HMS Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results

• Record 4Q’18 Total Revenue of $155.8 Million and Record Full Year 2018 Revenue of $598.3 Million
• 4Q’18 GAAP EPS of $0.38 Per Diluted Share, Including Discrete Tax Benefits of $0.17 Per Diluted Share
• 4Q’18 Adjusted EPS of $0.31 Per Diluted Share Excluding Discrete Tax Benefits of $0.17 Per Diluted Share
• 4Q’18 Net Income of $33.4 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $46.1 Million
• 2019 Outlook Includes Projected Total Revenue of $640-650 Million, Net Income of $64-70 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $170-175 Million

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMS Holdings Corp.  (Nasdaq: HMSY) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.

“Our fourth quarter results capped a very strong year of growth in 2018, which included record full-year revenue that increased 15%, net income that increased 37% and adjusted EBITDA that increased 30% compared to the prior year,” said Bill Lucia, Chairman and CEO.  “We significantly exceeded the expectations we outlined at the beginning of the year, due primarily to stronger than anticipated double-digit growth in both our payment integrity and total population management offerings. Our technology investments contributed meaningfully to margin expansion and improved profitability in 2018, and we believe we are only in the early stages of realizing the full benefits of this operational leverage.”

“We expect to continue our top and bottom line growth in 2019 by advancing our strategic priorities to leverage our expansive customer base, maintaining our focus on customer satisfaction and employee engagement, and taking full advantage of the scalability of our business model to further improve our profit margins and maximize the value of our data assets and technology investments,” Lucia concluded.  

Fourth Quarter 2018
Total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 was a record $155.8 million, compared to total revenue of $148.5 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+4.9%). 

Commercial revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $84.2 million, compared to $77.2 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+9.1%).  State government revenue was $61.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $64.2 million in the prior year fourth quarter (-4.7%).  Federal and Other revenue was $10.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $7.1 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+46.5%).

Coordination of Benefits (COB) revenue was $98.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $105.7 million in the prior year fourth quarter (-6.4%). COB revenue accounted for 63.5% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to 71.2% in the prior year fourth quarter.

Analytical Services revenue, which includes Payment Integrity (PI) and Total Population Management (TPM), was $56.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $42.8 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+32.9%).  PI revenue, excluding Medicare RAC, was $35.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $26.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+32.0%).  Medicare RAC revenue was $5.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $2.0 million in the prior year fourth quarter.  TPM revenue was $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $13.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+15.1%).

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $33.4 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared to $25.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the prior year fourth quarter.  In the fourth quarter of 2018, net income included tax benefits totaling $0.17 per diluted share, due primarily to certain discrete tax items related to state tax apportionments, the closure of routine outstanding prior year tax audits, the exercise of employee stock options, the abandonment of subsidiary stock related to a 2010 acquisition, and year-end federal and state tax adjustments or provision true ups.  In the fourth quarter of 2017, net income included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.18 per diluted share due to the revaluation of the Company's deferred tax balances pursuant to the corporate tax rate reduction included in federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $46.1 million compared to $40.2 million in the prior year fourth quarter (+14.7%).

Adjusted EPS in the fourth quarter of 2018 was $0.48 per diluted share, including tax benefits totaling $0.17 per diluted share due primarily to the discrete tax items mentioned above. Adjusted EPS in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $0.49 per diluted share, including a non-cash tax benefit of $0.25 per diluted share due to the revaluation of the Company's deferred tax balances pursuant to the tax rate reduction included in federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017. Excluding the discrete tax items from both periods, adjusted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $0.31 per diluted share, compared to $0.24 per diluted share in the prior year fourth quarter (+29.2%).

Full Year 2018
For the year ended December 31, 2018, total revenue was a record $598.3 million, compared to 2017 total revenue of $521.2 million (+14.8%).  2018 revenue included $8.4 million in the first quarter related to a reversal of the Company’s reserve liability for open or pending Medicare RAC appeals following expiration of the original Medicare RAC contract on January 31, 2018 (the “Reserve Release”).  2018 revenue also included $51.9 million in revenue from the Company’s Eliza subsidiary, compared to $30.5 million in the prior year following the Company’s acquisition of Eliza in April 2017.  The Company estimates that, from January 1, 2017 to the acquisition date, the Eliza business generated approximately $12.6 million in revenue that has not been included in the Company’s operating results.

Full year 2018 Commercial revenue was a record $323.2 million, compared to $269.2 million in 2017 (+20.1%).  State government revenue was a record $233.9 million, compared to $227.0 million in 2017 (+3.0%).  Federal and Other revenue was $41.2 million, compared to $25.0 million in 2017 (+64.8%).

COB revenue for the full year 2018 was $397.1 million, compared to $382.7 million in 2017 (+3.8%).

Analytical Services revenue for the full year 2018 was $201.2 million, compared to $138.5 million in the prior year (+45.3%).  Year-over-year Analytical Services revenue growth would have been 33.2% if 2017 revenue were adjusted to include estimated 2017 pre-acquisition revenue of the Eliza business.  PI revenue, excluding Medicare RAC, was $123.9 million in 2018, compared to $102.0 million in the prior year (+21.5%). Medicare RAC revenue was $20.2 million in 2018, including the $8.4 million Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $2.4 million in 2017.  TPM revenue was $57.1 million in full year 2018, compared to $34.1 million in 2017 (+67.4%).  Year-over-year TPM revenue growth would have been 22.3% if 2017 revenue were adjusted to include estimated 2017 pre-acquisition revenue of the Eliza business.  

Full year 2018 net income was $55.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared to $40.1 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the prior year (+37.2%).  Net income for 2018 included $0.05 per diluted share related to the Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018 and discrete tax benefits recorded in the third and fourth quarters totaling $0.19 per diluted share.  Net income for 2017 included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.40 per diluted share, due to the revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax balances pursuant to the corporate tax rate deduction included in federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017.

Full year 2018 adjusted EBITDA was a record $162.3 million, compared to $124.6 million in the prior year (+30.2%).  Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 included $6.3 million related to the Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018.

Adjusted EPS for the full year 2018 was $1.28 per diluted share compared to $1.11 per diluted share for the full year 2017.  Excluding the discrete tax benefits in both years described above and the Reserve Release benefit in the first quarter of 2018, adjusted EPS for 2018 was $1.04 per diluted share compared to $0.71 per diluted share for 2017 (+46.5%).  

Cash Flow and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities in the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 was $96.5 million compared to $86.5 million in 2017 (+11.6%).  Capital expenditures were $30.4 million for the full year 2018, compared to $33.0 million in 2017.  

The Company's balance sheet at December 31, 2018 included $178.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and $240.0 million in outstanding bank debt, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $83.3 million and outstanding bank debt of $240.0 million at December 31, 2017.

“We ended 2018 with a stronger balance sheet and enhanced liquidity to support our business growth and future investments, and expect a continuation of solid revenue growth and margin expansion in the year ahead,” said Jeff Sherman, CFO.  “The full year 2019 guidance we are issuing today reflects our expectation of high single digit to low double digit revenue growth, with net income and adjusted EBITDA increasing at a rate exceeding revenue growth.  We believe the tremendous progress we made throughout last year positions HMS well to achieve our performance goals in 2019.”

Financial Guidance for Full Year 2019

1. Reported 2018 revenue included $8.4 million related to the Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018.  Including the Reserve Release, total revenue growth is expected to be 7.0-8.6% in 2019.  Excluding the Reserve Release, total revenue growth is expected to be 8.4-10.2% in 2019.
2. Reported 2018 net income included $4.7 million related to the Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018.  Including the Reserve Release, net income growth is expected to be 16.4-27.3% in 2019.  Excluding the Reserve Release, net income growth is expected to be 27.2-39.2% in 2019.
3. Reported 2018 adjusted EBITDA included $6.3 million related to the Reserve Release in the first quarter of 2018. Including the Reserve Release, adjusted EBITDA growth is expected to be 4.7-7.8% in 2019.  Excluding the Reserve Release, adjusted EBITDA growth is expected to be 9.0-12.2% in 2019.

Key considerations underlying the Company's full year 2019 financial guidance include:

• Depreciation and amortization of approximately $44 million
• Stock-based compensation expense of approximately $22 million
• Net interest expense of approximately $12 million
• An effective annual tax rate of 28-30%
• Income taxes of $27-28 million
• Capital expenditures of $35-40 million

For additional information about the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results, refer to the Investor Presentation available on the Company’s website at http://investor.hms.com/events-and-presentations.

Webcast and Conference Call Information
HMS will report its preliminary fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial and operating results via webcast at 7:30 AM CT / 8:30 AM ET on Friday, February 22, 2019. 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 (224-357–2389 for international participants), or on the HMS Investor Relations website at http://investor.hms.com/events-and-presentations. The webcast will be archived and available for replay at http://investor.hms.com/events-and-presentations. This press release and the financial statements contained herein are also available on the HMS Investor Relations website at http://investor.hms.com/press-releases.

About HMS
HMS advances the healthcare system by helping payers reduce costs and improve health outcomes. Through our industry-leading technology, analytics and engagement solutions, we save billions of dollars annually while helping health plan members lead healthier lives. HMS provides a broad range of coordination of benefits, payment integrity, population risk analytics, care management and member engagement solutions that help move the healthcare system forward. Visit us at www.hms.com follow us on Twitter at @HMSHealthcare.

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 are relevant and provide useful information to the Company's management, investors, and other interested parties about the Company's operating performance because the measures allow them to understand and compare the Company's actual and expected operating results during the prior, current and future 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; significant competition for our solutions and services; 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; 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 or 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 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 and retaining 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; 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; 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 of 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; 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.  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
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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(unaudited) 

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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(unaudited)

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
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(4) Tax effect of adjustments is computed as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the adjusted annual effective tax rate at period end.
(5) Diluted GAAP EPS for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018 included discrete tax benefits of $0.17 per diluted share and $0.19 per diluted share, respectively, primarily related to state tax apportionments, the closure of routine outstanding prior year tax audits, the exercise of employee stock options, the abandonment of subsidiary stock related to a 2010 acquisition, and year-end federal and state tax adjustments or provision true ups.  Diluted GAAP EPS for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 included a non-cash tax benefit of $0.25 and $0.40 per diluted share, respectively, primarily related to federal tax legislation enacted in December 2017.

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(unaudited)

(6) Total debt consists of the outstanding principal balance under our senior secured revolving credit facility
(7) Trailing twelve months Net income
(8) Trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA
(9) Net leverage ratio is calculated by dividing the total net debt by the trailing twelve months' Adjusted EBITDA

HMS HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(unaudited)

Reconciliation of Projected 2019 Net Income to Projected 2019 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA