Press Releases

DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2005 — Cardinal Health, Inc., the leading provider of products and services supporting the health-care industry, announced today first-quarter results that reflect strong customer demand for the company’s products and services, and solid earnings that were enhanced by ongoing programs to strengthen its operations.

 

 

Revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30 rose 9 percent to $19.4 billion from $17.8 billion in the prior year and operating earnings grew 3 percent to $372 million from $362 million.  Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations grew 6 percent to $0.54 from $0.51. The following table summarizes operating earnings, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, special items, non-recurring and other items, and equity compensation expenses for Cardinal Health’s first quarter and first quarter of the prior year. 

 

 

”Our first-quarter results build on the momentum we had exiting fiscal 2005 with another quarter of solid execution in pharmaceutical distribution, medical products and services, and clinical technologies and services,” said Robert D. Walter, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health.  “While we are disappointed in the results of our Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services segment, the actions we have taken will result in substantial improvements to that segment during the second quarter and for the balance of the year.  Across the company, we also continued to be disciplined in expense control while making necessary investments to strengthen and integrate our businesses for the long term.”

 

Cash flow from operations remained strong during the quarter, reaching $724 million, and return on equity was 10.7 percent.  Excluding special items and equity compensation, return on equity increased 180 basis points to 13.8 percent compared to our first quarter last year.

 

In accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123(R), Cardinal Health expensed stock options, restricted shares and share units, and stock appreciation rights totaling $83 million during the quarter, or $0.12 per share.  For fiscal 2006, the company expects equity compensation expenses to be approximately $0.31 to $0.34 per share.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, $2 million of equity compensation was expensed as the company had not yet adopted the new guidelines.  For the entire prior year, equity compensation expenses were $10 million.

 

Highlights of the first quarter include:

As previously announced, Cardinal Health has adjusted segment results to reflect a change in the company’s methodology for allocating corporate costs to its business segments. This change will more fully allocate corporate costs and better align corporate spending with the business segments receiving the related benefit.

 

(See attached tables for specific segment results, definitions of the non-GAAP measures used in this release, a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to their comparable GAAP measures, and a schedule of notable items.  The fiscal 2006 operating-earnings goals discussed below exclude the impact of the change in corporate allocation methodology, non-recurring and other items, and equity compensation expenses.  These tables are also available at the Investors page on www.cardinalhealth.com.)

 

Revenue for the Pharmaceutical Distribution and Provider Services segment grew 9 percent during the quarter to $15.8 billion and operating earnings rose 25 percent to $199 million, both in line with company expectations.  Margin growth was driven by earlier-than-expected launches of new generic products, ongoing expense controls, and efficient inventory management associated with new distribution service agreements and Cardinal Health’s new National Logistics Center.

 

After conducting a system review of vendor credits, a $32 million charge related to prior years was taken during the quarter.  This charge was necessary after review of the performance terms of contracts and related to credits for a limited number of vendors erroneously not processed and recorded during prior periods.  

 

For the full year, Cardinal Health continues to expect operating earnings in the segment to grow below its long-term goal of 10 percent to 13 percent, primarily due to slower market growth, lower price inflation for branded pharmaceuticals, fewer generic product launches and a lower starting point for branded buy margin related to distribution service agreements.

 

Medical Products and Services revenue increased 7 percent during the quarter to $2.6 billion and operating earnings rose 21 percent to $151 million. 

 

Revenue and earnings from infection-prevention products, medical specialties and PreSource® surgical packs, all increased during the quarter, and distribution margins remained stable, primarily due to growth in private-label products.  Ongoing efficiency programs and continued strength in markets outside the United States also contributed to earnings growth in the segment.  A $16.4-million latex litigation charge was incurred during the first quarter of fiscal 2005, adding to the favorable year-over-year comparison.

 

Cardinal Health continues to expect segment operating earnings to increase for the year, consistent with its long-term goal of 6 percent to 9 percent.  Continued strength in manufactured products and benefits from efficiency and sourcing programs are expected to drive earnings growth for the full year.

 

Revenue for the Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services segment grew 2 percent during the quarter to $713 million, while operating earnings declined 42 percent to $45 million.  The earnings decline was primarily due to previously identified issues in sterile manufacturing, combined with weakness in the company’s contract sales business and the calendarization of certain non-product revenues in the oral technologies business. 

 

Specific actions underway are expected to improve operating earnings by at least 50 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter.  These actions include: 

For the full year, operating earnings are expected to grow in line with the company’s long-term goal for the segment of 12 percent to 18 percent due to ongoing benefits of the actions taken and favorable comparisons to the prior year.

 

Results for the Clinical Technologies and Services segment demonstrate strong momentum from the fourth quarter as hospital and health systems continued to select Alaris and Pyxis products over competitors.  Revenue in the segment grew 10 percent to $576 million and operating earnings increased 88 percent to $78 million.  A $20.2-million Alaris inventory purchase-accounting adjustment during the first quarter of fiscal 2005 contributed to a favorable year-over-year comparison.

 

Operational and product-quality improvements initiated last year have contributed to stronger demand, margins and customer satisfaction for Pyxis products.  Committed contracts exceeded internal projections and the quarter ended with a backlog of $247 million.  Alaris products experienced similar strength, with the number of committed contracts also exceeding internal projections.

 

For the full year, Cardinal Health continues to expect operating earnings for the segment to grow in-line with its long-term goal of 15 percent to 20 percent.

 

Cardinal Health reiterated its fiscal 2006 earnings-per-share outlook of $3.30 to $3.55 excluding special items, non-recurring and other items and the impact of equity compensation expenses.  Over the long term, Cardinal Health expects earnings per share excluding special items and non-recurring items to grow 12 percent to 15 percent annually with an annual goal of returning up to 50 percent of operating cash flow to shareholders through share buy-backs and dividends.  During the next several years, the company’s goal is to increase dividends to up to 20 percent of earnings per share.

 

Cardinal Health will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to discuss its first-quarter results.  To access the discussion, go to the Investors page at www.cardinalhealth.com or dial 706-634-5100, conference, passcode 9950114. An audio replay will be available until 11 p.m. on November 2 at 706-645-9291, passcode 9950114. A transcript and audio replay will also be available at http://www.cardinalhealth.com.

 

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $75 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with a broad portfolio of products and services.  Through its diverse offering, Cardinal Health delivers integrated health-care solutions that help customers reduce their costs, improve efficiency and deliver better care to patients.  The company manufactures, packages and distributes pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, offers a range of clinical services and develops automation products that improve the management and delivery of supplies and medication for hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies.  Ranked No. 16 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 55,000 people on six continents.  More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.

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Except for historical information, all other information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. The most significant of these uncertainties are described in Cardinal Health's Form 10-K, Form 8-K and Form 10-Q reports (including all amendments to those reports) and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) the following: the costs, difficulties, and uncertainties related to the implementation of organizational changes and the integration of acquired businesses; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships or changes to the terms of those relationships; changes in the distribution patterns or reimbursement rates for health-care products and/or services; the results, consequences, effects or timing of any inquiry or investigation by any regulatory authority or any legal and administrative proceedings; the impact of previously announced restatements; difficulties or delays or increased costs in implementing its global restructuring program, including facility rationalizations; difficulties in opening new facilities or fully utilizing existing capacity; difficulties and uncertainties associated with business model transitions; general economic and market conditions; with respect to future dividends, the decision by the board of directors to declare such dividends, which is expected to consider Cardinal Health's surplus, earnings, cash flows, financial condition and prospects at the time any such action is considered; and, with respect to future share repurchase programs, the approval of the board of directors, which is expected to consider Cardinal Health's then-current stock price, earnings, cash flows, financial condition and prospects as well as alternatives available to Cardinal Health at the time any such action is considered. Cardinal Health undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.