CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Premier Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC) today reported financial results for the fiscal 2019 second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2018.

The company adopted new revenue recognition standard ASC 606 on July 1, 2018, in conjunction with the beginning of fiscal 2019, using the modified retrospective approach and did not restate prior periods. Therefore, results of operations under the new revenue standard ASC 606 are not indicative of what results of operations were under the previous standard ASC 605. However, for informational purposes, current period results under the previous standard are included in the tables at the back of this press release.

Q2 2019 Highlights:

• GAAP net revenue increased to $421.9 million from $411.4 million a year ago; Supply Chain Services segment revenue of $327.0 million increased from $324.9 million a year ago and Performance Services segment revenue of $94.9 million increased from $86.5 million.

• GAAP net income of $104.8 million increased from $19.8 million and diluted net income of $0.69 per share compared with $0.06 per diluted share a year ago.
• Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA* increased to $142.0 million from $133.5 million a year ago.
• Non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed net income* increased to $88.4 million, representing $0.66 per diluted share, compared with $70.0 million, or $0.50 per diluted share a year ago.
• Management reaffirms full-year fiscal 2019 guidance ranges and underlying assumptions.

* Descriptions of non-GAAP financial measures are provided in “Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” and reconciliations are provided in the tables at the end of this release.

“Premier delivered another successful quarter this fiscal year, characterized by steady revenue and earnings growth across our business segments and for the company as a whole,” said Susan DeVore, president and chief executive officer. “We finished the quarter with continued strong liquidity, as year-over-year non-GAAP free cash flow increased 29 percent to $114.8 million. We used our strong balance sheet and cash flow to grow our capabilities with the acquisition of Stanson Health Inc., and to return cash to stockholders through our ongoing $250.0 million stock repurchase program.

“Our financial outlook remains consistent with the full-year guidance ranges we discussed last quarter and we are reaffirming these guidance ranges today,” DeVore said. “We plan to continue to move forward as a leader of our industry’s transformation to value-based care, expanding and integrating our capabilities and working closely with our member providers to help ensure ongoing success in this rapidly evolving marketplace.”

For the fiscal second-quarter ended Dec. 31, 2018, Premier generated GAAP net revenue of $421.9 million, an increase of $10.5 million from net revenue of $411.4 million for the same period a year ago.

GAAP net income for the fiscal second quarter was $104.8 million, compared with $19.8 million a year ago. Year-ago net income was impacted by a decrease in the effective tax rate due to federal tax reform, resulting in a re-measurement of tax receivable agreement liabilities totaling $177.2 million, offset by an increase in tax expense of $221.2 million attributable to the re-measurement of deferred tax balances. This resulted in income tax expense of $231.5 million in the year-ago quarter, compared with $1.8 million in the current quarter. In accordance with GAAP, fiscal 2019 and 2018 second-quarter net income attributable to stockholders included non-cash adjustments of $651.7 million and $317.9 million, respectively, to reflect the change in the redemption value of limited partners’ Class B common unit ownership at the end of each period. These non-cash adjustments result primarily from changes in the number of Class B common units outstanding and the company’s stock price between periods and do not reflect results of the company’s business operations. After these non-cash adjustments, the company reported net income attributable to stockholders of $693.9 million, compared with $281.2 million for the same period a year ago. Second-quarter net income of $0.69 per diluted share compared with $0.06 for the same period a year ago. See “Calculation of GAAP Earnings per Share” in the income statement section of this press release.

Fiscal second-quarter non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA increased to $142.0 million from $133.5 million for the same period the prior year.

Non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed net income for the fiscal second quarter of $88.4 million increased $18.4 million from $70.0 million for the same period a year ago. Non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed earnings per share totaled $0.66, compared with $0.50 for the same period a year ago. Adjusted fully distributed earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents net income, adjusted for non-recurring and non-cash items, attributable to all stockholders as if all Class B stockholders exchanged their Class B common units and associated Class B common shares for Class A common shares.

Segment Results

Supply Chain Services
For the fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2018, Supply Chain Services segment net revenue of $327.0 million increased $2.1 million from $324.9 million a year ago. Net administrative fees revenue of $165.7 million increased by $6.4 million, or 4%, from the prior year primarily driven by further contract penetration of existing members and, to a lesser degree, the impact of conversion of new members. Net administrative fees in the fiscal 2019 second quarter under the previous revenue recognition standard totaled $169.8 million, an increase of 7% over a year ago, reflecting the impact of timing associated with certain cash collections between quarters.

Products revenue of $157.5 million decreased $4.6 million from $162.1 million a year ago. Growth in oncology and respiratory-related drug revenue was offset primarily by the impact of gross to net revenue recognition changes associated with the adoption of ASC 606, which negatively impacted revenue by $11.9 million, and to a lesser extent by reimbursement compression in the integrated pharmacy business.

Supply Chain Services segment non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2019 second quarter increased to $134.1 million from $132.0 million for the same period a year ago. Growth in net administrative fees revenue and decreased selling, general and administrative expenses were partially offset by reimbursement compression in the integrated pharmacy business and by increases in certain product-related costs in the direct sourcing business.

Performance Services
For the fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2018, Performance Services segment net revenue of $94.9 million increased $8.4 million from $86.5 million for the same quarter last year, driven by growth in applied sciences and analytics services as well as by growth in cost management consulting services. Under the new accounting standard, consulting services revenue is now recognized proportionally to when services are provided, and the company generally no longer is required to defer recognition until certain performance conditions are met.

Performance Services segment non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA totaled $37.1 million for the fiscal 2019 second quarter, a $9.2 million increase from $27.9 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily the result of higher revenue partially offset by increases in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended Dec. 31, 2018
For the six months ended Dec. 31, 2018, GAAP net revenue increased to $823.4 million from net revenue of $802.0 million for the same period a year ago.

For the six-month period, GAAP net income totaled $186.8 million, compared with $80.4 million for the same period a year ago. Year-ago net income was impacted by a decrease in the effective tax rate due to federal tax reform, resulting in a re-measurement of tax receivable agreement liabilities totaling $177.2 million, offset by an increase in tax expense of $221.2 million attributable to the re-measurement of deferred tax balances. This resulted in income tax expense of $244.3 million in the year-ago quarter, compared with $12.6 million in the current quarter. Fiscal 2019 and 2018 six-month GAAP net income attributable to stockholders required non-cash adjustments of $(56.5) million and $638.3 million, respectively, to reflect changes in redemption value of the limited partners Class B common unit ownership at the end of each period. These non-cash adjustments result primarily from changes in the number of Class B common units outstanding and the company’s stock price between periods and do not reflect results of the company’s business operations. After these non-cash adjustments, the company reported net income attributable to stockholders of $12.6 million compared with $617.6 million a year ago. On a diluted per-share basis, net income totaled $0.22 compared with $0.36 for the same period a year ago. See “Calculation of GAAP Earnings per Share” in the income statement section of this press release.

For the six months ended Dec. 31, 2018, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $280.6 million increased from $252.7 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed net income of $175.3 million increased from $131.7 million for the same period a year ago, while non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed earnings per share increased to $1.31 from $0.94.

Supply Chain Services segment net revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2019 increased to $642.8 million from $630.7 million a year earlier. Supply Chain Services segment adjusted EBITDA increased to $269.5 million from $257.7 million for the prior year.

Performance Services segment net revenue for the six months of fiscal 2019 increased to $180.6 million from $171.3 million a year earlier. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased to $67.7 million from $49.2 million.

Cash Flows and Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities was $212.3 million for the six-month period ended Dec. 31, 2018, compared with $206.5 million for the same period last year. The increase in cash flow from operations was primarily driven by increased net administrative fees and other services and support revenue and decreased cost of services revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses in the current period, partially offset by increased working capital needs. At Dec. 31, 2018, the company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $110.6 million, compared with $152.4 million at June 30, 2018. At Dec. 31, 2018, the company had an outstanding balance of $100.0 million on its five-year, $1.0 billion revolving credit facility.

Non-GAAP free cash flow for the six-month period ended Dec. 31, 2018 was $116.6 million, compared with $122.2 million for the same period a year ago and was impacted by the $18.0 million TRA payment made to member owners in the current period. Timing of the payment shifted to July in the current year from June in previous years due to a change in the company’s federal tax filing deadline. The company expects free cash flow to exceed 50% of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the full fiscal year. The company defines free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less quarterly tax distributions and annual TRA payments to limited partners and purchases of property and equipment (see free cash flow reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities in the tables section of this press release).

Through the close of trading on Dec. 31, 2018, the company repurchased approximately 2.9 million shares of Class A common stock for $109.5 million. The repurchases took place under the company’s ongoing $250.0 million stock repurchase program for fiscal 2019, and had the impact of adding approximately $0.01 to diluted per-share results for the period. The repurchase authorization may be expanded, suspended, delayed or discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Fiscal 2019 Outlook and Guidance

Based on results for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2018, management’s current expectations for the remainder of fiscal 2019 and the realization of previously disclosed underlying assumptions, the company reaffirms its full fiscal-year 2019 guidance ranges for consolidated net revenue, non-GAAP Supply Chain Services and Performance Services segment revenue, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted fully distributed earnings per share. Underlying assumptions have not changed with the exception of stock-based compensation expense, which is now estimated in a range of $29 million to $31 million.

Conference Call

Premier management will host a conference call and live audio webcast on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. ET, to discuss the company’s financial results. The conference call can be accessed through a link provided on the investor relations page on Premier’s website at investors.premierinc.com. Those wanting to participate by phone may do so by dialing 844.296.7719 and providing the operator with conference ID number: 6890785. International callers should dial 574.990.1041 and provide the same passcode. The company encourages callers to dial in at least five minutes before the start of the call to register. The archived webcast will be accessible on Premier’s investor relations page.

About Premier Inc.

Premier Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC) is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals and health systems and approximately 165,000 other providers and organizations to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and consulting and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. Please visit Premier’s news and investor sites on www.premierinc.com; as well as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Premier’s blog for more information about the company.

Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Measures

Premier uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, segment adjusted EBITDA, adjusted fully distributed net income, adjusted fully distributed earnings per share, and free cash flow to facilitate a comparison of the company’s operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period and to provide measures that, when viewed in combination with its results prepared in accordance with GAAP, allow for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the company’s business than GAAP measures alone. The company believes adjusted EBITDA and segment adjusted EBITDA assist its board of directors, management and investors in comparing the company’s operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period by removing the impact of the company’s asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) and items outside the control of management (taxes), as well as other non-cash (impairment of intangible assets and purchase accounting adjustments) and non-recurring items, from operating results.

In addition, adjusted fully distributed net income and adjusted fully distributed earnings per share eliminate the variability of non-controlling interest as a result of member owner exchanges of Class B common units and corresponding Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and other potentially dilutive equity transactions which are outside of management’s control. Adjusted fully distributed net income is defined as net income attributable to Premier (i) excluding income tax expense, (ii) excluding the impact of adjustment of redeemable limited partners’ capital to redemption amount, (iii) excluding the effect of non-recurring and non-cash items, (iv) assuming the exchange of all the Class B common units for shares of Class A common stock, which results in the elimination of non-controlling interest in Premier LP, and (v) reflecting an adjustment for income tax expense on non-GAAP fully distributed net income before income taxes at the company’s estimated effective income tax rate. We define adjusted fully distributed earnings per share as adjusted fully distributed net income divided by diluted weighted average shares. These measures assist our board of directors, management and investors in comparing our net income and earnings per share on a consistent basis from period to period because these measures remove non-cash and non-recurring items, and eliminate the variability of non-controlling interest that results from member owner exchanges of Class B common units into shares of Class A common stock.

EBITDA is defined as net income before interest and investment income, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization and amortization of purchased intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before merger and acquisition related expenses and non-recurring, non-cash or non-operating items, and including equity in net income (or loss) of unconsolidated affiliates. For all Non-GAAP financial measures, we consider non-recurring items to be income or expenses and other items that have not been earned or incurred within the prior two years and are not expected to recur within the next two years. Such items include certain strategic and financial restructuring expenses. Non-operating items include gains or losses on the disposal of assets and interest and investment income or expense.

Segment adjusted EBITDA is defined as the segment’s net revenue less cost of revenue and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment, excluding depreciation and amortization, amortization of purchased intangible assets, merger and acquisition related expenses and non-recurring or non-cash items, and including equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates. Operating expenses directly attributable to the segment include expenses associated with sales and marketing, general and administrative, and product development activities specific to the operation of each segment. General and administrative corporate expenses that are not specific to a particular segment are not included in the calculation of segment adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental financial measure used by the company and by external users of the company’s financial statements.

Management considers adjusted EBITDA an indicator of the operational strength and performance of the company’s business. Adjusted EBITDA allows management to assess performance without regard to financing methods and capital structure and without the impact of other matters that management does not consider indicative of the operating performance of the business. Segment adjusted EBITDA is the primary earnings measure used by management to evaluate the performance of the company’s business segments.

Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less distributions and tax receivable agreement payments to limited partners and purchases of property and equipment. Free cash flow does not represent discretionary cash available for spending as it excludes certain contractual obligations such as debt repayments. Management believes free cash flow is an important measure because it represents the cash that the company generates after payment of tax distributions to limited partners and capital investment to maintain existing products and services and ongoing business operations, as well as development of new and upgraded products and services to support future growth. Free cash flow is important because it allows the company to enhance stockholder value through acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, investments in related or complimentary businesses and/or debt reduction.

To properly and prudently evaluate our business, readers are urged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures, as well as the other financial tables, included at the end of this release. Readers should not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the company’s business. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures used in this release are susceptible to varying calculations and may differ from, and may therefore not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Further information on Premier’s use of non-GAAP financial measures is available in the “Our Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of Premier’s Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2018.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts, such as those related to expected financial performance, non-GAAP free cash flow generation, the impact of the new revenue recognition standards, share repurchases under our fiscal 2019 stock repurchase program, and the statements related to fiscal 2019 outlook and guidance and the assumptions underlying such guidance, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Premier to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements in the conditional or future tenses or that include terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” to be uncertain and forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include comments as to Premier’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside Premier’s control. More information on potential factors that could affect Premier’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Premier’s periodic and current filings with the SEC, including those discussed under the “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of Premier’s Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2018 as well as the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, expected to be filed with the SEC shortly after the date of this release, and also made available on Premier’s website at investors.premierinc.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Premier undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events that occur after that date, or otherwise.

(Tables Follow)