HMS Holdings Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results

• 4Q GAAP EPS of $0.30 Per Diluted Share / Full Year GAAP EPS of $0.47 Per Diluted Share
• 4Q Adjusted EPS of $0.49 Per Diluted Share / Full Year Adjusted EPS of $1.11 Per Diluted Share
• Federal Tax Law Changes Resulted in an $0.18 Per Diluted Share GAAP EPS Benefit and a $0.25 Per Diluted Share Adjusted EPS Benefit in 4Q
• Total 4Q Revenue of $148.5 Million, Including Record Commercial Revenue of $77.2 Million
• Full Year 2018 Outlook Includes Total Revenue of $560-570 Million

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMS Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:HMSY) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $25.7 million or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.4 million or $0.07 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2017 and $9.2 million or $0.11 per diluted share in the prior year fourth quarter. Net income for the quarter included a non-cash tax benefit of $15.1 million or $0.18 per diluted share, due to the revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax balances pursuant to the tax rate reduction included in the federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017. Adjusted EPS in the quarter was $0.49 per diluted share, compared to adjusted EPS of $0.19 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2017 and adjusted EPS of $0.18 per diluted share in the prior year fourth quarter. Adjusted EPS for the quarter included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.25 per diluted share, due to the impact of the revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax balances pursuant to the tax rate reduction included in the federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017. Excluding the tax benefit, adjusted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $0.24 per diluted share.

For the full year ended December 31, 2017, net income was $40.1 million or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $37.6 million or $0.43 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EPS for the full year 2017 was $1.11 per diluted share, including a non-cash tax benefit of $0.40 per diluted share due to the new tax legislation, compared to $0.75 per diluted share in full year 2016. Excluding the tax benefit, adjusted EPS for the full year was $0.71 per diluted share. Net income and adjusted EPS in the prior year included a benefit of $6.2 million or $0.07 per diluted share for certain prior open years’ Research and Development tax credits and domestic manufacturing deductions recognized in the third quarter of 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $40.2 million, compared to $34.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+17.9%) and $32.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year, adjusted EBITDA was $124.6 million, compared to $117.4 million in the prior year.

Total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017 was a record $148.5 million, compared to total revenue of $125.7 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+18.2%) and $125.6 million in the prior year fourth quarter. For the full year 2017, total revenue increased 6.4% to a record $521.2 million, compared to total revenue for the full year 2016 of $489.7 million. 2017 full year revenue included $30.4 million in revenue from the Company’s Eliza subsidiary, which was acquired in April 2017, partially offset by a $14.7 million decline in Medicare RAC revenue.

"We had a strong fourth quarter to finish out 2017 – setting quarterly records for total company, commercial, state government and coordination of benefits (COB) revenue. COB and Payment Integrity (PI) revenues rebounded strongly from the third quarter, as expected, with both up double digits sequentially. We also made incremental progress in the quarter with completed implementations of new business and significantly higher levels of medical record requests and record reviews, which we expect will translate into further PI revenue growth in the early part of 2018," said Bill Lucia, Chairman and CEO. “The entire healthcare industry is increasingly focused on enhancing the consumer experience and improving clinical outcomes by better engaging individuals in managing their own health. As a result, our care management and consumer engagement solutions are really resonating with customers and we are increasingly encouraged about the growth profile of this new vertical.”

"We have several strategic priorities as we enter 2018: boosting organic revenue growth across all of our products, but particularly payment integrity; expanding our care management and consumer engagement platform and customer base; taking full advantage of technology, innovation and the scalability of our business model to maximize the value of our data and expand margins; maintaining our focus on customer satisfaction and employee engagement; and maximizing total shareholder return, which benefits all of the Company's stakeholders,” added Lucia.

Commercial revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017 was a record $77.2 million, compared to $62.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter and $67.6 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+14.3%). Commercial revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017 included $12.9 million from Eliza, compared to $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+30.3%). State government revenue was a record $64.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $57.7 million in the prior year fourth quarter and $51.6 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+24.3%). Medicare RAC revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $2.0 million, compared to ($0.4) million in the prior year fourth quarter and $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2017.  Federal (excluding Medicare RAC) and Other revenue was $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, a $0.2 million decrease compared to the prior year fourth quarter and a $0.5 million decrease compared to the third quarter of 2017.

On a full year basis, commercial revenue was $269.2 million, a 17.0% increase compared to $230.2 million in 2016; state government revenue was $227.0 million, a 3.6% increase compared to $219.1 million in 2016; Federal (excluding Medicare RAC) and Other revenue was $22.6 million, a decrease of $0.7 million compared to 2016; and Medicare RAC revenue was $2.4 million, a $14.7 million decrease compared to 2016.

COB revenue, across both the state government and commercial businesses, was a record $105.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $95.0 million in the prior year fourth quarter and $90.1 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+17.4%). COB revenue accounted for 71.2% of total company revenue in the fourth quarter, compared to 75.6% in the prior year fourth quarter and 71.7% in the third quarter of 2017. For the full year, COB revenue was $382.7 million, an 8.2% increase compared to $353.8 million in 2016.

Revenue from Analytical Services, which includes PI, Medicare RAC and Care Management and Consumer Engagement Solutions, was $42.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $30.6 million in the prior year fourth quarter and $35.6 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+20.2%). PI revenue, excluding Medicare RAC, was $26.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $30.2 million in the prior year fourth quarter and $23.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 (+12.2%). For the full year, Analytical Services revenue was $138.5 million.

Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $10.7 million. For the full year 2017, capital expenditures were $33.0 million.

"We ended the year with enhanced liquidity and a strong balance sheet. Operating cash flow in the fourth quarter was $31.4 million, which resulted in a full year total of $86.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $40.2 million in the fourth quarter was up 17.9% compared to the third quarter and operating margin in the quarter was 13.0%, compared to 10.2% in the third quarter. We repurchased $14.1 million of our shares in the fourth quarter, and closed on a new amended credit facility in December which increases our financial flexibility and complements our strong operating cash flow. At December 31st, our debt (net of cash) was under $160 million – less than 1.3 times trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA," said Jeff Sherman, CFO.  “We take a bottom up approach to our annual budgeting process and have carefully evaluated all aspects of our expected 2018 financial performance for which we believe we have substantial visibility. On that basis, we have developed our annual outlook for the full year as follows:

• Total company revenue of $560-570 million
• Net income of $29-33 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $128-133 million
• Margin expansion of approximately 50 bps
• Capital expenditures of approximately $33 million
• An effective annual tax rate of 28-30%

We believe these are achievable objectives for the year,” concluded Sherman.

For additional information about the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results, see the Q4 and Full Year 2017 Investor Presentation available on the Company’s website at http://investor.hms.com/events.cfm.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

HMS will report its preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial and operating results via webcast at 7:30 AM CT / 8:30 AM ET on Friday, February 23, 2018. The webcast will include discussion of HMS developments, forward-looking statements and other material information about business and financial matters. The webcast can be accessed via phone at (877) 303–7208 or (224) 357–2389 for international participants, or on the HMS Investor Relations website at http://investor.hms.com/events.cfm. The webcast will also be archived and available for replay beginning at approximately 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET on February 23, 2018 at http://investor.hms.com/events.cfm. This press release and the financial statements contained herein are also available on the HMS Investor Relations website at http://investor.hms.com/releases.cfm.

About HMS

HMS is a leading provider of cost containment solutions in the U.S. healthcare marketplace. Using innovative technology, extensive data services and powerful analytics, the Company delivers coordination of benefits, payment integrity, and care management and consumer engagement solutions to help customers recover improper payments; prevent future overpayments; reduce fraud, waste and abuse; better manage the care that members receive; engage healthcare consumers to improve outcomes and increase retention; and ensure regulatory compliance. The Company serves a broad range of entities within the healthcare industry, including state Medicaid programs, commercial health plans, federal government health agencies, government and private employers and at-risk providers.

Trademarks

HMS and the HMS logo are registered trademarks of HMS Holdings Corp. and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports and discusses its operating results using financial measures consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). From time to time, in press releases, financial presentations, earnings conference calls or otherwise, the Company may disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release should not be viewed as alternatives or substitutes for the Company's reported GAAP results. A reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is set forth in the tables that accompany this release.

The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release provide useful information to the Company's management, investors, and other interested parties about the Company's operating performance because they allow them to understand and compare the Company's operating results during the current periods to the prior year periods in a more consistent manner. The non-GAAP measures presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company's operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides a more complete understanding of the results of operations and trends affecting the Company's business. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

The financial results in this press release reflect preliminary, unaudited results, which are not final until the Company’s Form 10-K is filed. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to our current expectations, projections and assumptions about our business, the economy and future events or conditions. They do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward‐looking statements can be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “likely,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “targets,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” and similar expressions and references to guidance, although some forward-looking statements may be expressed differently. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, business plans, objectives and prospects, future operating or financial performance and full year guidance and projections. Factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may emerge from time to time and are difficult to predict. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results may differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any of these forward-looking statements. 

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences, include, but are not limited to: our ability to execute our business plans or growth strategy; our ability to innovate, develop or implement new or enhanced solutions or services; the nature of investment and acquisition opportunities we are pursuing, and the successful execution of such investments and acquisitions; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize synergies; variations in our results of operations; our ability to accurately forecast the revenue under our contracts and solutions; our ability to protect our systems from damage, interruption or breach, and to maintain effective information and technology systems and networks; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, proprietary technology, information processes, and know-how; significant competition for our solutions and services; our failure to maintain a high level of customer retention or the unexpected reduction in scope or termination of key contracts with major customers; customer dissatisfaction, our non-compliance with contractual provisions or regulatory requirements; our failure to meet performance standards triggering significant costs or liabilities under our contracts; our inability to manage our relationships with information and data sources and suppliers; reliance on subcontractors and other third party providers and parties to perform services; our ability to continue to secure contracts and favorable contract terms through the competitive bidding process; pending or threatened litigation; unfavorable outcomes in legal proceedings; our success in attracting qualified employees and members of our management team; our ability to generate sufficient cash to cover our interest and principal payments under our credit facility or to borrow or use credit; unexpected changes in tax laws, regulations or guidance and unexpected changes in our effective tax rate; unanticipated increases in the number or amount of claims for which we are self-insured; our ability to develop, implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; changes in the U.S. healthcare environment or healthcare financing system, including regulatory, budgetary or political actions that affect healthcare spending or the practices and operations of healthcare organizations; our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations governing individual privacy and information security or to protect such information from theft and misuse; our ability to comply with current and future legal and regulatory requirements; negative results of government or customer reviews, audits or investigations; state or federal limitations related to outsourcing or certain government programs or functions; restrictions on bidding or performing certain work due to perceived conflicts of interests; the market price of our common stock and lack of dividend payments; and anti-takeover provisions in our corporate governance documents; and other factors, risks and uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  With respect to our projected effective annual tax rate for 2018, this reflects our current reasonable estimate of the income tax effects of the recently enacted tax legislation, however these are provisional amounts subject to adjustment during the one-year measurement period.  Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 (in thousands)

Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

As summarized in the following tables, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, and non-recurring legal expense (adjusted EBITDA) was $40.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 (in thousands, except per share amounts)

Reconciliation of Net Income to GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS

As summarized in the following tables, diluted earnings per share adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, non-recurring legal expense, amortization of acquisition related software and intangible assets and for the related taxes (adjusted EPS) was $0.49 for the fourth quarter of 2017, an increase of 172% from $0.18 for the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted adjusted EPS in the quarter included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.25 per diluted share associated with the recently enacted federal tax legislation.

Diluted adjusted EPS was $1.11 for the full year of 2017, an increase of 48% compared $0.75 for the full year of 2016, including a non-cash tax benefit of $0.40 per diluted share associated with the recently enacted federal tax legislation.

(1) Tax effect of adjustments is computed as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the annual effective tax rate.
(2) Diluted GAAP EPS for each of the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.18 per diluted share associated with the recently enacted federal tax legislation.

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 (in millions)

Reconciliation of Projected 2018 Net Income to Projected 2018 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

As summarized in the following table, the Company currently estimates net income of between approximately $29 million and $33 million and adjusted EBITDA of between approximately $128 million and $133 million for 2018.