EAGLE, Idaho, Aug. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG), the parent company of the Pennant group of affiliated home health, hospice and senior living companies, today announced its operating results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, reporting GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter and adjusted dilutive earnings per share of $0.17 for the quarter⁽¹⁾.

Second Quarter Highlights

• Total revenue for the quarter was $110.3 million, an increase of $17.6 million or 19.0% over the prior year quarter;

• Net income for the quarter was $2.7 million, adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $8.6 million, and adjusted EBITDAR for the quarter was $18.6 million;

• Home Health and Hospice Services segment revenue for the quarter was $78.1 million, an increase of $20.1 million or 34.7% over the prior year quarter;

• Home Health and Hospice Services segment adjusted EBITDAR from operations was $14.9 million for the quarter, an increase of $3.7 million or 32.8% over the prior year quarter;

• Total home health admissions for the quarter were 10,069, an increase of 91.5% over the prior year quarter, and total Medicare home health admissions for the quarter were 4,406, an increase of 79.2% over the prior year quarter;

• Hospice average daily census for the quarter was 2,296, an increase of 16.0% over the prior year quarter, and total hospice admissions for the quarter were 2,047, an increase of 4.8% over the prior year quarter;

• Senior Living Services segment revenue for the quarter was $32.2 million, an increase of $1.2 million over the first quarter 2021, and segment adjusted EBITDAR from operations in the quarter was $9.8 million, an increase of $1.0 million over the first quarter 2021; and

• Senior living average occupancy for the quarter was 72.7%, an increase of 60 basis points over the first quarter 2021, and average monthly revenue per occupied unit was $3,176 for the quarter.

Operating Results

“We are pleased to report our results for the second quarter,” said Daniel Walker, Pennant's Chief Executive Officer. “Our results were headlined by our home health and hospice segment, which achieved strong organic growth even while continuing to integrate a substantial number of newly-acquired agencies. In our senior living segment, our top and bottom line results improved sequentially as our local leaders execute on best practices and demand for quality senior living settings returns. Overall, the challenges of peak COVID-19 cases that impacted our first quarter results lingered into the second quarter as expected. While our continued focus on developing our talented leaders, strengthening our cluster-centered operating model and improving our expert resources and systems is building a stronger foundation for future growth, we are not complacent about our year to date results. The embedded upside in both of our segments is as compelling as ever, and we are confident in our ability to realize these opportunities, generate significant value and continue the disciplined growth strategy that has underpinned our historical success.”

Commenting on the operating results, Mr. Walker reported, “Our home health and hospice segment produced solid financial results while continuing to achieve quality clinical outcomes for a growing and increasingly complex patient population. Segment revenue and adjusted EBITDA increased 34.7% and 33.5%, respectively, in the second quarter over the prior year quarter with ongoing strength in admissions, average daily census and expense management. Our clinical quality measures continue to improve over already high marks. Real time data analytics show 93% of our home health agencies had a star rating of at least four stars during the quarter and our real time hospice composite quality trend continued to climb well above the national average. These strong indicators evidence our relentless focus on quality outcomes, which has been critical to our success and will help us differentiate ourselves locally as we continue to transition recently-acquired and acquire new agencies. With roughly two dozen acquisitions or startups onboarded over the past 18 months, our operating margins naturally compressed as we invest resources in ensuring these agencies have the clinical and cultural foundation to generate significant long-term returns. These operations add to the compelling organic upside that exists across our home health and hospice segment--in both our existing and newly-acquired agencies--that we are confident our local leaders and resources can achieve to the benefit of our patients, community partners, and many stakeholders.”

“Our senior living segment results improved sequentially over the first quarter, despite operating challenges that we expected to spill over into the second quarter,” commented Mr. Walker. “While the pace of our recovery has been slower than we projected as the impacts of the COVID-19 environment, the Texas storm and the continued wage and hiring headwinds affected our first half results, the quarter saw sequential improvement and acceleration as we continued the important effort of developing our senior living leaders, which will lay the foundation for long-term value generation. Despite these operating and labor challenges, we achieved a positive step forward growing revenue over the first quarter through the addition of 71 net move-ins and increasing segment adjusted EBITDAR from operations by $1.0 million, a margin increase of 230 basis points, over the first quarter 2021. As of August 9, 2021, our occupancy stands at 74.1%, a 280 basis point improvement over our low point in mid-March. With a largely vaccinated resident population and communities open for tours and visitation, there is a measurable increase in the demand for quality senior living settings. This improved operating environment and our focused efforts on developing leaders and providing them additional tools and systems to better care for our residents and employees creates a compelling opportunity to drive value in the segment. Barring a return to the challenging operating environment prevalent during the peak of the pandemic, we are positioning ourselves to accelerate the momentum generated in the second quarter during the second half of the year and beyond.”

During the second quarter and since, the Company announced that it grew its operations through the acquisition two home health and two home care agencies in southwest Colorado, one home health agency in Ft. Worth, Texas, and a hospice agency in northern California. “We are excited to invest in these communities through local teams that have built reputations for excellent care. We continue to find opportunities to work with talented local owner-operators looking for the right organization to carry on and amplify their legacy and are attracted to our model of local entrepreneurship and expert resource support. Our pipeline of potential acquisitions is strong, and we have the resources and ability to continue executing on our growth strategy,” said Derek Bunker, Pennant’s Chief Investment Officer.

Jennifer Freeman, Pennant's Chief Financial Officer, reported that the Company ended the second quarter with strong liquidity, noting $2.9 million of cash on hand and $106.2 million of availability on its revolving line of credit. Highlighting the strength of the Company’s balance sheet, Ms. Freeman reported the Company had a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.10x and a lease-adjusted net debt-to-adjusted EBITDAR ratio of 4.96x as of June 30, 2021. “With our strong balance sheet, leadership pipeline and inherent opportunity in our transitioning operations, we are well positioned for continued growth that matches our historical trends,” said Ms. Freeman.

A discussion of the company's use of non-GAAP financial measures is set forth below. A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR and adjusted EBITDA, as well as a reconciliation of GAAP earnings per share, net income to adjusted net earnings per share and adjusted net income, appear in the financial data portion of this release.   More complete information is contained in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2021, which has been filed with the SEC today and can be viewed on the company’s website at www.pennantgroup.com.

2021 Guidance

Management reiterated its 2021 annual revenue guidance of $430 million to $440 million and its annual adjusted earnings per share guidance to $0.89 to $0.99 per diluted share. “We are pleased with the continued strength in our home health and hospice segment and the sequential improvement in our senior living segment. We anticipated ongoing COVID-related challenges in the second quarter, with a steeper ramp in the second half of the year. Our guidance reflects substantial growth opportunities in both our same store and newly-acquired home health and hospice agencies and execution in our senior living business as demand continues to improve. We are building strong foundations in both segments and are confident we are positioned to deliver results by consistently executing on the principles and practices that have been fundamental to our historical success,” commented Mr. Walker. Management’s 2021 annual guidance is based on diluted weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 30.8 million and a 25.9% effective tax rate. In addition, the guidance assumes, among other things, anticipated reimbursement rate adjustments, no unannounced acquisitions, and no resurgence of COVID-19. It excludes costs at start-up operations, share-based compensation, acquisition-related costs and certain redundant or nonrecurring general and administrative costs incurred during the transition services period.

Conference Call

A live webcast will be held tomorrow, August 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Mountain time (12:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss Pennant’s second quarter 2021 financial results. To listen to the webcast, or to view any financial or statistical information required by SEC Regulation G, please visit the Investors Relations section of Pennant’s website at https://investor.pennantgroup.com. The webcast will be recorded and will be available for replay via the website until 5:00 p.m. Mountain time on Friday, September 10, 2021.

About Pennant

The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through 86 home health and hospice agencies and 54 senior living communities located throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. References herein to the consolidated "company" and "its" assets and activities, as well as the use of the terms "we," "us," "its" and similar verbiage, are not meant to imply that The Pennant Group, Inc. has direct operating assets, employees or revenue, or that any of the home health and hospice businesses, senior living communities or the Service Center are operated by the same entity. More information about Pennant is available at www.pennantgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains, and the related conference call and webcast will include, forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs about its business, financial performance, operating results, the industry in which it operates and other future events. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding growth prospects, future operating and financial performance, and acquisition activities. They are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

These risks and uncertainties relate to the company’s business, its industry and its common stock and include: reduced prices and reimbursement rates for its services; its ability to acquire, develop, manage or improve operations, its ability to manage its increasing borrowing costs as it incurs additional indebtedness to fund the acquisition and development of operations; its ability to access capital on a cost-effective basis to continue to successfully implement its growth strategy; its operating margins and profitability could suffer if it is unable to grow and manage effectively its increasing number of operations; competition from other companies in the acquisition, development and operation of facilities; its ability to defend claims and lawsuits, including professional liability claims alleging that our services resulted in personal injury, and other regulatory-related claims; and the application of existing or proposed government regulations, or the adoption of new laws and regulations, that could limit its business operations, require it to incur significant expenditures or limit its ability to relocate its operations if necessary. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q, for a more complete discussion of the risks and other factors that could affect Pennant’s business, prospects and any forward-looking statements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, Pennant does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changing circumstances or any other reason after the date of this press release.

Contact Information

Investor Relations
The Pennant Group, Inc.
(208) 506-6100
ir@pennantgroup.com

SOURCE: The Pennant Group, Inc.

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited, in thousands, except for per-share amounts)

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited, in thousands, except par value)

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)

The following table presents selected data from our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the periods presented:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
REVENUE BY SEGMENT
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

The following tables sets forth our total revenue by segment and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
SELECT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes our overall home health and hospice performance indicators for the periods indicated:

The following table summarizes our senior living performance indicators for the periods indicated:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
REVENUE BY PAYOR SOURCE
(unaudited, dollars in thousands)

The following table presents our total revenue by payor source and as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

The following table reconciles net income to Non-GAAP net income for the periods presented:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands)

The tables below reconcile Consolidated net income to the consolidated Non-GAAP financial measures, Consolidated and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, and to the Non-GAAP valuation measure, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDAR, for the periods presented:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands)

The following tables present certain financial information regarding our reportable segments. General and administrative expenses are not allocated to the reportable segments and are included in “All Other”:

The table below provides a reconciliation of Segment Adjusted EBITDAR from Operations above to Condensed Consolidated Income from Operations:

THE PENNANT GROUP, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands)

The tables below reconcile Segment Adjusted EBITDAR from Operations to Segment Adjusted EBITDA from Operations for each reportable segment for the periods presented:

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA consists of net income before (a) interest expense, net, (b) provisions for income taxes, and (c) depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA consists of net income attributable to the Company before (a) provisions for income taxes, (b) depreciation and amortization, (c) costs incurred for start-up operations, including rent and excluding depreciation, interest and income taxes, (d) share-based compensation expense, (e) non-capitalizable acquisition related costs, (f) redundant or non-recurring transition services costs, and (g) incremental costs due to COVID-19 response net of 2% Medicare reimbursement increase for sequestration holiday. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDAR is a valuation measure applicable to current periods only and consists of net income attributable to the Company before (a) interest expense, net, (b) provisions for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization, (d) rent-cost of services, (e) costs incurred for start-up operations, excluding rent, depreciation, interest and income taxes, (f) share-based compensation expense, (g) acquisition related costs, (h) redundant or non-recurring transition services costs, (i) net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, and (j) net COVID-19 related costs. The company believes that the presentation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, consolidated adjusted EBITDAR, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share provides important supplemental information to management and investors to evaluate the company’s operating performance. The company believes disclosure of adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and consolidated adjusted EBITDAR has economic substance because the excluded revenues and expenses are infrequent in nature and are variable in nature, or do not represent current revenues or cash expenditures. A material limitation associated with the use of these measures as compared to the GAAP measures of net income and diluted earnings per share is that they may not be comparable with the calculation of net income and diluted earnings per share for other companies in the company's industry. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. For further information regarding why the company believes that this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses this measure, and some of the limitations associated with the use of this measure, please refer to the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The company’s periodic filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or under the "Financial Information" link of the Investor Relations section on Pennant’s website at http://www.pennantgroup.com. 

Source: Pennant Group, Inc.