Q4 Loss Widens at Amedisys - Analyst Blog
March 13 2014 - 9:00AM
Zacks
Home healthcare provider
Amedisys Inc. (AMED) recorded adjusted loss from
continuing operations per share of 5 cents in the fourth quarter of
2013, a massive downfall from the adjusted income from continuing
operations of 25 cents earned in the year-ago quarter. Reported
loss was also wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 3
cents a share.
Per management, three factors led
to the earnings downfall: higher cost per visit in home health,
higher-than-expected employee healthcare cost and an accrual of
$450,000 related to one of the company’s care centers. For the full
year, adjusted net income from continuing operations came in at 27
cents per share, deteriorating significantly from the year-ago
figure of $1.15.
Quarter in
Detail
Amedisys primarily derives revenues
from its home health and hospice agencies. Fourth-quarter net
service revenue grossed $303.5 million, down 13.7% year over year.
However, the top line fared better than the Zacks Consensus
Estimate of $295 million. Total revenue in 2013 came in at $1,249.3
million, down 13.3%.
Within the company’s Home Health
division, net service revenue was $238.4 million (down 14.7% year
over year) with Medicare revenues of $193.1 million and
non-Medicare revenues of $45.3 million.
Within the hospice division, net
service revenue was $65.1 million (down 9.5% year over year)
including Medicare revenues of $67.8 million and non-Medicare
revenues of $4.1 million in the quarter.
The company reported a 252 basis
points (bps) contraction in gross margin to 40.9% in the quarter.
Expenses on salaries and benefits declined 9.3% to $74.6 million,
while other expenses decreased 11.6% to $41.5 million. Amedisys
posted adjusted operating margin contraction of 401 bps to 4.9% in
the quarter.
Amedisys exited the fiscal with
cash and cash equivalents of $17.3 million compared with $14.5
million at the end of 2012. The company’s long-term obligations
(including current portion) were $46.9 million as against $102.7
million at the end of 2012. Net cash provided by operating
activities in the quarter was $8.4 million, down 48.0% year over
year.
Our Take
Amedisys posted yet another weak
quarter with sustained volume pressure. Although the company’s
revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, the bottom line
missed the same. The company also failed to meet its guidance for
another quarter. We believe that poor segment performance, sluggish
growth trend and the adverse impact from sequestration led to the
dismal fourth-quarter results. Moreover, the fact that no guidance
was provided for the upcoming fiscal, failed to inspire
confidence.
We believe that the highly
uncertain home nursing reimbursement environment, coupled with
significant reduction in Medicare reimbursement in the recent past
has affected Amedisys’ performance over the past few quarters. We
expect the healthcare reimbursement pressure to persist even in
2014, thereby weakening the company’s performance further.
Currently, the stock carries a
Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). On the other hand, medical sector stocks such
as Covidien plc (COV), Stryker
Corporation (SYK) and SurModics, Inc.
(SRDX) are expected to do well. All the three stocks hold a Zacks
Rank #2 (Buy).
AMEDISYS INC (AMED): Free Stock Analysis Report
COVIDIEN PLC (COV): Free Stock Analysis Report
SURMODICS (SRDX): Free Stock Analysis Report
STRYKER CORP (SYK): Free Stock Analysis Report
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