UnitedHealth Group Reports 2nd Quarter 2019 Results

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported second quarter 2019 results with continued well diversified strength in performance.

“Our results in the quarter reflect strong and balanced performance from both Optum and UnitedHealthcare and are driven by the 320,000 women and men of UnitedHealth Group who focus every day on creating value for those we serve,” said David S. Wichmann, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

Based on strong first half 2019 results and confidence in the remainder of the year, the Company increased its full year net earnings outlook to $13.95 to $14.15 per share, and adjusted net earnings to $14.70 to $14.90 per share.

• Total Revenues of $60.6 Billion Grew 8% Year-Over-Year
• Earnings from Operations Increased 13% to $4.7 Billion
• Net Earnings of $3.42 Per Share Grew 15% Year-Over-Year
• Adjusted Net Earnings of $3.60 Per Share Grew 15% Year-Over-Year
• Cash Flows from Operations were $5.9 Billion in the Quarter

• UnitedHealth Group’s second quarter 2019 revenues grew $4.5 billion or 8.0 percent year-over-year to $60.6 billion, led by double-digit percentage revenue growth at UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, OptumRx and OptumHealth.
• Second quarter earnings from operations grew 12.8 percent or $540 million year-over-year to $4.7 billion. Adjusted net earnings of $3.60 per share advanced 14.6 percent.
• Cash flows from operations were $5.9 billion in the quarter and $9.1 billion or 1.3x net income year to date.
• Second quarter medical cost trends remained well managed, with the revenue effect from the deferral of the health insurance tax driving the 120 basis point increase in the consolidated medical care ratio year-over-year to 83.1 percent. Favorable medical reserve development was $270 million this quarter and days claims payable remained consistent at 49 days.
• The second quarter operating cost ratio of 13.9 percent improved 110 basis points from the same period last year, reflecting the deferral of the health insurance tax and continued effects of productivity advances and operating cost management disciplines.
• Higher investment and other income was driven by higher interest yields and investment balances, earnings from well-performing minority investments and a $100 million venture investment gain.
• Second quarter dividend payments grew to $1.0 billion as the annual dividend rate was increased 20 percent to $4.32 per share in June 2019. In the second quarter, 6.4 million shares were repurchased for $1.5 billion, bringing year-to-date purchases to 18.2 million shares for $4.5 billion.
• Return on equity of 25.1 percent in the period continued to reflect the Company’s strong and diverse earnings profile and efficient capital base.

UnitedHealthcare provides global health care benefits, serving individuals and employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value health care consumers receive by reducing the total cost of care, enhancing the quality of care received, improving health and wellness and simplifying the health care experience.

• UnitedHealthcare grew second quarter 2019 earnings from operations by 12.1 percent to $2.6 billion driven by revenue growth and strong cost disciplines. The business grew to serve 705,000 more people with medical benefits over the past year, including a greater mix of people with higher acuity needs, helping grow revenues by $2.7 billion, or 6.0 percent, to $48.6 billion in the quarter.
  • UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual revenues in second quarter 2019 increased $324 million year-over-year to $14.0 billion, as UnitedHealthcare served 615,000 more people with commercial benefits in the past year.
  • UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement second quarter 2019 revenues grew by $2.0 billion or 10.6 percent to $20.9 billion. Medicare Advantage products grew to serve 400,000 more individual and employer-sponsored seniors year-over-year. Including those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and served through UnitedHealthcare Community & State, total year-over-year growth in Medicare Advantage was 540,000 people.
  • UnitedHealthcare Community & State revenues grew $440 million or 4.1 percent to $11.2 billion in second quarter 2019, driven by growth in people served with higher acuity needs. Second quarter membership declined 350,000 people year-over-year primarily due to states adding more carriers and managing eligibility and proactive market withdrawals.

  • UnitedHealthcare Global revenues in second quarter 2019 were stable year-over-year at $2.5 billion.

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.

Optum revenues of $28.0 billion grew by 13.4 percent or $3.3 billion year-over-year in the second quarter of 2019. Optum’s second quarter 2019 earnings from operations advanced 13.8 percent to $2.1 billion due to strong revenue growth and stable, strong operating margin performance.

• OptumHealth revenues advanced $1.2 billion or 20.3 percent year-over-year to $7.1 billion in second quarter 2019, with strength and diversity of growth across care delivery, behavioral health services and complex care management. OptumHealth served approximately 95 million people at June 30, 2019, and the average revenue per consumer increased 17 percent year-over-year, driven by growth in value-based care arrangements and continued strong demand for OptumHealth’s expanding service and product offerings.
• OptumInsight revenues of $2.3 billion grew 7.0 percent year-over-year in the quarter, while revenue backlog grew over 20 percent year-over-year to $18.5 billion at quarter-end driven by health care operations and technology, revenue management, and payer and advisory services.
• OptumRx revenues in second quarter 2019 increased 11.7 percent or $2.0 billion year-over-year to $18.9 billion, reflecting market share gains and continued diversification of services provided, including a higher mix of specialty pharmacy care services. OptumRx fulfilled 343 million adjusted scripts in second quarter 2019, growing 3.3 percent over the prior year.

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