UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc

• Second Quarter Revenues of $56.1 Billion Grew 12% Year-Over-Year
• Earnings from Operations Increased 13% to $4.2 Billion in Second Quarter
• Cash Flows from Operations were $4 Billion in the Quarter, 1.3x Net Earnings
• Second Quarter Net Earnings of $2.98 Per Share Grew 28% Year-Over-Year
• Second Quarter Adjusted Net Earnings of $3.14 Per Share Grew 28% Year-Over-Year

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported second quarter results, with continued strong, well-diversified performance across the enterprise.

“Today, UnitedHealth Group delivers increasing value to more people, driven by strong execution, consistently high quality, deep relationships and our distinctive combination of clinical, technology and information capabilities. As we look ahead, we will drive our growth on the strength of practical innovations that anticipate and respond to increasing consumer expectations and clear social needs,” said David S. Wichmann, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

Based on first half 2018 results and the business outlook for the balance of the year, the Company has raised its outlook for 2018 net earnings to a range of $11.80 to $12.05 per share and adjusted net earnings to a range of $12.50 to $12.75 per share, and now expects cash flows from operations to approach $15.5 billion.

  Quarterly Financial Performance  

Three Months Ended

June 30,     June 30,     March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Revenues $56.1 billion $50.1 billion $55.2 billion Earnings From Operations $4.2 billion $3.7 billion $4.1 billion Net Margin   5.2%     4.6%     5.1%

• UnitedHealth Group’s second quarter 2018 revenues grew $6 billion or 12.1 percent year-over-year to $56.1 billion.
• Second quarter earnings from operations grew $473 million or 12.7 percent year-over-year to $4.2 billion. Adjusted net earnings of $3.14 per share grew 27.6 percent, with an improved net margin of 5.2 percent.
• Cash flows from operations of $4.0 billion were 1.3x net income in second quarter 2018, compared to $2.2 billion and 0.9x net income in second quarter 2017.
• The consolidated medical care ratio of 81.9 percent in the second quarter of 2018 decreased 30 basis points year-over-year, as the return of the health insurance tax more than offset business mix changes and reduced levels of prior year reserve development. Medical cost reserve development of $20 million was driven by positive development in cost estimates for first quarter 2018 business.
• The operating cost ratio of 15.0 percent in the second quarter of 2018 increased 40 basis points year-over-year, as business mix and operating cost efficiencies were more than offset by the return of the health insurance tax.
• The second quarter 2018 income tax rate of 22 percent decreased 9.5 percentage points year-over-year, reflecting the reduced federal statutory rate and stock-based compensation activity, partially offset by the return of the nondeductible health insurance tax for 2018.
• Second quarter 2018 days claims payable decreased one day sequentially to 48 days; second quarter days sales outstanding decreased one day sequentially to 18 days.
• Annualized return on shareholders’ equity was 24.4 percent in the second quarter, and the debt to total capital ratio decreased 80 basis points sequentially to 40.8 percent at June 30, 2018.
• UnitedHealth Group repurchased 2.2 million shares for $500 million in the second quarter, bringing year-to-date purchases to 13.8 million shares for $3.15 billion. Dividends paid to shareholders were $866 million in the second quarter and reflected raising the annual dividend payment rate by 20 percent to $3.60 per share inJune 2018.

UnitedHealthcare provides global health care benefits, serving individuals and employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers.

  Quarterly Financial Performance  

Three Months Ended

June 30,     June 30,     March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Revenues $45.8 billion $40.8 billion $45.5 billion Earnings From Operations $2.4 billion $2.2 billion $2.4 billion Operating Margin   5.1%     5.4%     5.3%

• UnitedHealthcare grew to serve 2.2 million more consumers1 year-over-year in the second quarter of 2018, with revenues growing by $5.1 billion or 12.4 percent to $45.8 billion. Revenue growth was driven by an increasing number of people served, a higher revenue membership mix, pricing increases to cover expected medical cost trends and resumption of the health insurance tax for 2018. Second quarter 2018 earnings from operations of $2.4 billion grew 6.6 percent.
  • UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual second quarter 2018 revenues of $13.7 billion increased $742 million year-over-year. UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual grew to serve 50,000 more people through risk-based offerings in the quarter, while fee-based products decreased by 60,000 people.
  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement grew revenues by $2.1 billion or 12.6 percent year-over-year to $18.9 billion in the second quarter of 2018. The business served 45,000 more seniors in the quarter, including 30,000 in Medicare Advantage plans. The number of people UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement served through Medicare Advantage grew by 450,000 or 10.4 percent year-over-year.
  • In second quarter 2018, UnitedHealthcare Community & State revenues of $10.7 billion grew $1.6 billion or 17.1 percent year-over-year, reflecting 12-month membership growth of 330,000 people and services to an increasing mix of individuals with higher clinical needs. Second quarter membership grew 15,000 people sequentially.
  • UnitedHealthcare Global revenues grew 33.5 percent year-over-year to $2.5 billion, due principally to business expansion.

Optum is a health services business serving the global health care marketplace, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using market-leading information, data analytics, technology and clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance: optimizing care quality, reducing health care costs and improving the consumer experience and health system performance.

  Quarterly Financial Performance  

Three Months Ended

June 30,     June 30,     March 31,

2018

2017

2018

Revenues $24.7 billion $22.7 billion $23.6 billion Earnings From Operations $1.8 billion $1.5 billion $1.7 billion Operating Margin   7.5%     6.7%     7.0%

• In the second quarter of 2018, Optum revenues grew by $2 billion or 9.1 percent year-over-year to $24.7 billion. Optum’s operating margin of 7.5 percent expanded 80 basis points year-over-year. Second quarter earnings from operations grew $327 million or 21.5 percent year-over-year to $1.8 billion, with double-digit percentage earnings growth rates for each business segment.
  • OptumHealth revenues of $5.9 billion grew $819 million or 16 percent year-over-year, driven by growth in care delivery and behavioral health, digital consumer engagement and health financial services. OptumHealth served 92 million people at quarter end, having grown to serve 6 million more people2 or 7 percent over the past year.
  • OptumInsight revenues grew 9.6 percent to $2.2 billion in second quarter 2018, leveraging its data analytics capabilities for customers and driven by growth and expansion in technology, business process and care provider advisory services. OptumInsight’s contract backlog of $15.4 billion grew $2 billion or 14.9 percent year-over-year.
  • OptumRx second quarter 2018 revenues grew 7 percent year-over-year to $16.9 billion. OptumRx fulfilled 332 million adjusted scripts in second quarter 2018, growing 3.1 percent over the prior year, with favorable mix in specialty pharmacy and home delivery services.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, UnitedHealth Group will discuss the Company’s results, strategy and future outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time today. UnitedHealth Group will host a live webcast of this conference call from the Investors page of the Company’s website (www.unitedhealthgroup.com). Following the call, a webcast replay will be available on the same site through July 31, 2018. The conference call replay can also be accessed by dialing 1-800-374-0934. This earnings release and the Form 8-K dated July 17, 2018 can also be accessed from the Investors page of the Company’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release presents non-GAAP financial information provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the accompanying tables found at the end of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this document include “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These statements are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PSLRA. Generally the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. We caution that actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage our medical costs, including the impact of any new coverage requirements; new laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application, including increases in medical, administrative, technology or other costs or decreases in enrollment resulting from U.S., South American and other jurisdictions’ regulations affecting the health care industry; the outcome of the DOJ’s legal action relating to the risk adjustment submission matter; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in CMS star ratings and other quality scores that impact revenue; reductions in revenue or delays to cash flows received under Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs, including the effects of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown or debt ceiling constraints; changes in Medicare, including changes in payment methodology, the CMS star ratings program or the application of risk adjustment data validation audits; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; failure to comply with privacy and data security regulations; regulatory and other risks and uncertainties of the pharmacy benefits management industry; competitive pressures, which could affect our ability to maintain or increase our market share; changes in or challenges to our public sector contract awards; our ability to execute contracts on competitive terms with physicians, hospitals and other service providers; failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements, including savings resulting from technology enhancement and administrative modernization; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with increased litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; failure to manage successfully our strategic alliances or complete or receive anticipated benefits of acquisitions and other strategic transactions; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on our reported shareholders’ equity and results of operations; downgrades in our credit ratings; the performance of our investment portfolio; impairment of the value of our goodwill and intangible assets if estimated future results do not adequately support goodwill and intangible assets recorded for our existing businesses or the businesses that we acquire; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products do not operate as intended; and our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or the debt or capital markets to fund our obligations, to maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, to maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle or to continue repurchasing shares of our common stock.

This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Any or all forward-looking statements we make may turn out to be wrong, and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual future results may vary materially from expectations expressed or implied in this document or any of our prior communications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

1 Reflects net consumer growth excluding the TRICARE military health program, which concluded in 2017.

2 Reflects net consumer growth excluding the TRICARE military health program, which concluded in 2017.

  UNITEDHEALTH GROUP Earnings Release Schedules and Supplementary Information Quarter Ended June 30, 2018   - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Supplemental Financial Information - Businesses - Supplemental Financial Information - Business Metrics - Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures   UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)         Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,   2018     2017     2018     2017   Revenues Premiums $ 44,458 $ 39,585 $ 88,542 $ 78,523 Products 7,004 6,415 13,706 12,544 Services 4,269 3,797 8,373 7,231 Investment and other income   355     256     653     478     Total revenues   56,086     50,053     111,274     98,776     Operating costs Medical costs 36,427 32,549 72,290 64,628 Operating costs 8,386 7,328 16,892 14,350 Cost of products sold 6,471 5,889 12,655 11,565 Depreciation and amortization   598     556     1,180     1,089     Total operating costs   51,882     46,322     103,017     91,632     Earnings from operations 4,204 3,731 8,257 7,144   Interest expense   (344 )   (301 )   (673 )   (584 )   Earnings before income taxes 3,860 3,430 7,584 6,560   Provision for income taxes   (850 )   (1,080 )   (1,650 )   (2,019 )   Net earnings 3,010 2,350 5,934 4,541   Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests   (88 )   (66 )   (176 )   (85 )  

Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders

$ 2,922   $ 2,284   $ 5,758   $ 4,456    

Diluted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders

$ 2.98   $ 2.32   $ 5.85   $ 4.55    

Adjusted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders (a)

$ 3.14   $ 2.46   $ 6.19   $ 4.83     Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding   982     985     984     980    

(a) See page 6 for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure

  UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions) (unaudited)            

     June 30,     

December 31, 2018 2017 Assets Cash and short-term investments $ 21,860 $ 15,490 Accounts receivable, net 10,874 9,568 Other current assets   13,900   12,026   Total current assets 46,634 37,084   Long-term investments 31,237 28,341 Other long-term assets   76,740   73,633   Total assets $ 154,611 $ 139,058     Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity Medical costs payable $ 19,339 $ 17,871 Commercial paper and current maturities of long-term debt 2,959 2,857 Other current liabilities   39,754   29,735   Total current liabilities 62,052 50,463   Long-term debt, less current maturities 32,096 28,835 Other long-term liabilities 7,841 7,738 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 1,839 2,189 Equity   50,783   49,833   Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity $ 154,611 $ 139,058   UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions) (unaudited)         Six Months Ended

June 30,

  2018     2017   Operating Activities Net earnings $ 5,934 $ 4,541 Noncash items: Depreciation and amortization 1,180 1,089 Deferred income taxes and other (148 ) (89 ) Share-based compensation 358 332 Net changes in operating assets and liabilities   5,052     2,754   Cash flows from operating activities   12,376     8,627     Investing Activities Purchases of investments, net of sales and maturities (2,968 ) (2,082 ) Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software (960 ) (925 ) Cash paid for acquisitions, net (2,636 ) (704 ) Other, net   (134 )   55   Cash flows used for investing activities   (6,698 )   (3,656 )   Financing Activities Common share repurchases (3,150 ) (1,045 ) Dividends paid (1,588 ) (1,320 ) Net change in commercial paper and long-term debt 2,683 (2,171 ) Other, net   2,842     3,724   Cash flows from (used for) financing activities   787     (812 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (78 )   (7 ) Increase in cash and cash equivalents 6,387 4,152 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   11,981     10,430   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 18,368   $ 14,582     Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing Activities Common stock issued for acquisitions $ - $ 1,867   UNITEDHEALTH GROUP SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - BUSINESSES (in millions, except percentages) (unaudited)           Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended

June 30,

  2018     2017     2018     2017   Revenues UnitedHealthcare $ 45,846 $ 40,788 $ 91,305 $ 80,924 Optum 24,726 22,671 48,327 43,908 Eliminations   (14,486 )   (13,406 )   (28,358 )   (26,056 )   Total consolidated revenues $ 56,086   $ 50,053   $ 111,274   $ 98,776     Earnings from Operations UnitedHealthcare $ 2,357 $ 2,211 $ 4,757 $ 4,345 Optum (a)   1,847     1,520     3,500     2,799     Total consolidated earnings from operations $ 4,204   $ 3,731   $ 8,257   $ 7,144     Operating Margin UnitedHealthcare 5.1 % 5.4 % 5.2 % 5.4 % Optum 7.5 % 6.7 % 7.2 % 6.4 %   Consolidated operating margin 7.5 % 7.5 % 7.4 % 7.2 %     Revenues UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual $ 13,708 $ 12,966 $ 27,122 $ 25,705 UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement 18,859 16,747 37,784 33,299 UnitedHealthcare Community & State 10,746 9,178 21,417 18,127 UnitedHealthcare Global 2,533 1,897 4,982 3,793   OptumHealth $ 5,941 $ 5,122 $ 11,700 $ 9,855 OptumInsight 2,185 1,993 4,254 3,836 OptumRx 16,941 15,840 33,047 30,787 Optum eliminations (341 ) (284 ) (674 ) (570 )     (a) Earnings from operations for Optum for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 included $570 and $1,058 for OptumHealth; $453 and $848 for OptumInsight; and $824 and $1,594 for OptumRx, respectively. Earnings from operations for Optum for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 included $422 and $754 for OptumHealth; $372 and $666 for OptumInsight; and $726 and $1,379 for OptumRx, respectively.   UNITEDHEALTH GROUP SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - BUSINESS METRICS                 UNITEDHEALTHCARE CUSTOMER PROFILE (in thousands)  

   June 30,   

   March 31,   

December 31,

   June 30,   

People Served 2018 2018 2017 2017   Commercial group: Risk-based 7,905 7,860 7,935 7,765 Fee-based   18,415   18,475   18,595   19,110 Total commercial group 26,320 26,335 26,530 26,875 Individual   480   475   485   540 Total Commercial (a)   26,800   26,810   27,015   27,415   Medicare Advantage 4,790 4,760 4,430 4,340 Medicaid 6,710 6,695 6,705 6,380 Medicare Supplement (Standardized)   4,505   4,490   4,445   4,360   Total Public and Senior   16,005   15,945   15,580   15,080 Total UnitedHealthcare - Domestic Medical 42,805 42,755 42,595 42,495 International   6,020   6,095   4,080   4,115   Total UnitedHealthcare - Medical   48,825   48,850   46,675   46,610     Supplemental Data   Medicare Part D stand-alone   4,730   4,770   4,940   4,935     OPTUM PERFORMANCE METRICS   June 30, March 31, December 31, June 30, 2018 2018 2017 2017   OptumHealth Consumers Served (in millions) (a) 92 91 88 86 OptumInsight Contract Backlog (in billions) $ 15.4 $ 15.2 $ 15.0 $ 13.4 OptumRx Quarterly Adjusted Scripts (in millions) 332 332 333 322  

(a) Excludes TRICARE of 2.9 million at December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017.

Note: UnitedHealth Group served 140 million unique individuals across all businesses at June 30, 2018.

  UNITEDHEALTH GROUP   Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures     - Adjusted Net Earnings per Share - Adjusted Cash Flows from Operations       Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted cash flows from operations are non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Adjusted net earnings per share excludes from the relevant GAAP metric, as applicable, intangible amortization and other items, if any, that do not relate to the Company's underlying business performance. Management believes that the use of adjusted net earnings per share provides investors and management useful information about the earnings impact of acquisition-related intangible asset amortization. Management believes the exclusion of these items provides a more useful comparison of the Company's underlying business performance from period to period.

 

Management believes that the use of adjusted cash flows from operations provides investors and management with useful information to compare our cash flows from operations for the current period to that of other periods, when the Company does not receive its monthly payment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the applicable quarter. CMS generally remits their monthly payments on the first calendar day of the applicable month. However, if the first calendar day of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday, CMS has typically paid the Company on the last business day of the preceding calendar month. Adjusted cash flows from operating activities presents operating cash flows assuming all CMS payments were received on the first calendar day of the applicable month.

  UNITEDHEALTH GROUP RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited)                 ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Three Months EndedJune 30,

Six Months EndedJune 30,

ProjectedYear EndedDecember 31,

  2018     2017     2018     2017   2018 GAAP net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders $ 2,922 $ 2,284 $ 5,758 $ 4,456 $11,625 to $11,875 Intangible amortization 220 220 440 439 ~885 Tax effect of intangible amortization   (56 )   (81 )   (111 )   (163 ) ~(220) Adjusted net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders $ 3,086   $ 2,423   $ 6,087   $ 4,732   ~$12,300 to $12,550   GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 2.98 $ 2.32 $ 5.85 $ 4.55 $11.80 to $12.05 Intangible amortization per share 0.22 0.22 0.45 0.45 ~0.90 Tax effect per share of intangible amortization   (0.06 )   (0.08 )   (0.11 )   (0.17 ) ~(0.20) Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 3.14   $ 2.46   $ 6.19   $ 4.83   ~$12.50 to $12.75     ADJUSTED CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS   Six Months Ended June 30,   2018     2017   GAAP cash flows from operations $ 12,376 $ 8,627 Less: July CMS premium payments received in June   (5,166 )   (4,454 ) Adjusted cash flows from operations $ 7,210   $ 4,173    

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UnitedHealth GroupInvestors:Brett Manderfeld, 952-936-7216Vice PresidentorJohn S. Penshorn, 952-936-7214Senior Vice PresidentorMedia:Tyler Mason, 424-333-6122Vice President