The Ensign Group Meets Consensus of $0.60 Per Share;

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 03, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensign Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENSG), the parent company of the Ensign™ group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, home health, home care, hospice care, assisted living and urgent care companies, today reported operating results for the third quarter of 2015 with quarterly adjusted earnings of $0.60 per share.

Quarter Highlights Include:

Consolidated adjusted net income climbed 55.7% over the prior year quarter to $15.9 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $0.60 outpaced the prior year quarter of $0.44 per share by almost 37%;
Consolidated adjusted EBITDAR was $57.0 million for the quarter, an increase of 46.9%;
Same-store skilled revenue grew by 6.4% over the prior year quarter, with a skilled revenue mix of 52.8%, and managed care days increased by 12.45% over the prior year quarter;
Transitioning revenue grew by 18.2% over the prior year quarter, driving skilled revenue mix to 42.4%, and transitioning occupancy increased by 205 basis points over the prior year quarter;
Cornerstone Healthcare, Inc., our home health and hospice subsidiary, grew its revenue by $10.7 million, an increase of 73.1%; and
Consolidated revenues for the quarter were up $90.2 million or 34.6% over the prior year quarter to $351.1 million.

Operating Results

Ensign’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Christensen, congratulated the organization’s leaders and their teams for outstanding clinical and financial performance during the quarter. “In the midst of unprecedented growth, our team of expert operators and clinicians across the organization have been relentless at driving record improvements in our same-store operations while successfully transitioning dozens of new operations,” he said. “It’s important to emphasize that while our newly acquired facilities almost always create a short-term drag on earnings, we were able to offset that impact by achieving solid results in our same store and transitioning operations,” he added.

“As our balance sheet and income statement demonstrate, we remain as disciplined as ever in our approach to growth, even as our ability to transition more and more operations grows with our organization,” Mr. Christensen highlighted. He also pointed out that the quarter’s results, “demonstrated again that our ability to transition new operations and to drive organic growth within our existing portfolio, even in the midst of significant growth, remains as strong as ever.”

He also reiterated that as of November 1, 2015, the company had 64 operations in the recently acquired bucket, which is the highest number of operations in that category in the organization’s history. “Our recent growth puts us in a very strong position for continued organic improvement in 2016 and beyond as these recently acquired and transitioning operations continue to mature for years to come,” Christensen said.

Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Snapper reported that Ensign’s balance sheet remains strong in spite of our record acquisition activity, with its conservative adjusted net-debt-to-EBITDAR ratio of 3.27x at quarter end. “It’s remarkable that we transitioned so many acquisitions, protected our balance sheet and simultaneously achieved record-setting same store growth,” she said. She also added “as a result of our ever improving discipline, we continue to have flexibility under our revolving line of credit, with approximately $93.0 million of availability and a built-in expansion option that adds liquidity.” She further noted that the company continues to generate strong cash flow, with cash on hand of $40.1 million on September 30, 2015.

Ms. Snapper also reported that consolidated revenues in the quarter were up 34.6% over the prior year quarter to a record $351.1 million and consolidated adjusted EBITDAR for the quarter grew by 46.9% to $57.0 million, with adjusted EBITDAR margins for the quarter of 16.5%. Fully diluted adjusted earnings per share were $0.60 for the quarter and adjusted net income was $15.9 million.

A discussion of the company's use of non-GAAP financial measures is set forth below. A reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDAR and adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of GAAP earnings per share and net income to adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted net income, appear in the financial data portion of this release.

More complete information is contained in the Company’s 10-Q, which was filed with the SEC today and can be viewed on the Company’s website at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Quarter Highlights

During the quarter, Ensign paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share of its common stock. Ensign has been a dividend-paying company since 2002 and has increased its dividend every year for 13 years.

Also during the quarter and since, Ensign announced the acquisition of 12 skilled nursing operations, 20 assisted and independent living operations, one home health business, and one hospice agency, including:

In Arizona, seven skilled nursing operations with a total of 864 skilled nursing beds and three independent and assisted living operations with a total of 770 units, all under a new long-term master lease;
In Olympia, Washington, the operations and real estate of Olympia Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, a 135-bed skilled nursing operation;
In Westlake Village, California, Buena Vista Hospice, a Medicare and Medi-Cal certified hospice agency serving the Ventura County area;
In Wisconsin, fifteen assisted and independent living operations with a total of 761 units, all under a long-term master lease with an option to purchase the real estate;
In Orange and Whittier, California, two assisted living operations with a total of 188 units under a long-term lease;
In Arizona, a Medicare and Medi-Cal certified home health agency serving the Western Arizona and Eastern California areas;
In Kansas, The Healthcare Resortin Kansas City, Kansas, featuring a 70-bed licensed transitional care operation and 30 private assisted living suites under a long-term lease;
In Chandler and Scottsdale, Arizona, Chandler Post Acute and Rehabilitation, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Shea Post Acute Rehabilitation Center, a 105-bed skilled nursing facility under a long-term lease;
In West Columbia, South Carolina, the operations and real estate of Millennium Post Acute Rehabilitation, a 125-bed skilled nursing facility; and
In El Cajon, California, the underlying real estate of Somerset Subacute and Rehabilitation, a 46-bed skilled nursing facility that has been operated under a lease arrangement since December 2014.

Mr. Christensen noted, “We are thrilled about our recent entry into Kansas and South Carolina and we look forward to additional growth opportunities in both states.” He noted that Ensign takes a leadership-driven approach in all its acquisitions, particularly in new states, and added, “We look forward to working together with long-time Ensign leaders as we build a strong clinical and financial foundation from which we will continue to grow.”

These acquisitions bring Ensign's growing portfolio to 182 healthcare operations, twenty-nine of which are owned, fourteen hospice agencies, fifteen home health agencies, three home care businesses and seventeen urgent care clinics across 14 states. Mr. Christensen reaffirmed that Ensign continues to actively seek transactions to acquire real estate and to lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, assisted living and other healthcare related businesses in new and existing markets.

2015 Guidance

Management increased its 2015 annual revenue guidance to between $1.31 billion and $1.33 billion and its net income guidance to a range of $66.2 million to $67.6 million. Management also raised its 2015 annual earnings per share guidance to between $2.53 and $2.58 per diluted share for 2015. Management’s guidance is based on diluted weighted average common shares outstanding of 26.2 million and assumes, among other things, anticipated Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rate increases net of provider taxes, tax rates of 38.5% and acquisitions closed. It also excludes acquisition-related costs and amortization costs related to intangible assets acquired, stock based compensation, implementation costs for system improvements, costs incurred to recognize income tax credits, a one-time break-up fee earned in an unsuccessful bankruptcy auction and costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and other start-up operations.

2016 Guidance

Management also provided guidance for 2016, with annual revenue guidance of between $1.53 billion and $1.58 billion and its net income guidance to a range of $77.8 million to $82.0 million. Management also provided 2016 annual earnings per share guidance to between $2.87 and $3.01 per diluted share for 2016. Management’s guidance is based on diluted weighted average common shares outstanding of 27.1 million and assumes, among other things, anticipated Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rate increases net of provider taxes, tax rates of 38.5% and acquisitions closed. It also excludes acquisition-related costs and amortization costs related to intangible assets acquired, stock based compensation, implementation costs for system improvements, costs incurred to recognize income tax credits and costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and other start-up operations.

Conference Call

A live webcast will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time (1:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss Ensign’s third quarter 2015 financial results. To listen to the webcast, or to view any financial or statistical information required by SEC Regulation G, please visit the Investors Relations section of Ensign’s website at http://investor.ensigngroup.net. The webcast will be recorded, and will be available for replay via the website until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 27, 2015.

About Ensign™

The Ensign Group, Inc.'s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and assisted living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, home health and hospice services, urgent care services and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 182 skilled and assisted living operations, fourteen hospice agencies, fifteen home health agencies, three home care businesses and seventeen urgent care clinics in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin, Kansas and South Carolina. Each of these operations is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. References herein to the consolidated “company” and “its” assets and activities, as well as the use of the terms “we,” “us,” “its” and similar terms, are not meant to imply that The Ensign Group, Inc. has direct operating assets, employees or revenue, or that any of the operations, the home health and hospice businesses, the Service Center or the captive insurance subsidiary are operated by the same entity. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains, and the related conference call and webcast will include, forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs about its business, financial performance, operating results, the industry in which it operates and other future events. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding growth prospects, future operating and financial performance, and acquisition activities. They are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

These risks and uncertainties relate to the company’s business, its industry and its common stock and include: reduced prices and reimbursement rates for its services; its ability to acquire, develop, manage or improve operations, its ability to manage its increasing borrowing costs as it incurs additional indebtedness to fund the acquisition and development of operations; its ability to access capital on a cost-effective basis to continue to successfully implement its growth strategy; its operating margins and profitability could suffer if it is unable to grow and manage effectively its increasing number of operations; competition from other companies in the acquisition, development and operation of facilities; its ability to defend claims and lawsuits, including professional liability claims alleging that our services resulted in personal injury, and other regulatory-related claims; and the application of existing or proposed government regulations, or the adoption of new laws and regulations, that could limit its business operations, require it to incur significant expenditures or limit its ability to relocate its operations if necessary. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q, for a more complete discussion of the risks and other factors that could affect Ensign’s business, prospects and any forward-looking statements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, Ensign does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changing circumstances or any other reason after the date of this press release.

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. GAAP and ADJUSTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share data)

	*Three Months Ended* *September 30, 2015*												*Nine Months Ended* *September 30, 2015*
	*As Reported*			*Non-GAAP Adj.*						*As Adjusted*			*As Reported*			*Non-GAAP Adj.*						*As Adjusted*
Revenue	$	351,086		$	(6,366	)		⁽⁵	⁾	$	344,720			968,671		$	(20,007	)		⁽⁵	⁾	$	948,664
Expense:
Cost of services (exclusive of facility rent, general and administrative and depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below)		280,545			(8,481	)	^{(1)(3)(5) (8)}				272,064			770,293			(23,998	)	^{(1)(3)(5) (8)}				746,295
Rent—cost of services		24,500			(540	)		⁽⁶	⁾		23,960			62,531			(1,556	)		⁽⁶	⁾		60,975
General and administrative expense		17,165			(1,565	)	^{(2)(3)(4) (9)}				15,600			46,917			(2,888	)	^{(2)(3)(4) (9)}				44,029
Depreciation and amortization		7,288			(521	)		⁽⁷	⁾		6,767			20,185			(1,694	)		⁽⁷	⁾		18,491
Total expenses		329,498			(11,107	)					318,391			899,926			(30,136	)					869,790
Income from operations		21,588			4,741						26,329			68,745			10,129						78,874
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(802	)		46						(756	)		(2,035	)		138						(1,897	)
Interest income		242			-						242			603			-						603
Other expense, net		(560	)		46						(514	)		(1,432	)		138						(1,294	)
Income before provision for income taxes		21,028			4,787						25,815			67,313			10,267						77,580
Tax Effect on Non-GAAP Adjustments					1,844												3,953
Tax True-up for Effective Tax Rate					226												82
Provision for income taxes		7,869			2,070						9,939			25,833			4,035						29,868
Net income		13,159			2,717			⁽¹⁰	⁾		15,876			41,480			6,232			⁽¹⁰	⁾		47,712
Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(313	)		335						22			(351	)		494						143
Net income attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc.	$	13,472			2,382					$	15,854		$	41,831			5,738					$	47,569
Net income per share:
Basic:	$	0.53								$	0.62		$	1.67								$	1.90
Diluted	$	0.51								$	0.60		$	1.61								$	1.83
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		25,572									25,572			24,991									24,991
Diluted		26,535									26,535			25,940									25,940

(1) Represents acquisition-related costs of $203 and $793 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
(2) Represents costs of $84 and $136 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, incurred to recognize income tax credits.
(3) Represents stock-based compensation expense of $1,722 and $4,948 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
(4) Represents costs of $836 and $1,983 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, incurred related to new systems implementation.
(5) Represents revenues and expenses incurred at urgent care centers, excluding rent expense recognized in note (6) below and depreciation expense recognized in note (7) below.
(6) Represents straight-line rent amortization for urgent care centers included in Note (5).
(7) Represents depreciation expense at urgent care centers and amortization costs related to patient base intangible assets at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
(8) Represents costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and newly-built operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(9) Represents breakup fee, net of costs, received in connection with a public auction in which we were the priority bidder.
(10) Represents the adjustment to provision for income tax to our historical year to date effective tax rate of 38.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. GAAP and ADJUSTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share data)

	*Three Months Ended* *September 30, 2014*												*Nine Months Ended* *September 30, 2014*
	*As Reported*			*Non-GAAP Adj.*						*As Adjusted*			*As Reported*			*Non-GAAP Adj.*							*As Adjusted*
Revenue	$	260,841			(3,617	)	⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾			$	257,224		$	750,537			(10,094	)	⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾				$	740,443
Expense:
Cost of services (exclusive of facility rent, general and administrative and depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below)		209,737			(4,256	)	^(1)(4)(5)				205,481			601,532			(11,686	)	^(1)(4)(5)					589,846
Rent—cost of services		18,176			(410	)		⁽⁶	⁾		17,766			30,008			(1,539	)		⁽⁶	⁾			28,469
General and administrative expense		12,956			(31	)	^(2)(3)(4)				12,925			44,370			(9,035	)	^(2)(3)(4)					35,335
Depreciation and amortization		4,677			(380	)		⁽⁷	⁾		4,297			21,343			(895	)		⁽⁷		⁾		20,448
Total expenses		245,546			(5,077	)					240,469			697,253			(23,155	)						674,098
Income from operations		15,295			1,460						16,755			53,284			13,061							66,345
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(407	)		46						(361	)		(12,490	)		6,471							(6,019	)
Interest income		142			-						142			435			-							435
Other expense, net		(265	)		46						(219	)		(12,055	)		6,471							(5,584	)
Income before provision for income taxes		15,030			1,506						16,536			41,229			19,532							60,761
Tax Effect on Non-GAAP Adjustments					581												7,520
Tax True-up for Effective Tax Rate					(872	)											(2,410	)
Provision for income taxes		6,659			(291	)					6,368			18,284			5,110							23,394
Net income		8,371			1,797			⁽⁸	⁾		10,168			22,945			14,422			⁽⁸		⁾		37,367
Less: net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(535	)		523						(12	)		(1,494	)		1,563							69
Net income attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc.	$	8,906			1,274					$	10,180		$	24,439			12,859						$	37,298
Net income per share
Basic:		0.40									0.45			1.10										1.67
Diluted:		0.38									0.44			1.06										1.62
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		22,415									22,415			22,282										22,282
Diluted		23,186									23,186			23,014										23,014

(1) Represents acquisition-related costs of $85 and $219 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.
(2) Represents costs of $31 and $93 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, incurred to recognize income tax credits.
(3) Represents costs of $8,871 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, incurred related to the Company's spin-off of real estate assets to CareTrust REIT (CTRE) (the Spin-Off). As the Spin-Off was completed in the second quarter of 2014, there was no costs associated with the Spin-Off for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
(4) Represents revenues and expenses incurred at the three independent living operations transferred to CTRE on June 1, 2014 in connection with the Spin Off, excluding rent expense recognized in note (6) below.
(5) Represents revenues and expenses incurred at newly opened urgent care centers, excluding rent expense recognized in note (6) below and depreciation expense recognized in note (7) below.
(6) Represents straight-line rent amortization for newly opened urgent care centers and the three independent living operations transferred to CTRE included in Note (4).
(7) Represents depreciation expense at newly opened urgent care centers and amortization costs related to patient base intangible assets at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
(8) Represents the adjustment to provision for income tax to our historical year to date effective tax rate of 38.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.


THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR (in thousands) (Unaudited)
The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR for the periods presented:
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014			2015			2014
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
Net income	$	13,159		$	8,371		$	41,480		$	22,945
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(313	)		(535	)		(351	)		(1,494	)
Interest expense, net		560			265			1,432			12,055
Provision for income taxes		7,869			6,659			25,833			18,284
Depreciation and amortization		7,288			4,677			20,185			21,343
EBITDA	$	29,189		$	20,507		$	89,281		$	76,121
Rent—cost of services		24,500			18,176			62,531			30,008
EBITDAR	$	53,689		$	38,683		$	151,812		$	106,129

EBITDA	$	29,189		$	20,507		$	89,281		$	76,121
Adjustments to EBITDA:
Expenses related to the Spin-Off(a)	—			—			—				8,871
Stock-based compensation expense(b)		1,722		—				4,948		—
Costs incurred related to new systems implementation(c)		836		—				1,983		—
Urgent care center (earnings) loss(d)		(418	)		31			(1,982	)		3
Costs at facilities currently being constructed and start-up operations(e)		918		—				1,526		—
Earnings at three operations transferred to REIT (f)	—			—			—				(122	)
Acquisition related costs(g)		203			85			793			219
Breakup fee, net of costs, received in connection with a public auction(h)	—			—				(1,019	)	—
Costs incurred to recognize income tax credits(i)		84			31			136			93
Rent related to item(d) and (f) above		540			410			1,556			1,539
Adjusted EBITDA	$	33,074		$	21,064		$	97,222		$	86,724
Rent—cost of services		24,500			18,176			62,531			30,008
Less: rent related to items (d) and (f) above		(540	)		(410	)		(1,556	)		(1,539	)
Adjusted EBITDAR	$	57,034		$	38,830		$	158,197		$	115,193

(a) Expenses incurred in connection with the Spin-Off.
(b) Stock-based compensation expense incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 did not include non-GAAP adjustment related to stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively. If adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 would have been $22.4 million and $90.5 million, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDAR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 would have been $40.2 million and $119.0 million, respectively. EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 reflects four month increase in rent expense as a result of the Spin-Off compared to nine months increase in rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(c) Costs incurred related to new systems implementation.
(d) Operating results at urgent care centers. This amount for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 excluded rent of $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and depreciation expense of $0.3 million and 0.9 million, respectively. This amount for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 excluded rent of $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and depreciation expense of $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The results also excluded the net loss attributable to the variable interest entity associated with our urgent care business of approximately $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $0.5 million and $1.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Operating loss excluding the net loss attributable to the variable interest entity associated with our urgent care business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $0.4 million for both periods.
(e) Costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and start-up operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(f) Results at three independent living facilities which were transferred to CareTrust as part of the Spin-Off transaction, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes.
(g) Costs incurred to acquire operations which are not capitalizable.
(h) Breakup fee, net of costs, received in connection with a public auction in which we were the priority bidder.
(i) Costs incurred to recognize income tax credits which contributed to a decrease in effective tax rate.


THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR (in thousands) (Unaudited)
The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR for each reportable segment for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014			2015		2014
	TSA Services				Home Health and Hospice				TSA Services					Home Health and Hospice
Statements of Income Data:
Income from operations, excluding general and administrative expense(a)	$	36,226	$	27,262	$	4,067	$	2,707	$	108,592	$	95,566		$	9,738	$	6,792
Depreciation and amortization		5,542		3,459		258		124		15,368		17,920			703		371
EBITDA	$	41,768	$	30,721	$	4,325	$	2,831	$	123,960	$	113,486		$	10,441	$	7,163
Rent—cost of services		23,574		17,507		332		203		59,950		28,144			866		568
EBITDAR	$	65,342	$	48,228	$	4,657	$	3,034	$	183,910	$	141,630		$	11,307	$	7,731

EBITDA	$	41,768	$	30,721	$	4,325	$	2,831	$	123,960	$	113,486		$	10,441	$	7,163
Adjustments to EBITDA:
Stock-based compensation expense(b)		997	—			59	—			2,890	—				181	—
Costs at facilities currently being constructed and start-up operations(c)		836	—		—		—			1,983	—			—		—
Earnings at three operations transferred to REIT (d)	—		—		—		—		—			(122	)	—		—
Acquisition related costs(e)		203		85	—		—			793		219		—		—
Rent related to item(d) above(f)	—		—		—		—		—			406		—		—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	43,804	$	30,806	$	4,384	$	2,831	$	129,626	$	113,989		$	10,622	$	7,163
Rent—cost of services		23,574		17,507		332		203		59,950		28,144			866		568
Less: rent related to items(d) above(f)	—		—		—		—		—			(406	)	—		—
Adjusted EBITDAR	$	67,378	$	48,313	$	4,716	$	3,034	$	189,576	$	141,727		$	11,488	$	7,731

(a) General and administrative expenses are not allocated to any segment for purposes of determining segment profit or loss.
(b) Stock-based compensation expense incurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(c) Costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and start-up operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
(d) Results at three independent living facilities which were transferred to CareTrust REIT as part of the Spin-Off transaction, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes.
(e) Costs incurred to acquire operations which are not capitalizable.

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)
	September 30, 2015			December 31, 2014
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	40,069		$	50,408
Restricted cash — current	—				5,082
Accounts receivable — less allowance for doubtful accounts of $27,595 and $20,438 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively		192,016			130,051
Investments — current		4,500			6,060
Prepaid income taxes		6,792			2,992
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		15,417			8,434
Deferred tax asset — current		10,736			10,615
Total current assets		269,530			213,642
Property and equipment, net		257,164			149,708
Insurance subsidiary deposits and investments		30,050			17,873
Escrow deposits		2,310			16,153
Deferred tax asset		10,597			11,509
Restricted and other assets		8,177			6,833
Intangible assets, net		47,223			35,568
Goodwill		39,736			30,269
Other indefinite-lived intangibles		17,716			12,361
Total assets	$	682,503		$	493,916

Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		34,699			33,186
Accrued wages and related liabilities		65,475			56,712
Accrued self-insurance liabilities — current		17,069			15,794
Other accrued liabilities		43,492			24,630
Current maturities of long-term debt		613			111
Total current liabilities		161,348			130,433
Long-term debt — less current maturities		69,209			68,279
Accrued self-insurance liabilities — less current portion		36,938			34,166
Deferred rent and other long-term liabilities		3,811			3,235
Total equity		411,197			257,803
Total liabilities and equity	$	682,503		$	493,916

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)
The following table presents selected data from our consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented:

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	13,300		$	66,688
Net cash used in investing activities		(120,576	)		(99,408	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		96,937			6,171
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(10,339	)		(26,549	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		50,408			65,755
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	40,069		$	39,206

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. REVENUE BY SEGMENTS

The following table sets forth our total revenue by segments and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:


	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015				2014				2015				2014
	Revenue Dollars		Revenue Percentage		Revenue Dollars		Revenue Percentage		Revenue Dollars		Revenue Percentage		Revenue Dollars		Revenue Percentage
	(Dollars in thousands)
TSA Services:
Skilled nursing facilities	$	289,475	82.5	%	$	228,134	87.5	%	$	819,655	84.6	%	$	660,816	88.1	%
Assisted and independent living facilities		27,686	7.9			12,259	4.7			57,916	6.0			35,714	4.8
Total TSA services		317,161	90.4			240,393	92.2			877,571	90.6			696,530	92.9
Home health and hospice services:
Home health		12,794	3.6			7,655	2.9			34,452	3.6			20,938	2.8
Hospice		12,456	3.5			6,930	2.7			29,057	3.0			17,497	2.3
Total home health and hospice services		25,250	7.1			14,585	5.6			63,509	6.6			38,435	5.1
All other (1)		8,675	2.5			5,863	2.2			27,591	2.8			15,572	2.0
Total revenue	$	351,086	100.0	%	$	260,841	100.0	%	$	968,671	100.0	%	$	750,537	100.0	%
(1) Includes revenue from services provided at our urgent care clinics and a mobile x-ray and diagnostic operation.

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. SELECT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (Unaudited)

The following tables summarize our selected performance indicators for our TSA services segment along with other statistics, for each of the dates or periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Total Facility Results:
Skilled nursing revenue	$	289,475		$	228,134		$	61,341			26.9		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		27,686			12,259			15,427			125.8		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	317,161		$	240,393		$	76,768			31.9		%
Number of facilities at period end		178			127			51			40.2		%
Actual patient days		1,317,323			994,995			322,328			32.4		%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		77.9	%		77.7	%					0.2		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		30.2	%		27.1	%					3.1		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		52.5	%		50.2	%					2.3		%
	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Same Facility Results(1):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	213,329		$	200,376		$	12,953			6.5		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		7,972			7,903			69			0.9		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	221,301		$	208,279		$	13,022			6.3		%
Number of facilities at period end		101			101		—			—			%
Actual patient days		840,094			838,198			1,896			0.2		%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		81.1	%		80.7	%					0.4		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		30.1	%		27.9	%					2.2		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		52.8	%		51.2	%					1.6		%
	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Transitioning Facility Results(2):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	16,806		$	15,622		$	1,184			7.6		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		3,155			2,987			168			5.6		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	19,961		$	18,609		$	1,352			7.3		%
Number of facilities at period end		17			17		—			—			%
Actual patient days		101,868			100,089			1,779			1.8		%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		68.4	%		66.3	%					2.1		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		20.8	%		18.4	%					2.4		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		42.4	%		39.5	%					2.9		%
	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Recently Acquired Facility Results(3):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	59,340		$	12,136		$	47,204		NM (4)
Assisted and independent living revenue		16,559			1,369			15,190		NM
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	75,899		$	13,505		$	62,394		NM
Number of facilities at period end		60			9			51		NM
Actual patient days		375,361			56,708			318,653		NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		74.2	%		62.6	%				NM
Skilled mix by nursing days		33.7	%		27.3	%				NM
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		54.4	%		46.3	%				NM
_______________________
(1) Same Facility results represent all facilities purchased prior to January 1, 2012.
(2) Transitioning Facility results represents all facilities purchased from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013.
(3) Recently Acquired Facility (or “Acquisitions”) results represent all facilities purchased on or subsequent to January 1, 2014.
(4) Not meaningful.

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Total Facility Results:
Skilled nursing revenue	$	819,655		$	660,816		$	158,839			24.0		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		57,916			35,714			22,202			62.2		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	877,571		$	696,530		$	181,041			26.0		%
Number of facilities at period end		178			127			51			40.2		%
Actual patient days		3,515,719			2,895,265			620,454			21.4		%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		78.2	%		77.9	%					0.3		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		30.2	%		27.6	%					2.6		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		52.9	%		50.9	%					2.0		%
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Same Facility Results(1):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	633,684		$	596,576		$	37,108			6.2		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		23,826			23,609			217			0.9		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	657,510		$	620,185		$	37,325			6.0		%
Number of facilities at period end		101			101		—			—			%
Actual patient days		2,480,148			2,484,026			(3,878	)		(0.2	)	%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		81.0	%		80.6	%					0.4		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		30.4	%		28.4	%					2.0		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		53.4	%		51.8	%					1.6		%
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Transitioning Facility Results(2):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	49,436		$	45,798		$	3,638			7.9		%
Assisted and independent living revenue		9,568			8,633			935			10.8		%
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	59,004		$	54,431		$	4,573			8.4		%
Number of facilities at period end		17			17		—			—			%
Actual patient days		304,159			294,738			9,421			3.2		%
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		68.8	%		65.8	%					3.0		%
Skilled mix by nursing days		20.8	%		18.9	%					1.9		%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		42.5	%		40.2	%					2.3		%
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Recently Acquired Facility Results(3):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	136,535		$	18,442		$	118,093		NM (5)
Assisted and independent living revenue		24,522			2,224			22,298		NM
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	161,057		$	20,666		$	140,391		NM
Number of facilities at period end		60			9			51		NM
Actual patient days		731,412			88,485			642,927		NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		73.7	%		60.1	%				NM
Skilled mix by nursing days		33.5	%		27.0	%				NM
Skilled mix by nursing revenue		54.4	%		45.8	%				NM
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015			2014
	(Dollars in thousands)						Change			% Change
Transferred to CareTrust(4):
Skilled nursing revenue	$	-		$	-		$	-		NM
Assisted and independent living revenue		-			1,248			(1,248	)	NM
Total transitional, skilled and assisted living revenue	$	-		$	1,248		$	(1,248	)	NM
Actual patient days		-			28,016					NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds		-			70.3	%				NM
_______________________
(1) Same Facility results represent all facilities purchased prior to January 1, 2012.
(2) Transitioning Facility results represents all facilities purchased from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013.
(3) Recently Acquired Facility (or “Acquisitions”) results represent all facilities purchased on or subsequent to January 1, 2014.
(4) Transferred to CareTrust results represent the results at three independent living facilities which were transferred to CareTrust as part of the Spin-Off on June 1, 2014. These results were excluded from Same Facility for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 for comparison purposes.
(5) Not meaningful.

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. SKILLED NURSING AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE RATES AND PERCENT OF SKILLED NURSING REVENUE AND DAYS BY PAYOR

The following table reflects the change in the skilled nursing average daily revenue rates by payor source, excluding services that are not covered by the daily rate:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Skilled Nursing Average Daily Revenue Rates:
Medicare	$	562.35	$	552.96	$	488.67	$	472.72	$	521.96	$	532.44	$	549.74	$	546.65
Managed care		421.17		412.94		457.91		475.05		436.13		445.64		426.75		418.22
Other skilled		451.25		453.22		316.70		253.00		357.12		317.07		430.03		436.48
Total skilled revenue		493.20		489.94		476.00		473.31		460.00		433.51		484.90		485.92
Medicaid		189.65		179.00		177.61		167.13		195.11		184.92		189.82		178.30
Private and other payors		194.95		188.31		139.45		151.65		202.54		211.53		191.20		185.52
Total skilled nursing revenue	$	281.65	$	266.96	$	233.66	$	220.82	$	285.08	$	255.97	$	279.09	$	262.64

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Skilled Nursing Average Daily Revenue Rates:
Medicare	$	566.01	$	553.02	$	484.84	$	462.74	$	528.84	$	523.84	$	555.32	$	546.34
Managed care		417.87		411.51		459.78		468.86		446.32		436.29		426.19		415.80
Other skilled		465.47		446.24		322.97		253.00		363.39		311.99		446.08		437.26
Total skilled revenue		498.96		490.22		474.72		464.93		467.83		426.88		492.12		486.96
Medicaid		189.03		178.69		174.22		163.54		194.98		184.32		188.78		177.50
Private and other payors		193.65		188.92		145.79		152.25		207.32		205.11		191.48		185.33
Total skilled nursing revenue	$	283.74	$	268.42	$	232.21	$	218.67	$	287.72	$	252.00	$	280.70	$	263.80


The following tables set forth our percentage of skilled nursing patient revenue and days by payor source for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Percentage of Skilled Nursing Revenue:
Medicare	28.6	%	29.4	%	26.8	%	25.3	%	25.6	%	18.8	%	27.9	%	28.6	%
Managed care	16.4		15.1		15.4		14.2		22.5		16.8		17.6		15.1
Other skilled	7.8		6.7		0.2		-		6.3		10.7		7.0		6.5
Skilled mix	52.8		51.2		42.4		39.5		54.4		46.3		52.5		50.2
Private and other payors	8.1		9.1		9.6		11.9		7.4		9.6		8.0		9.3
Quality mix	60.9		60.3		52.0		51.4		61.8		55.9		60.5		59.5
Medicaid	39.1		39.7		48.0		48.6		38.2		44.1		39.5		40.5
Total skilled nursing	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Percentage of Skilled Nursing Days:
Medicare	14.3	%	14.2	%	12.8	%	11.8	%	14.0	%	9.0	%	14.2	%	13.7	%
Managed care	10.9		9.8		7.9		6.6		14.7		9.6		11.5		9.5
Other skilled	4.9		3.9		0.1		-		5.0		8.7		4.5		3.9
Skilled mix	30.1		27.9		20.8		18.4		33.7		27.3		30.2		27.1
Private and other payors	11.8		12.9		16.0		17.4		10.4		11.6		11.8		13.2
Quality mix	41.9		40.8		36.8		35.8		44.1		38.9		42.0		40.3
Medicaid	58.1		59.2		63.2		64.2		55.9		61.1		58.0		59.7
Total skilled nursing	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Percentage of Skilled Nursing Revenue:
Medicare	30.3	%	30.6	%	27.1	%	25.2	%	24.9	%	17.8	%	29.2	%	29.9	%
Managed care	15.8		15.0		15.2		15.0		23.4		17.9		17.0		15.1
Other skilled	7.3		6.2		0.2		-		6.1		10.1		6.7		5.9
Skilled mix	53.4		51.8		42.5		40.2		54.4		45.8		52.9		50.9
Private and other payors	8.2		9.1		9.8		11.9		8.6		8.2		8.4		9.2
Quality mix	61.6		60.9		52.3		52.1		63.0		54.0		61.3		60.1
Medicaid	38.4		39.1		47.7		47.9		37.0		46.0		38.7		39.9
Total skilled nursing	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Same Facility				Transitioning				Acquisitions				Total
	2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
Percentage of Skilled Nursing Days:
Medicare	15.2	%	14.9	%	13.0	%	11.9	%	13.6	%	8.6	%	14.8	%	14.4	%
Managed care	10.7		9.8		7.7		7.0		15.1		10.4		11.2		9.6
Other skilled	4.5		3.7		0.1		-		4.8		8.0		4.2		3.6
Skilled mix	30.4		28.4		20.8		18.9		33.5		27.0		30.2		27.6
Private and other payors	12.0		12.8		15.6		17.0		11.9		10.1		12.3		13.0
Quality mix	42.4		41.2		36.4		35.9		45.4		37.1		42.5		40.6
Medicaid	57.6		58.8		63.6		64.1		54.6		62.9		57.5		59.4
Total skilled nursing	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. SELECT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (Unaudited)

The following tables summarize our selected performance indicators for our home health and hospice segment along with other statistics, for each of the dates or periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
		2015		2014	Change			% Change
	(Dollars in thousands)
Results:
Home health and hospice revenue
Home health services:	$	12,794	$	7,655	$	5,139			67.1		%
Hospice services:		12,456		6,930		5,526			79.7
Total home health and hospice revenue		25,250		14,585		10,665			73.1		%
Home health services:
Medicare Episodic Admissions		1,856		1,328		528			39.8		%
Average Medicare Revenue per Completed Episode	$	2,920	$	2,984	$	(64	)		(2.1	)	%
Hospice services:
Average Daily Census		764		451		313			69.4		%

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2015		2014	Change			% Change
	(Dollars in thousands)
Results:
Home health and hospice revenue
Home health services:	$	34,452	$	20,938	$	13,514			64.5		%
Hospice services:		29,057		17,497		11,560			66.1
Total home health and hospice revenue	$	63,509	$	38,435	$	25,074			65.2		%
Home health services:
Medicare Episodic Admissions		5,343		3,845		1,498			39.0		%
Average Medicare Revenue per Completed Episode	$	2,960	$	2,936	$	24			0.8		%
Hospice services:
Average Daily Census		622		408		214			52.5		%

THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC. REVENUE BY PAYOR SOURCE

The following table sets forth our total revenue by payor source and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:

	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2015				2014				2015				2014
	$		%		$		%		$		%		$		%
Revenue:	(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
Medicaid	$	114,106	32.5	%	$	91,707	35.2	%	$	316,608	32.7	%	$	260,986	34.8	%
Medicare		101,212	28.8			78,056	29.9			290,964	30.0			231,860	30.9
Medicaid—skilled		18,924	5.4			13,614	5.2			51,206	5.3			36,575	4.9
Total		234,242	66.7			183,377	70.3			658,778	68.0			529,421	70.6
Managed care		54,411	15.5			36,562	14.0			148,374	15.3			105,316	14.0
Private and other⁽¹⁾		62,433	17.8			40,902	15.7			161,519	16.7			115,800	15.4
Total revenue	$	351,086	100.0	%	$	260,841	100.0	%	$	968,671	100.0	%	$	750,537	100.0	%
(1) Private and other payors in our "All Other" category includes revenue from urgent care centers, mobile x-ray and diagnostic operations and other ancillary businesses.

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA consists of net income before (a) interest expense, net, (b) provisions for income taxes and (c) depreciation and amortization. EBITDAR consists of net income before (a) interest expense, net, (b) provisions for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization and (d) rent-cost of services. Adjusted EBITDA consists of net income before (a) interest expense, net, (b) provisions for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization, (d) costs incurred for operations currently being constructed and other start-up operations, (e) expenses incurred in connection with the Spin-Off, (f) stock-based compensation expense, (g) costs incurred related to new systems implementation, (h) breakup fee, net of costs, received in connection with a public auction in which we were the priority bidder, (i) costs incurred to recognize income tax credits which contributed to a decrease in effective tax rate, (j) costs incurred to acquire operations which are not capitalized, (k) operating results at urgent care centers, excluding depreciation, interest and income taxes and (l) results at three independent living operations which were transferred to Care Trust REIT as part of the Spin-Off transaction, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDAR consists of net income before (a) interest expense, net, (b)provisions for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization, (d) rent-cost of services, (e) costs incurred for facilities currently being constructed and other start-up operations, (f) expenses incurred in connection with the Spin-Off, (g) stock-based compensation expense, (h) costs incurred related to new systems implementation, (i) breakup fee, net of costs, received in connection with a public auction in which we were the priority bidder , (j) costs incurred to recognize income tax credits which contributed to a decrease in effective tax rate, (k) costs incurred to acquire operations which are not capitalized, (l) operating results at urgent care centers, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes and (m) results at three independent living operations which were transferred to Care Trust REIT as part of the Spin-Off transaction, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes. The company believes that the presentation of EBITDA, EBITDAR, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share provides important supplemental information to management and investors to evaluate the company’s operating performance. The company believes disclosure of adjusted net income per share, EBITDA, EBITDAR, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAR has economic substance because the excluded revenues and expenses are infrequent in nature and are variable in nature, or do not represent current revenues or cash expenditures. A material limitation associated with the use of these measures as compared to the GAAP measures of net income and diluted earnings per share is that they may not be comparable with the calculation of net income and diluted earnings per share for other companies in the company's industry. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. For further information regarding why the company believes that this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses this measure, and some of the limitations associated with the use of this measure, please refer to the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The company’s periodic filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or under the "Financial Information" link of the Investor Relations section on Ensign’s website at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

The Ensign Group Meets Consensus of $0.60 Per Share; Increases 2015 Guidance and Issues 2016 Guidance

Conference Call and Webcast Scheduled for Tomorrow, November 4, 2015 at 10:00 am PT

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