athenahealth Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results


Q4 2017 Financial Results 

  • 14% Revenue Growth Over Fourth Quarter of 2016
  • GAAP Operating Income of $38.7 million
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income of $77.6 million
  • GAAP Net Income of $31.6 million, or $0.78 Per Diluted Share
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income of $45.1 million, or $1.11 Per Diluted Share

Full Year 2017 Financial Results 

  • 13% Revenue Growth Over Full Year 2016
  • GAAP Operating Income of $70.6 million
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income of $175.0 million
  • GAAP Net Income of $53.1 million, or $1.31 Per Diluted Share
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income of $101.0 million, or $2.48 Per Diluted Share

WATERTOWN, Mass., Feb. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- athenahealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHN), a leading provider of network-enabled services for hospital and ambulatory clients nationwide, today announced financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017. We will conduct a conference call tomorrow, Friday, February 2, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. 

“Looking back on 2017, I am proud of all that we accomplished. It was an extraordinary year of network growth.  We surpassed the 100 million patient threshold and now serve more than 100,000 healthcare providers,” said Jonathan Bush, chief executive officer of athenahealth. “We also took action to create a more focused and efficient company and enhance the depth of talent on our Board and management team. As a result, athenahealth is better positioned to drive increased levels of profitable growth and enhance shareholder value.  In 2018, I look forward to continued progress on our journey to transform the healthcare industry.” 

Q4 2017 Financial Results

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, total revenue was $329.2 million, compared to $288.2 million in the same period last year, an increase of 14%.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Gross Margin was 55.6%, compared to 53.7% in the same period last year.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, Service Automation Rate, formerly referred to as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin, was 68.0%, compared to 66.2% in the same period last year.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Operating Income was $38.7 million, or 11.8% of total revenue, compared to $12.4 million, or 4.3% of total revenue, in the same period last year.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income was $77.6 million, or 23.6% of total revenue, compared to $42.5 million, or 14.7% of total revenue, in the same period last year.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Net Income was $31.6 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to $9.8 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

  • For the three months ended December 31, 2017, Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income was $45.1 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared to $25.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

Full Year 2017 Financial Results

  • For the full year 2017, total revenue was $1,220.3 million, compared to full year 2016 revenue of $1,082.9 million, an increase of 13%.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Gross Margin was 52.6%, compared to 50.7% for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, Service Automation Rate, formerly referred to as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin, was 64.6%, compared to 64.1% for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Operating Income was $70.6 million, or 5.8% of total revenue, compared to $26.6 million, or 2.5% of total revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income was $175.0 million, or 14.3% of total revenue, compared to $132.3 million, or 12.2% of total revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, GAAP Net Income was $53.1 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, compared to $21.0 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income was $101.0 million, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $76.0 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

  • For the year ended December 31, 2017, consolidated bookings were $293 million, compared to $348 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

“We closed the year with strong financial performance during the fourth quarter. We achieved double digit top-line growth driven by a 15% increase in providers on our network. This revenue growth, combined with execution on our plans to reduce expenses and operate more efficiently, resulted in strong margin expansion,” said Marc Levine, chief financial officer of athenahealth. “At our upcoming Investor Summit, we plan to introduce our 2018 financial outlook, as well as provide an update on our plans to help healthcare organizations of all sizes reinvent workflows, advance connectedness, and achieve solid financial and clinical results.”

Network Growth

We continued to expand our network across ambulatory (athenaOne), hospital (athenaOne for Hospitals & Health Systems) and population health (athenahealth Population Health). Our network growth metrics for Q3 2017 to Q4 2017 are summarized in the following table:

      
 athenaOne (Ambulatory) athenaOne
(Hospital)
 Population
Health
 Collector
Providers
Clinicals
Providers
Communicator
Providers
 Discharge Bed
Days
 Covered Lives
Ending Balance as of 9/30/17106,482 57,936 67,590  19,790  3,242,628 
Sequential Growth4,166 2,406 2,325  7,609  46,611 
Ending Balance as of 12/31/17110,648 60,342 69,915  27,399  3,289,239 
Sequential Growth %4%4%3% 38% 1%
             

Our network growth metrics for Q4 2016 to Q4 2017 is summarized in the following table: 

      
 athenaOne (Ambulatory) athenaOne
(Hospital)
 Population
Health
 Collector
Providers
Clinicals
Providers
Communicator
Providers
 Discharge Bed
Days
 Covered Lives
Ending Balance as of 12/31/1696,542 49,482 57,861  6,107  2,215,451 
Growth vs. Prior Year14,106 10,860 12,054  21,292  1,073,788 
Ending Balance as of 12/31/17110,648 60,342 69,915  27,399  3,289,239 
Growth vs. Prior Year %15%22%21% 349% 48%
             

Fiscal Year 2018 Outlook

We plan to introduce our fiscal year 2018 guidance at our 2018 Investor Summit on February 15, 2018. We will provide our guidance prior to the impact of any new accounting standards to allow for comparability against historical results.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

In our earnings releases, prepared remarks, conference calls, slide presentations, and webcasts, we may use or discuss non-GAAP financial measures, as defined by Regulation G. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to each non-GAAP financial measure used or discussed, and a reconciliation of the differences between each non-GAAP financial measure and the comparable GAAP financial measure, are included in this press release after the consolidated financial statements. Our earnings press releases containing such non-GAAP reconciliations can be found in the Investors section of our website at www.athenahealth.com.

Conference Call Information

To participate in our live conference call and webcast on Friday, February 2, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, please dial 877.853.5645 (or 408.940.3868 for international calls) using conference code no. 8573239, or visit the Investors section of our website at www.athenahealth.com. A webcast replay will also be archived on our website.

About athenahealth, Inc. 

athenahealth partners with hospital and ambulatory clients to drive clinical and financial results. We offer medical record, revenue cycle, patient engagement, care coordination, and population health services. We combine insights from our network of approximately 111,000 providers and 106 million patients with deep industry knowledge and perform administrative work at scale. For more information, please visit www.athenahealth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding management’s expectations for our journey to transform the healthcare industry and our plans to help healthcare organizations of all sizes achieve solid financial and clinical results. Forward-looking statements may be identified with words such as “will,” “may,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “upcoming,” “believe,” “estimate,” or similar terminology, and the negative of these terms. Forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: our ability to successfully implement our strategic initiatives and achieve their anticipated impact; our highly competitive industry and our ability to compete effectively and remain innovative; the development of the market for cloud-based healthcare information technology services; changes in the healthcare industry and their impact on the demand for our services; our ability to manage changes in our management team and changes resulting from our workforce reductions and office closures; the impact of our Praxify acquisition; our ability to maintain consistently high growth rates due to lengthening customer sales cycles and lower utilization; the impact of changes in our business model and structure; our ability to effectively manage growth; our ability to protect our intellectual property; current and future litigation, including for intellectual property infringement; our dependence on third-party providers; risks and costs associated with our worldwide operations; our ability to attract and retain highly-skilled employees; our fluctuating operating results; our ability to retain our clients and maintain client revenue; our tax liability and the impact of changes in tax laws; the impact of new accounting rules; our variable sales and implementation cycles; the timing at which we recognize certain revenue and our ability to evaluate our prospects; defects and errors in our software or services, or interruptions or damages to our systems or those of third parties on which we rely; a data security breach; limitations on our use of data; the effect of payer and provider conduct; the failure of our services to provide accurate and timely information; changing government regulation and the costs and challenges of compliance; the potential for illegal behavior by employees or subcontractors; and the price volatility of our common stock. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. For additional information regarding these and other risks faced by us, refer to our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) available on the Investors section of our website at  www.athenahealth.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Contact Info:
Dana Quattrochi
athenahealth, Inc. (Investors)
investorrelations@athenahealth.com
(617) 402-1329

Holly Spring
athenahealth, Inc. (Media)
media@athenahealth.com
(617) 402-1631 

athenahealth, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts) 

     
  December 31,
 2017
 December 31,
 2016
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $165.1  $147.4 
Accounts receivable, net 169.5  161.6 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 46.8  34.2 
Total current assets 381.4  343.2 
Property and equipment, net 355.1  347.7 
Capitalized software costs, net 139.7  125.8 
Purchased intangible assets, net 108.6  112.1 
Goodwill 274.4  240.7 
Deferred tax asset, net 41.8  2.2 
Investments and other assets 31.3  17.5 
Total assets $1,332.3  $1,189.2 
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $10.6  $9.5 
Accrued compensation 94.7  89.7 
Accrued expenses 51.5  51.7 
Long-term debt 20.2  18.3 
Deferred revenue 30.7  28.7 
Total current liabilities 207.7  197.9 
Deferred rent, net of current portion 29.3  30.8 
Long-term debt, net of current portion 252.6  272.8 
Deferred revenue, net of current portion 46.5  48.4 
Other long-term liabilities 4.7  6.0 
Total liabilities 540.8  555.9 
Stockholders’ equity:    
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 5.0 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively    
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 125.0 shares authorized; 40.1 shares issued and 40.1 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017; 40.8 shares issued and 39.5 shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 0.4  0.4 
Additional paid-in capital 646.7  591.5 
Treasury stock, at cost   (1.2)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (0.4) (0.9)
Retained earnings 144.8  43.5 
Total stockholders’ equity 791.5  633.3 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $1,332.3  $1,189.2 
         

athenahealth, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)

     
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenue:        
Business services $321.3  $278.9  $1,188.4  $1,047.6 
Implementation and other 7.9  9.3  31.9  35.3 
Total revenue 329.2  288.2  1,220.3  1,082.9 
Cost of revenue 146.3  133.5  578.5  533.5 
Gross profit 182.9  154.7  641.8  549.4 
Other operating expenses:        
Selling and marketing 59.7  67.1  252.2  256.6 
Research and development 43.6  44.4  173.6  134.5 
General and administrative 40.9  30.8  145.4  131.7 
Total other operating expenses 144.2  142.3  571.2  522.8 
Operating income (loss) 38.7  12.4  70.6  26.6 
Other (expense) income:        
Interest expense (1.6) (1.1) (6.0) (5.9)
Other (expense) income (0.8) 0.2  (0.7) 0.3 
Total other (expense) income (2.4) (0.9) (6.7) (5.6)
Income before income tax provision 36.3  11.5  63.9  21.0 
Income tax provision (4.7) (1.7) (10.8)  
Net income $31.6  $9.8  $53.1  $21.0 
Net income per share – Basic $0.79  $0.25  $1.33  $0.53 
Net income per share – Diluted $0.78  $0.24  $1.31  $0.52 
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per share:        
Basic 40.0  39.5  39.9  39.3 
Diluted 40.7  40.1  40.7  40.1 
             

athenahealth, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in millions)

   
  Year Ended December 31,
  2017 2016 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net income $53.1  $21.0  $14.0 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 147.3  142.7  118.0 
Excess tax benefit from stock-based awards   (9.0) (12.9)
Deferred income tax 7.3  (9.9) (8.5)
Stock-based compensation expense 54.3  66.5  64.1 
Gain on sale of marketable securities     (28.7)
Other reconciling adjustments 4.7  (0.3) 0.1 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable, net (7.9) (13.5) (25.3)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (12.5) 5.1  4.2 
Other long-term assets (9.8) (4.3) (2.7)
Accounts payable 4.5  (4.8) 2.8 
Accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities (3.7) (0.9) 8.2 
Accrued compensation 4.5  1.0  17.2 
Deferred revenue 0.1  (11.4) 3.2 
Deferred rent (0.8) 0.4  10.1 
Net cash provided by operating activities 241.1  182.6  163.8 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Capitalized software costs (82.8) (89.5) (97.8)
Purchases of property and equipment (80.1) (69.0) (87.2)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments     29.8 
Payments on acquisitions, net of cash acquired (41.1) (16.9) (39.9)
Other investing activities   0.5  (4.0)
Net cash used in investing activities (204.0) (174.9) (199.1)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock plans and warrants 16.5  16.2  22.1 
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of stock awards (17.9) (19.6) (21.4)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based awards   9.0  12.9 
Proceeds from long-term debt     300.0 
Proceeds from line of credit     60.0 
Payments on line of credit     (95.0)
Payments on long-term debt (18.8) (7.5) (173.8)
Other financing activities 0.1  (0.1) (1.0)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (20.1) (2.0) 103.8 
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 0.7  (0.2) (0.4)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 17.7  5.5  68.1 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 147.4  141.9  73.8 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $165.1  $147.4  $141.9 
             

athenahealth, Inc.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
(Unaudited, in millions)

Set forth below is a breakout of stock-based compensation impacting the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

    
(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Stock-based compensation charged to Consolidated Statements of Income:       
Cost of revenue$3.3  $4.2  $13.8  $17.9 
Selling and marketing2.8  4.7  16.0  19.0 
Research and development2.9  2.9  13.2  12.3 
General and administrative2.8  3.9  11.3  17.3 
Total stock-based compensation expense11.8  15.7  54.3  66.5 
Amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development allocated to cost of revenue (1)0.4  1.1  2.5  4.9 
Amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development allocated to research and development (1)
0.2    0.3  0.1 
 $12.4  $16.8  $57.1  $71.5 
        


(1) For the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $0.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation was capitalized in the line item Capitalized Software Costs, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $2.5 million and $2.2 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation was capitalized in the line item Capitalized Software Costs, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
   

athenahealth, Inc.
AMORTIZATION OF PURCHASED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
(Unaudited, in millions)

Set forth below is a breakout of amortization of purchased intangible assets impacting the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:  

    
(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Amortization of purchased intangible assets allocated to:
       
Cost of revenue$1.9  $2.0  $6.2  $9.1 
Selling and marketing3.2  3.0  12.9  11.7 
Total amortization of purchased intangible assets$5.1  $5.0  $19.1  $20.8 
        

athenahealth, Inc.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
TO COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)

The following is a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures used by us to describe our financial results determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying performance of our business operations, investors are reminded to consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, it should be noted that these non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies, and management may utilize other measures to illustrate performance in the future. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Please note that these figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.

Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin and Service Automation Rate
Set forth below is a presentation of our “Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit” and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin,” which represents Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit as a percentage of total revenue and our “Service Automation Profit” and “Service Automation Rate,” which represents Service Automation Profit as a percentage of total revenue. 

    
(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
        
Total revenue$329.2  $288.2  $1,220.3  $1,082.9 
Cost of revenue146.3  133.5  578.5  533.5 
        
GAAP Gross Profit182.9  154.7  641.8  549.4 
        
GAAP Gross Margin55.6% 53.7% 52.6% 50.7%
        
Add: Stock-based compensation           
allocated to cost of revenue3.3  4.2  13.8  17.9 
Add: Amortization of capitalized stock-based           
compensation related to software           
development allocated to cost of revenue
0.4  1.1  2.5  4.9 
Add: Amortization of purchased intangible assets           
allocated to cost of revenue1.9  2.0  6.2  9.1 
Add: Integration and transaction costs           
allocated to cost of revenue  0.1  0.2  0.1 
Add: Exit costs, including restructuring costs           
allocated to cost of revenue
6.6  0.1  6.6  0.4 
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit (as redefined)$195.1  $162.2  $671.1  $581.8 
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin (as redefined)59.3% 56.3% 55.0% 53.7%
        
Add: Amortization and depreciation expense           
allocated to cost of revenue
24.2  23.9  98.4  94.4 
Add: Overhead expense           
allocated to cost of revenue
4.5  4.6  18.5  17.8 
        
Service Automation Profit (1)$223.8  $190.7  $788.0  $694.0 
Service Automation Rate (1)68.0% 66.2% 64.6% 64.1%


(1) Service Automation Profit and Service Automation Rate, formerly referred to as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit and Margin, excludes amortization, depreciation, and overhead costs.
   

Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income
Set forth below is a reconciliation of our “Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income” and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income Margin,” which represents Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of total revenue. 

    
(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
        
Total revenue$329.2  $288.2  $1,220.3  $1,082.9 
        
GAAP net income31.6  9.8  53.1  21.0 
  Add: Provision for income taxes4.7  1.7  10.8   
  Add: Total other expense2.4  0.9  6.7  5.6 
GAAP operating income
$38.7  $12.4  $70.6  $26.6 
        
GAAP operating margin
11.8% 4.3% 5.8% 2.5%
        
  Add: Stock-based compensation expense11.8  15.7  54.3  66.5 
  Add: Amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development0.6  1.1  2.8  5.0 
  Add: Amortization of purchased intangible assets5.1  5.0  19.1  20.8 
  Add: Integration and transaction costs2.7  1.3  9.5  2.4 
  Add: Exit costs, including restructuring costs
18.7  7.0  18.7  11.3 
  Less: Gain on investments, net
      (0.3)
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income$77.6  $42.5  $175.0  $132.3 
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income Margin23.6% 14.7% 14.3% 12.2%
            

Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income
Set forth below is a reconciliation of our “Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income” and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share.” 

    
(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
        
GAAP net income$31.6  $9.8  $53.1  $21.0 
  Add: Stock-based compensation expense11.8  15.7  54.3  66.5 
  Add: Amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development0.6  1.1  2.8  5.0 
  Add: Amortization of purchased intangible assets5.1  5.0  19.1  20.8 
  Add: Integration and transaction costs2.7  1.3  9.5  2.4 
  Add: Exit costs, including restructuring costs18.7  7.0  18.7  11.3 
  Less: Gain on investments, net
      (0.3)
        
  Sub-total of tax deductible items38.9  30.1  104.4  105.7 
        
  Add: Tax impact of tax deductible items (1)(15.6) (12.0) (41.8) (42.3)
  Add: Tax impact resulting from applying non-GAAP tax rate (2)(9.8) (2.9) (14.7) (8.4)
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income$45.1  $25.0  $101.0  $76.0 
        
Weighted average shares - diluted40.7  40.1  40.7  40.1 
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share$1.11  $0.62  $2.48  $1.90 


(1) Tax impact calculated using a statutory tax rate of 40%.
(2) Represents adjusting the GAAP net income at a non-GAAP tax rate of 40%. We used a non-GAAP tax rate of 40% to normalize the tax impact to our Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share based on the fact that a relatively small change in pre-tax GAAP income (loss) in any one period could result in a volatile GAAP effective tax rate.
   


(unaudited, in millions)Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
        
GAAP net income per share - diluted$0.78  $0.24  $1.31  $0.52 
  Add: Stock-based compensation expense0.29  0.39  1.33  1.66 
  Add: Amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development0.01  0.03  0.07  0.12 
  Add: Amortization of purchased intangible assets0.13  0.12  0.47  0.52 
  Add: Integration and transaction costs0.07  0.03  0.23  0.06 
  Add: Exit costs, including restructuring costs
0.46  0.17  0.46  0.28 
  Less: Gain on investments, net      (0.01)
        
  Sub-total of tax deductible items0.96  0.75  2.57  2.64 
        
  Add: Tax impact of tax deductible items (1)(0.38) (0.30) (1.03) (1.05)
  Add: Tax impact resulting from applying non-GAAP tax rate (2)
(0.24) (0.07) (0.36) (0.21)
        
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share$1.11  $0.62  $2.48  $1.90 
        
Weighted average shares - diluted40.7  40.1  40.7  40.1 


(1) Tax impact calculated using a statutory tax rate of 40%.
(2) Represents adjusting the GAAP net income at a non-GAAP tax rate of 40%. We used a non-GAAP tax rate of 40% to normalize the tax impact to our Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share based on the fact that a relatively small change in pre-tax GAAP income (loss) in any one period could result in a volatile GAAP effective tax rate.
   

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. However, management believes that, in order to properly understand our short-term and long-term financial and operational trends, investors may wish to consider the impact of certain non-cash or non-recurring items when used as a supplement to financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP. These items result from facts and circumstances that vary in frequency and impact on continuing operations. Management also uses results of operations before such items to evaluate the operating performance of athenahealth and compare it against past periods, make operating decisions, and serve as a basis for strategic planning. These non-GAAP financial measures provide management with additional means to understand and evaluate the operating results and trends in our ongoing business by eliminating certain non-cash expenses and other items that management believes might otherwise make comparisons of our ongoing business with prior periods more difficult, obscure trends in ongoing operations, or reduce management’s ability to make useful forecasts. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional means of evaluating period-over-period operating performance. In addition, management understands that some investors and financial analysts find this information helpful in analyzing our financial and operational performance and comparing this performance to our peers and competitors. 

In Q4 2016, management redefined “Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit” as total revenue, less cost of revenue, plus (1) stock-based compensation expense allocated to cost of revenue, (2) amortization of purchased intangible assets allocated to cost of revenue, (3) integration and transaction costs allocated to cost of revenue, and (4) exit costs, including restructuring costs allocated to cost of revenue, and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin” as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit as a percentage of total revenue. Management defines “Service Automation Profit”, formerly referred to as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Profit, as total revenue, less cost of revenue, plus (1) stock-based compensation expense allocated to cost of revenue, (2) amortization of purchased intangible assets allocated to cost of revenue, (3) integration and transaction costs allocated to cost of revenue, (4) exit costs, including restructuring costs allocated to cost of revenue, (5) amortization and depreciation expense allocated to cost of revenue, and (6) overhead expense allocated to cost of revenue, and “Service Automation Rate”, formerly referred to as Non-GAAP Adjusted Gross Margin, as Service Automation Profit as a percentage of total revenue. Management considers these non-GAAP financial measures and metrics to be important indicators of our operational strength and performance of our business and a good measure of our historical operating trends. Moreover, management believes that these measures and metrics enable investors and financial analysts to closely monitor and understand changes in our ability to generate income from ongoing business operations.

Management defines “Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income” as the sum of GAAP net income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes; total other expense (income); stock-based compensation expense; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development; amortization of purchased intangible assets; integration and transaction costs; exit costs, including restructuring costs; and gain or loss on investments; and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income Margin” as Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income as a percentage of total revenue. Management defines “Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income” as the sum of GAAP net income before stock-based compensation expense; amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development; amortization of purchased intangible assets; integration and transaction costs; exit costs, including restructuring costs; and gain or loss on investments and any tax impact related to these preceding items; and an adjustment to the tax provision for the non-GAAP tax rate and “Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share” as Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Management considers these non-GAAP financial measures to be important indicators of our operational strength and performance of our business and a good measure of our historical operating trends. Moreover, management believes that these measures enable investors and financial analysts to closely monitor and understand changes in our ability to generate income from ongoing business operations.

Management excludes or adjusts each of the items identified below from the applicable non-GAAP financial measure or metric referenced above for the reasons set forth with respect to that excluded item:

  • Stock-based compensation expense and amortization of capitalized stock-based compensation related to software development — excluded because these are non-cash expenditures that management does not consider part of ongoing operating results when assessing the performance of our business, and also because the total amount of the expenditure is partially outside of our control because it is based on factors such as stock price, volatility, and interest rates, which may be unrelated to our performance during the period in which the expenses are incurred.

  • Amortization of purchased intangible assets — purchased intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives and generally cannot be changed or influenced by management after the acquisition. Accordingly, this item is not considered by management in making operating decisions. Management does not believe such charges accurately reflect the performance of our ongoing operations for the period in which such charges are incurred.

  • Integration and transaction costs — Integration costs are the severance payments and retention bonuses for certain employees related to specific transactions. Transaction costs are costs related to strategic transactions. Accordingly, management believes that such expenses do not have a direct correlation to future business operations, and therefore, these costs are not considered by management in making operating decisions. Management does not believe such charges accurately reflect the performance of our ongoing operations for the period in which such charges are incurred.

  • Exit costs, including restructuring costs — represent costs incurred as a result of strategic realignments including those related to workforce reductions, termination of certain lease or other agreements, and non-cash charges related to the write down of certain assets. Management does not believe such costs accurately reflect the performance of our ongoing operations for the period in which such costs are incurred.

  • Gain or loss on investments — represents gains or losses on the sales, conversions, or impairments of our investments, such as marketable securities and More Disruption Please (“MDP”) Accelerator investments. Management does not believe such gains or losses accurately reflect the performance of our ongoing operations for the period in which such gains or losses are reported.

  • Non-GAAP tax rate — We use a non-GAAP tax rate of 40%, which approximates our marginal statutory rate, to normalize the tax impact to our Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share based on the fact that a relatively small change in pre-tax GAAP income (loss) in any one period could result in a volatile GAAP effective tax rate.