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. To listen to the call, dial toll-free at (877) 852-6578 or, for international callers, (719) 325-4803. Callers will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations. The conference call will also be webcast from Coventry’s Investor Relations site at www.coventryhealthcare.com. Coventry asks participants on both the call and webcast to review and be familiar with its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A replay of the call will be available for one week at (888) 203-1112 or, for international callers, (719) 457-0820. The access code is 4643959.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are defined as statements that are not historical facts and include those statements relating to future events or future financial performance, including the guidance herein. Actual performance may be significantly impacted by certain risks and uncertainties including those described in Coventry’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Coventry’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the factors that may materially affect Coventry’s business, operations or financial condition are the ability to accurately estimate and control future health care costs; the ability to increase premiums to offset increases in the Company’s health care costs; general economic conditions and disruptions in the financial markets; changes in laws or regulations or government investigations; changes in government funding for Medicare and Medicaid; a reduction in the number of members in the Company’s health plans; the Company’s ability to acquire additional managed care businesses and the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into its operations; an ability to attract new members or to increase or maintain premium rates; the non-renewal or termination of the Company’s government contracts, or unsuccessful bids for business with government agencies; failure of the Company’s independent agents and brokers to continue to market its products to employers; a failure to obtain cost-effective agreements with a sufficient number of providers that could result in higher medical costs and a decrease in membership; negative publicity regarding the managed health care industry generally or the Company in particular; a failure to effectively protect, maintain, and develop our information technology systems; periodic reviews, audits and investigations under the Company’s contracts with federal and state government agencies; litigation, including litigation based on new or evolving legal theories; volatility in the Company’s stock price and trading volume; the Company’s indebtedness, which imposes certain restrictions on its business and operations; an inability to generate sufficient cash to service the Company’s indebtedness; the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law, which could delay, discourage or prevent a change in control of the Company that its stockholders may consider favorable; and an impairment of the Company’s intangible assets. Coventry undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Coventry Health Care (www.coventryhealthcare.com) is a diversified national managed healthcare company based in Bethesda, Maryland, operating health plans, insurance companies, network rental and workers’ compensation services companies. Coventry provides a full range of risk and fee-based managed care products and services to a broad cross section of individuals, employer and government-funded groups, government agencies, and other insurance carriers and administrators.

   
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
 
Quarters Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2010   2009 2010   2009
Operating revenues: (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Managed care premiums $ 2,730,377 $ 3,121,527 $

10,414,640

$ 12,717,399
Management services   294,639   306,620   1,173,276   1,186,127
Total operating revenues   3,025,016   3,428,147   11,587,916   13,903,526
 
Operating expenses:
Medical costs 2,156,033 2,598,291 8,265,947 10,859,394
Cost of sales 64,152 62,548 252,052 240,828
Selling, general, administrative 531,442 544,656 1,961,947 2,151,799
Charge for provider class action - - 278,000 -
Depreciation and amortization   36,343   39,246   140,685   149,554
Total operating expenses   2,787,970   3,244,741   10,898,631   13,401,575
 
Operating earnings 237,046 183,406 689,285 501,951
Operating earnings percentage of total revenues 7.8% 5.4% 5.9% 3.6%
 
Interest expense 19,705 20,272 80,418 84,875
Other income, net   18,505   17,704   77,667   87,478
 
Earnings before income taxes 235,846 180,838 686,534 504,554
 
Provision for income taxes   85,520   71,758   247,918   189,220
Income from continuing operations   150,326   109,080   438,616   315,334
 
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations - - - (62,278)
Provision for income taxes   -   -   -   10,755
Loss from discontinued operations   -   -   -   (73,033)
       
Net earnings $ 150,326 $ 109,080 $ 438,616 $ 242,301
 
Net earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.02 $ 0.75 $ 3.00 $ 2.15
Basic loss per share from discontinued operations   -   -   -   (0.50)
Total basic earnings per share $ 1.02 $ 0.75 $ 3.00 $ 1.65
 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.01 $ 0.74 $ 2.97 $ 2.14
Diluted loss per share from discontinued operations   -   -   -

 

  (0.50)
Total diluted earnings per share $ 1.01 $ 0.74 $ 2.97

 

$ 1.64
 
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic 146,775 145,751 146,169 146,652
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted 148,430 146,885 147,579 147,395
     
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
 
December 31, September 30, December 31,
2010 2010 2009
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Assets:
 
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,853,988 $ 1,786,587 $ 1,418,554
Short-term investments 16,849 15,093 442,106
Accounts receivable, net 276,694 280,834 258,993
Other receivables, net 515,882 422,878 496,059
Other current assets 371,528 331,875 234,446
Total current assets 3,034,941 2,837,267 2,850,158
 
Long-term investments 2,184,606 2,278,844 1,994,987
Property and equipment, net 262,282 258,059 271,931
Goodwill 2,550,570 2,545,241 2,529,284
Other intangible assets, net 431,886 432,991 471,693
Other long-term assets 31,300 31,995 48,479
Total assets $ 8,495,585 $ 8,384,397 $ 8,166,532
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
 
Current liabilities:
Medical liabilities $ 1,237,690 $ 1,241,346 $ 1,605,407
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 942,226 927,127 682,171
Deferred revenue 103,082 120,932 110,855
Total current liabilities 2,282,998 2,289,405 2,398,433
 
Long-term debt 1,599,396 1,599,304 1,599,027
Other long-term liabilities 414,025 439,299 456,518
Total liabilities 4,296,419 4,328,008 4,453,978
 
Stockholders’ equity 4,199,166 4,056,389 3,712,554
       
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 8,495,585 $ 8,384,397 $ 8,166,532
   
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended Year Ended
December 31, 2010 December 31, 2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings $ 150,326 $ 438,616
Adjustments to earnings:
Depreciation and amortization 36,343 140,685
Deferred income tax benefit (27,364) (130,749)
Amortization of stock compensation 9,387 40,532
Charge for provider class action - 278,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net 10,252 (2,389)
Medical liabilities (36,362) (439,265)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 7,914 (46,174)
Deferred revenue (21,999) (15,548)
Other operating activities (77,471) 8,544
Net cash flows from operating activities 51,026 272,252
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures, net (21,877) (63,257)
Proceeds from investments, net of purchases 54,238 315,274
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (31,559) (102,356)
Net cash flows from investing activities 802 149,661
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of stock 14,053 15,484
Payments for repurchase of stock (394) (4,888)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation 1,914 2,925
Net cash flows from financing activities 15,573 13,521
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents for current period 67,401 435,434
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,786,587 1,418,554
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,853,988 $ 1,853,988
 
             
 
Cash and Investments:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,853,988 $ 1,853,988
Short-term investments 16,849 16,849
Long-term investments 2,184,606 2,184,606
Total cash and investments $ 4,055,443 $ 4,055,443
           
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
 
    Total

2010

 

Q4 2010

 

Q3 2010

 

Q2 2010

 

Q1 2010

  Total

2009

Membership by Product (000s)                        
Health Plan Commercial Risk 1,641 1,533 1,522 1,501 1,418
Health Plan Commercial ASO 698 636 657 663 685
Medicare Advantage CCP 224 193 192 190 186
Medicaid Risk       468     462     413     406     402
Health Plan Total 3,031 2,824 2,784 2,760 2,691
 
Medicare Advantage PFFS - - - - 329
Other National Risk - - - - 2
Other National ASO       459     462     466     482     564
Total Medical Membership 3,490 3,286 3,250 3,242 3,586
 
Medicare Part D 1,628 1,618 1,631 1,600 1,683
                     
Total Membership       5,118     4,904     4,881     4,842     5,269
                         
Revenues by Product Type (000s)(3)                        
Commercial Risk $ 5,540,470 $ 1,475,773 $ 1,380,019 $ 1,367,457 $ 1,317,221 $ 5,174,772
Commercial Management Services 327,084 81,861 79,869 82,395 82,957 346,042
Medicare Advantage 2,114,205 579,329 522,202 505,084 507,592 4,901,918
Medicaid Risk   1,133,353     312,359     286,762     268,460     265,771     1,066,231
Total Health Plan and Medical Services Businesses 9,115,112 2,449,322 2,268,852 2,223,396 2,173,541 11,488,963
 
Medicare Part D 1,604,198 357,941 348,784 423,664 473,809 1,545,858
Other Premiums 100,130 24,770 25,054 25,201 25,105 94,562
Other Management Services   856,072     215,279     215,185     217,706     207,904     850,184
Total Specialized Managed Care Businesses 2,560,400 597,990 589,023 666,571 706,818 2,490,604
 
Total Premiums 10,492,356 2,750,172 2,562,821 2,589,866 2,589,498 12,783,341
Total Management Services 1,183,156 297,140 295,054 300,101 290,861 1,196,226
Other/Eliminations   (87,596)     (22,296)     (22,094)     (21,826)     (21,381)     (76,041)
Total Revenue $ 11,587,916   $ 3,025,016   $ 2,835,781   $ 2,868,141   $ 2,858,978   $ 13,903,526
                         
Consolidated Coventry(3)                        
 
Operating Income % of Revenues 5.9% 7.8% 10.3% 0.2% 5.4% 3.6%
 
SGA % of Revenues 16.9% 17.6% 17.0% 15.8% 17.3% 15.5%
 
Total Health Plan Medical Liabilities (000s)(4) $ 1,021,667 $ 952,810 $ 1,026,355 $ 979,173 $ 900,402
Health Plan Days in Claims Payable (DCP) (4) 48.62 51.70 55.47 54.14 49.45
 
Total Debt (millions) $ 1,599.4 $ 1,599.3 $ 1,599.2 $ 1,599.1 $ 1,599.0
Total Capital (millions) $ 5,798.6 $ 5,655.7 $ 5,442.7 $ 5,418.2 $ 5,311.6
Debt to Capital 27.6% 28.3% 29.4% 29.5% 30.1%
           
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE, INC.
SELECTED REVENUE AND MEDICAL COST STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
 

 

  Total

2010

 

Q4 2010

 

Q3 2010

 

Q2 2010

 

Q1 2010

  Total

2009

Revenue PMPM                        
Health Plan Commercial Group Risk $ 314.58 $ 316.34 $ 315.82 $ 313.92 $ 312.05 $ 301.63
Medicare Advantage(5), (6) $ 876.67 $ 857.39 $ 899.89 $ 867.43 $ 885.26 $ 855.16
Medicare Part D(7) $ 87.96 $ 85.74 $ 87.56 $ 90.49 $ 88.05 $ 84.40
Medicaid $ 218.98 $ 223.54 $ 215.51 $ 217.77 $ 218.76 $ 229.94
 
                         
MLR%                        
Consolidated Total 79.4% 79.0% 77.2% 79.1% 82.3% 85.4%
 
Health Plan Commercial Group Risk 79.2% 81.3% 76.8% 78.3% 80.2% 81.9%
Medicare Advantage(6) 82.0% 84.1% 77.0% 81.2% 85.7% 89.9%
Medicare Part D 83.7% 64.7% 79.0% 90.7% 95.3% 85.7%
Medicaid 85.7% 85.4% 89.0% 84.2% 84.0% 87.6%
 

Explanatory Notes

 
(1) The Company did not renew the MA-PFFS product line effective January 1, 2010 and is in the process of paying claims liabilities related to prior dates of service. The Company believes that disclosing adjusted earnings, which exclude the 2010 impact of the MA-PFFS results, provides a more meaningful measure of its operating results for comparison to future periods and previously announced guidance.
 
(2) On July 2, 2010, the Company announced that it would incur a non-recurring pre-tax charge to earnings in the second quarter of 2010 in the amount of $278 million, or $1.18 EPS, related to a class action lawsuit filed by providers in Louisiana. The Company believes that disclosing adjusted earnings, which exclude the impact of this litigation, provides a more meaningful measure of its operating results for comparison to future periods and previously announced guidance. As previously reported on December 6, 2010, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with plaintiffs counsel and the provider class setting forth the settlement terms to reduce the amount payable to $150.5 million. On February 2, 2011, the parties executed a definitive settlement agreement, acceptable to the Company, which incorporated the terms and conditions set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding. Given various contingencies such as court approvals and class acceptance of settlement provisions which must be satisfied before the settlement becomes final, no reduction has been made to the previously recorded amount. Please refer to the Company’s Form 8-k dated December 10, 2010 for more information.
 
(3) Operating statistics excluding discontinued operations.
 
(4) “Total Health Plan Medical Liabilities” and “Health Plan Days in Claims Payable” are calculated consistent with prior disclosures to exclude MA-PFFS for all periods presented due to the Company’s non-renewal of this product line effective January 1, 2010. These statistics exclude the effect of the Preferred Health Systems (“PHS”) acquisition for the first quarter of 2010 due to the timing of closing (February 1, 2010).
 
(5) Revenue PMPM excludes the impact of revenue ceded to external parties.
 
(6) Beginning with Q1 2010, Medicare Advantage revenue and medical cost statistics represent the MA-CCP business only as the Company did not renew the MA-PFFS product line effective January 1, 2010.
 
(7) Revenue PMPM excludes the impact of CMS risk-share premium adjustments and revenue ceded to external parties.