Health Net, Inc.’s HNT third-quarter 2015 operating income came in at 96 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Results improved 33.3% year over year.
The quarter benefited from higher memberships and moderate health care costs.
Including one-time items, Health Net’s net income of 77 cents per share compared favorably with the year-ago loss of 11 cents.
Health Net’s total revenue increased 9.6% year over year to approximately $4.2 billion. The top-line growth was driven by increased enrollment in Western Region health plans. Revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.3 billion.
Total expenses increased 6.2% year over year to $4 billion on higher health plan services expenses.
Segment Performance
Western Region Operations: Revenues of $4.0 billion in the quarter increased 9.5% year over year. Net investment income surged about 26.4% year over year to $13.9 million. Health plan services expenses rose 6.9% year over year to $3.3 billion.
As of Sep 30, 2015, total enrollment in the segment rose 6.4% year over year to 3.3 million members. Western Region commercial enrollment decreased 7.7% to 1.1 million members owing to losses in the Arizona individual business and California large group business. Enrollment under the company’s California health plans increased 10.2% to 2.9 million members. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans were 0.27 million, flat year over year. Medicaid enrollment soared 17.8% to 1.8 million due to Medicaid expansion under the ACA.
Medical Care Ratio (MCR) for Health Net’s health plan services in the segment improved 210 basis points to 83.4% from the prior-year quarter due to strong performance by the Medicaid business.
Government Contracts: Revenues increased 9.9% year over year to $160.7 million in the quarter. Higher revenues from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) program mainly led to the upside. Expenses increased 28% to $137.2 million.
Financial Update
As of Sep 30, 2015, Health Net had cash and investments of approximately $3.2 billion, up from $2.8 billion as of Sep 30, 2014. The company’s debt-to-capital ratio deteriorated to 25.4% as of Sep 30, 2015 from 22.1% as of Sep 30, 2014.
Health Net’s operating cash outflow totaled $30.7 million in the quarter compared with an inflow of $587.96 million in the year-ago quarter. The deterioration stemmed from disbursement for ACA-related programs. This includes payment of health insurer fee and settlements for the ACA's risk adjustment and reinsurance programs for 2014.
Total assets of Health Net were worth $6 billion as of Sep 30, 2015, higher than $4.96 billion as of Sep 30, 2014. Stockholders’ equity was $1.79 billion as of Sep 30, 2015 as against $1.77 billion as of Sep 30, 2014.
Business Update
On Jul 2, 2015, Health Net entered into an agreement with Centene Corporation CNC pertaining to which, the latter will acquire all the shares of the former to form a combined entity.
The total consideration of the deal is $6.8 billion, including cash, stock and $500 million of debt. The $78.57 per share deal represents a premium of nearly 21% over Health Net’s closing price as of Jul 1, 2015. Per the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Health Net will receive 0.622 shares for each Centene share and $28.25 in cash per Health Net share.
The transaction is pending approval from shareholders of both the companies and is scheduled to culminate by early 2016.
Guidance
Health Net updated its full-year 2015 guidance.
The company reiterated combined earnings per share guidance from Western Region and Government Contracts at $3.25–$3.35.
Health Net lowered its net income per share guidance to $2.50 from $2.70 due to higher expenses that resulted from information technology costs associated with the termination of the transaction with Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation CTSH and expenses in relation to the pending merger transaction with Centene.
Performance of Another HMO
Anthem Inc.’s ANTM third-quarter 2015 adjusted income of $2.73 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.33.
Zacks Rank
Health Net presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment