Press Release Details

Quest Diagnostics Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results; Provides Guidance for Full Year 2024; Increases Quarterly Dividend 5.6% to $0.75 Per Share

02/01/2024
  • Fourth quarter revenues of $2.29 billion, down 1.9% from 2022
  • Fourth quarter reported diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $1.70, up 95.4% from 2022; and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.15, up 8.6% from 2022
  • Fourth quarter base business revenues of $2.25 billion, up 4.7% from 2022
  • Fourth quarter COVID-19 testing revenues of $37 million, down 79.8% from 2022
  • Full year revenues of $9.25 billion, down 6.4% from 2022
  • Full year reported diluted EPS of $7.49, down 6.0% from 2022; and adjusted diluted EPS of $8.71, down 12.5% from 2022
  • Full year base business revenues of $9.03 billion, up 7.1% from 2022
  • Full year COVID-19 testing revenues of $223 million, down 84.7% from 2022
  • Full year 2024 reported diluted EPS expected to be between $7.69 and $7.99; and adjusted diluted EPS expected to be between $8.60 and $8.90

SECAUCUS, N.J., Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

"We delivered strong revenue growth in our base business of 7% for the full year 2023 and delivered on our earnings commitment as we transitioned away from COVID testing," said Jim Davis, Chairman, CEO, and President. "We made progress during the year advancing our growth strategy with innovative testing solutions, new and expanded relationships with health systems, and a robust pipeline of M&A and professional lab services opportunities. We also delivered double-digit revenue growth in several clinical areas, including in advanced cardiometabolic, prenatal and hereditary genetics, and neurology, as well as strengthened our oncology offering with a strategic investment in higher growth minimal residual disease testing."

Mr. Davis continued: "Our guidance for 2024 reflects a return to overall revenue growth while balancing the earnings tailwinds and headwinds we see for the year. Looking beyond 2024, we are well positioned to deliver our long-term financial outlook to drive mid-single digit revenue growth and high-single digit earnings growth. Finally, I'm grateful to our dedicated Quest colleagues who bring our purpose to life every day, working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time."


Three Months Ended December 31,


Twelve Months Ended December 31,


2023


2022


Change


2023


2022


Change


(dollars in millions, except per share data)

Reported:












Net revenues

$   2,288


$   2,333


(1.9) %


$   9,252


$   9,883


(6.4) %

Base business revenues (a)

$   2,251


$   2,149


4.7 %


$   9,029


$   8,429


7.1 %

COVID-19 testing revenues

$        37


$      184


(79.8) %


$      223


$   1,454


(84.7) %













Diagnostic information services revenues

$   2,221


$   2,265


(2.0) %


$   8,976


$   9,609


(6.6) %

Revenue per requisition





(3.5) %






(5.9) %

Requisition volume





1.9 %






(0.6) %

Organic requisition volume





1.4 %






(1.0) %

Operating income (b)

$      267


$      135


98.2 %


$   1,262


$   1,428


(11.6) %

Operating income as a percentage of net revenues (b)

11.7 %


5.8 %


5.9 %


13.6 %


14.5 %


(0.9) %

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics (b)

$      192


$      101


91.3 %


$      854


$      946


(9.7) %

Diluted EPS (b)

$     1.70


$     0.87


95.4 %


$     7.49


$     7.97


(6.0) %

Cash provided by operations

$      527


$      334


58.0 %


$   1,272


$   1,718


(25.9) %

Capital expenditures

$        72


$      147


(51.6) %


$      408


$      404


0.9 %













Adjusted (b):












Operating income

$      338


$      330


2.1 %


$   1,457


$   1,742


(16.3) %

Operating income as a percentage of net revenues

14.8 %


14.2 %


0.6 %


15.8 %


17.6 %


(1.8) %

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$      245


$      229


6.9 %


$      994


$   1,181


(15.9) %

Diluted EPS                     

$     2.15


$     1.98


8.6 %


$     8.71


$     9.95


(12.5) %



(a)

Excludes COVID-19 testing.



(b)

For further details impacting the year-over-year comparisons related to operating income, operating income as a percentage of net revenues, net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics, and diluted EPS, see note 2 of the financial tables attached below.

 

Dividend Increased

Quest Diagnostics' Board of Directors has authorized a 5.6% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.71 to $0.75 per share, or $3.00 per share annually, effective with the dividend payable on April 22, 2024 to shareholders of record of Quest Diagnostics common stock on April 8, 2024. The company has raised its dividend annually since 2011.

Guidance for Full Year 2024

We estimate full year 2024 guidance as follows:


Low


High

Net revenues

$9.35 billion


$9.45 billion

Net revenues increase

1.1 %


2.1 %

Reported diluted EPS

$7.69


$7.99

Adjusted diluted EPS

$8.60


$8.90

Cash provided by operations

Approximately $1.3 billion

Capital expenditures

Approximately $420 million

 

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As used in this press release the term "reported" refers to measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The term "adjusted" refers to non-GAAP operating performance measures that exclude special items such as restructuring and integration charges, amortization expense, excess tax benefits ("ETB") associated with stock-based compensation, costs associated with donations, contributions, and other financial support through Quest for Health Equity (our initiative with the Quest Diagnostics Foundation to reduce health disparities in underserved communities), gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments, impairment charges, and other items.

Non-GAAP adjusted measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to GAAP results. Non-GAAP adjusted measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under GAAP. Management may use these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts and for incentive compensation purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and analysts to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, as well as to analyze the underlying trends in our business and to assess our performance. The additional tables attached below include reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted measures to GAAP measures.

Conference Call Information

Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-455-0391 within the U.S. and Canada, or 773-756-0467 internationally, passcode: 7895081; or via live webcast on our website at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor.  We suggest participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call.

A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or, from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on February 1, 2024 until midnight Eastern Time on February 15, 2024, by phone at 800-934-9421 for domestic callers and 203-369-3391 for international callers. Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read our periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.

About  Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, the complexity of billing, reimbursement and revenue recognition for clinical laboratory testing, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners and other factors discussed in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the "Business," "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of those reports.

This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

ADDITIONAL TABLES FOLLOW

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)



Three Months Ended December 31,


Twelve Months Ended December 31,


2023


2022


2023


2022

Net revenues

$   2,288


$   2,333


$   9,252


$   9,883









Operating costs and expenses and other operating income:








Cost of services

1,552


1,575


6,199


6,450

Selling, general and administrative

407


563


1,642


1,874

Amortization of intangible assets

27


39


108


120

Other operating expense, net

35


21


41


11

Total operating costs and expenses, net

2,021


2,198


7,990


8,455









Operating income

267


135


1,262


1,428









Other income (expense):








Interest expense, net

(40)


(32)


(152)


(138)

Other income (expense), net

10


6


20


(55)

Total non-operating expense, net

(30)


(26)


(132)


(193)









Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees

237


109


1,130


1,235

Income tax (expense) benefit

(40)


4


(248)


(264)

Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

8


3


26


44

Net income

205


116


908


1,015

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

13


15


54


69

Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$       192


$       101


$       854


$       946









Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:








Basic

$     1.72


$     0.89


$     7.59


$     8.10









Diluted

$      1.70


$      0.87


$      7.49


$      7.97









Weighted average common shares outstanding:








Basic

112


113


112


116









Diluted

113


115


113


118









 

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2023  and 2022

(in millions, except per share data)

(unaudited)



December 31, 2023


December 31, 2022

Assets




Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$                 686


$                315

Accounts receivable, net

1,210


1,195

Inventories

190


192

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

286


196

Total current assets

2,372


1,898

Property, plant and equipment, net

1,816


1,766

Operating lease right-of-use assets

602


585

Goodwill

7,733


7,220

Intangible assets, net

1,166


1,092

Investment in equity method investees

135


132

Other assets

198


144

Total assets

$            14,022


$           12,837





Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity




Current liabilities:




Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$              1,359


$             1,396

Current portion of long-term debt

303


2

Current portion of long-term operating lease liabilities

153


153

Total current liabilities

1,815


1,551

Long-term debt

4,410


3,978

Long-term operating lease liabilities

503


489

Other liabilities

876


812

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

76


77

Stockholders' equity:




Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity:




Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized as of both December 31, 2023
and 2022; 162 shares issued as of both December 31, 2023 and 2022

2


2

Additional paid-in capital

2,320


2,295

Retained earnings

8,825


8,290

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(14)


(21)

Treasury stock, at cost; 51 shares as of both December 31, 2023 and 2022

(4,826)


(4,673)

Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity

6,307


5,893

Noncontrolling interests

35


37

Total stockholders' equity

6,342


5,930

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$            14,022


$           12,837

 

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

(in millions)

(unaudited)



Twelve Months Ended December 31,


2023


2022

Cash flows from operating activities:




Net income

$           908


$        1,015

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

439


437

Provision for credit losses

1


3

Deferred income tax (benefit) provision

(49)


1

Stock-based compensation expense

77


77

Other, net

41


66

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:




Accounts receivable

(15)


246

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(55)


(149)

Income taxes payable

(2)


(31)

Other assets and liabilities, net

(73)


53

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,272


1,718





Cash flows from investing activities:




Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(611)


(144)

Capital expenditures

(408)


(404)

(Increase) decrease in investments and other assets, net

(42)


5

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,061)


(543)





Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from borrowings

2,592


Repayments of debt

(1,844)


(2)

Purchases of treasury stock

(275)


(1,408)

Exercise of stock options

72


123

Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans

(28)


(28)

Dividends paid

(314)


(305)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners

(57)


(73)

Other financing activities, net

14


(39)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

160


(1,732)





Net change in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

371


(557)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

315


872

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$           686


$           315





Cash paid during the period for:




Interest

$           134


$           156

Income taxes

$           317


$           283

 

Notes to Financial Tables

1)

The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share is as follows:

 


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022


2023


2022


(in millions, except per share data)

Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:








Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics

$           192


$           101


$           854


$           946

Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities



4


4

Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted

$           192


$           101


$           850


$           942









Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

112


113


112


116

Effect of dilutive securities:








Stock options and performance share units

1


2


1


2

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

113


115


113


118









Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders:








Basic

$          1.72


$          0.89


$          7.59


$          8.10

Diluted

$          1.70


$          0.87


$          7.49


$          7.97

 

2)

The following tables reconcile reported GAAP results to non-GAAP adjusted results:




Three Months Ended December 31, 2023


(dollars in millions, except per share data)


Operating income


Operating
income as a
percentage of net
revenues


Income tax
expense (e)


Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net of
taxes


Net income
attributable
to Quest
Diagnostics


Diluted EPS

As reported

$                 267


11.7 %


$                 (40)


$                     8


$                 192


$                1.70

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

11


0.5


(2)



9


0.07

Other (b)

33


1.4


(6)



27


0.23

Amortization expense

27


1.2


(8)



19


0.17

ETB



(2)



(2)


(0.02)

As adjusted

$                 338


14.8 %


$                 (58)


$                     8


$                 245


$                2.15

 


Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023


(dollars in millions, except per share data)


Operating
income


Operating
income as a
percentage of net
revenues


Income tax
expense (e)


Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net of
taxes


Net income
attributable
to Quest
Diagnostics


Diluted EPS

As reported

$             1,262


13.6 %


$               (248)


$                   26


$                 854


$                7.49

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

43


0.5


(10)



33


0.29

Other (b)

44


0.5


(8)



36


0.31

Gains and losses on investments (c)



(1)


3


2


0.02

Amortization expense

108


1.2


(28)



80


0.70

ETB



(11)



(11)


(0.10)

As adjusted

$             1,457


15.8 %


$               (306)


$                   29


$                 994


$                8.71

 


Three Months Ended December 31, 2022


(dollars in millions, except per share data)


Operating
income


Operating
income as a
percentage of net
revenues


Income tax
(expense)
benefit (e)


Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net of
taxes


Net income
attributable
to Quest
Diagnostics


Diluted EPS

As reported

$                135


5.8 %


$                     4


$                     3


$                 101


$                0.87

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

51


2.2


(12)



39


0.34

Other (b)

21


0.9


(20)



1


0.01

Gains and losses on investments (c)



(2)


3


1


0.01

Quest for Health Equity costs (d)

84


3.6


(22)




62


0.53

Amortization expense

39


1.7


(10)



29


0.25

ETB



(4)



(4)


(0.03)

As adjusted

$                330


14.2 %


$                 (66)


$                     6


$                 229


$                1.98

 


Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022


(dollars in millions, except per share data)


Operating
income


Operating
income as a
percentage of
net revenues


Income tax
expense (e)


Equity in
earnings of
equity method
investees, net of
taxes


Net income
attributable
to Quest
Diagnostics


Diluted EPS

As reported

$             1,428


14.5 %


$               (264)


$                   44


$                 946


$                7.97

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

88


0.9


(22)



66


0.56

Other (b)

13


0.1


(19)



(6)


(0.05)

Gains and losses on investments (c)



(11)


12


31


0.26

Quest for Health Equity costs (d)

93


0.9


(24)



69


0.59

Amortization expense

120


1.2


(31)



89


0.74

ETB



(14)



(14)


(0.12)

As adjusted

$             1,742


17.6 %


$               (385)


$                   56


$              1,181


$                9.95

 

(a)

For both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the pre-tax impact represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business.  For both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the pre-tax impact represents costs primarily associated with workforce reductions, systems conversions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of restructuring and integration charges on our consolidated statements of operations:




Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022


2023


2022


(dollars in millions)

Cost of services

$              4


$            19


$            16


$            32

Selling, general and administrative

7


32


27


56









Operating income

$            11


$            51


$            43


$            88

 

(b)

For both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the pre-tax impact primarily represents a $29 million impairment charge on certain long-lived assets related to the shutdown of a business and, to a lesser extent, losses associated with the increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions.  For the three months ended December 31, 2022, the pre-tax impact primarily represents a $14 million impairment charge on certain property, plant and equipment and a $6 million loss associated with the increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the pre-tax impact primarily represents the $14 million impairment charge on certain property, plant and equipment and a $5 million loss associated with the increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with previous acquisitions, partially offset by a $10 million gain from a payroll tax credit under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act associated with the retention of employees.  Additionally, both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 include an $18 million income tax benefit due to the adjustment to state deferred tax liabilities related to depreciation expense, recorded in income tax (expense) benefit.  The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of these other items on our consolidated statement of operations:




Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022


2023


2022


(dollars in millions)

Cost of services

$            —


$            —


$            —


$              2

Selling, general and administrative

(2)



5


Other operating expense, net

35


21


39


11

Operating income

$            33


$            21


$            44


$            13

 

(c)

For all periods presented, the pre-tax impact primarily represents gains and losses associated with changes in the carrying value of our strategic investments.  The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of gains and losses on investments on our consolidated statement of operations:




Three Months Ended
December 31,


Twelve Months Ended
December 31,


2023


2022


2023


2022


(dollars in millions)

Other income (expense), net

$            —


$            —


$            —


$            30









Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes

$            —


$              3


$              3


$            12



(d)

For both the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, the pre-tax impact represents the costs associated with donations, contributions and other financial support through Quest for Health Equity, recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.



(e)

For restructuring and integration charges, gains and losses on investments, Quest for Health Equity costs, other items and amortization expense, income tax impacts, where recorded, were primarily calculated using combined statutory income tax rates of 25.5% for both 2023 and 2022.  Additionally, both the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 include an $18 million benefit due to an adjustment to state deferred tax liabilities related to depreciation expense.



3)

For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, we repurchased 2.0 million shares of our common stock for $276 million.  As of December 31, 2023, $1.0 billion remained available under our share repurchase authorization.



4)

The outlook for adjusted diluted EPS represents management's estimates for the full year 2024 before the impact of special items. Further impacts to earnings related to special items may occur throughout 2024. Additionally, the amount of ETB is dependent upon employee stock option exercises and our stock price, both of which are difficult to predict. The following table reconciles our 2024 outlook for diluted EPS under GAAP to our outlook for adjusted diluted EPS:




Low


High

Diluted EPS

$          7.69


$          7.99

Restructuring and integration charges (a)

0.17


0.17

Amortization expense (b)

0.84


0.84

ETB

(0.10)


(0.10)

Adjusted diluted EPS

$          8.60


$          8.90



(a)

Represents estimated pre-tax charges of $26 million primarily associated with workforce reductions and integration costs incurred in connection with further restructuring and integrating our business.  Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%.



(b)

Represents estimated pre-tax amortization expenses of $128 million.  Income tax benefits were calculated using a combined statutory income tax rate of 25.5%

.

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics