UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. ANNOUNCES 2021 FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR FINANCIAL RESULTS, 2022 FULL YEAR EARNINGS GUIDANCE AND $1.4 BILLION INCREASE TO STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $239.1 million, or $3.00 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to $308.7 million, or $3.60 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2020. Net revenues increased by 6.1% to $3.275 billion during the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to $3.087 billion during the fourth quarter of 2020.

As reflected on the Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule"), our adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the fourth quarter of 2021 was $235.1 million, or $2.95 per diluted share, as compared to $307.9 million, or $3.59 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2020. 

Included in our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the fourth quarter of 2021 was a net favorable after-tax impact of approximately $26.2 million, or $.33 per diluted share, resulting from approximately $34 million of revenues recorded during the fourth quarter in connection with the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program, covering the period of July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, as discussed below in Kentucky Hospital Rate Increase Program;

Included in our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the fourth quarter of 2020 were the following: (i) a favorable impact of approximately $151.4 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, resulting from the recording of approximately $200 million of grant revenues from various governmental stimulus programs, most notably the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), and; (ii) an unfavorable estimated impact of $42.1 million ($55 million pre-tax), or $.49 per diluted share, resulting from the information technology incident that occurred in September, 2020. 

As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the fourth quarter of 2021, was a net aggregate favorable after-tax impact of $4.0 million, or $.05 per diluted share, consisting primarily of an after-tax unrealized gain of $4.1 million, or $.05 per diluted share, ($5.4 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net"), resulting from an increase in the market value of certain equity securities.  

As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the fourth quarter of 2020, was a net aggregate favorable after-tax impact of $849,000, or $.01 per diluted share, consisting of the following: (i) an after-tax unrealized gain of $3.9 million, or $.05 per diluted share, resulting from an increase in the market value certain equity securities, and; (ii) a unfavorable after-tax impact of $3.0 million, or $.04 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09, "Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09").

As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization ("EBITDA net of NCI", NCI is net income attributable to noncontrolling interests), was $464.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to $557.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2020. Our adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI"), which excludes the impact of other (income) expense, net, was $452.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to $548.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2020.

Consolidated Results of Operations, As Reported and As Adjusted  – Twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

Reported net income attributable to UHS was $991.6 million, or $11.82 per diluted share, during the full year of 2021, as compared to $944.0 million, or $10.99 per diluted share, during the 2020 full year. Net revenues increased by 9.4% to $12.642 billion during 2021 as compared to $11.559 billion during 2020.

As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, our adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021 was $991.7 million, or $11.82 per diluted share, as compared to $954.7 million, or $11.12 per diluted share, during the full year of 2020. 

Our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, included the following:   

• a favorable after-tax impact of $74.0 million, or $.88 per diluted share, resulting from approximately $97 million of revenues recorded during 2021 in connection with the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program, covering the period of July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, as discussed below in Kentucky Hospital Rate Increase Program;
• an unfavorable after-tax impact of approximately $39.2 million, or $.47 per diluted share, resulting from a $52 million increase to our reserves for self-insured professional and general liability claims recorded during 2021 resulting from unfavorable trends experienced in connection with the number of asserted claims and reported incidents and estimates of losses for those claims, and;
• an aggregate favorable after-tax impact of $28.4 million, or $.34 per diluted share, resulting from approximately $38 million of aggregate commercial insurance proceeds received during 2021 in connection with: (i) the unfavorable economic impact resulting from the previously disclosed information technology incident that occurred during 2020 ($29 million aggregate proceeds received thus far representing partial recovery of the loss sustained), and; (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately $9 million of insurance proceeds received representing recovery of the policy maximum).  

Our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020, included the following: (i) a favorable impact of $308.6 million, or $3.61 per diluted share, resulting from the recording of grant revenues of approximately $413 million from various governmental stimulus programs, most notably the CARES Act; (ii) an unfavorable estimated impact of $51.3 million ($67 million pre-tax), or $.60 per diluted share, resulting from the information technology incident that occurred in September, 2020, and; (iii) a favorable impact of $21.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, resulting from $28 million of net revenues recorded in connection with the California Medicaid supplemental payment program related to our acute care hospitals.   

As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, were the following which, on a net aggregate basis, amounted to a de minimis amount: (i) an after-tax charge of $12.9 million, or $.15 per diluted share, ($16.8 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net") recorded in connection with the costs related to extinguishment of debt resulting from various financing transactions completed during the third quarter of 2021; (ii) an after-tax unrealized gain of $10.4 million, or $.12 per diluted share, ($13.6 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net") resulting from an increase in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and; (iii) a favorable after-tax impact of $2.4 million, or $.03 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09.

As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020, was a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $10.8 million, or $.13 per diluted share, consisting of the following: (i) an after-tax unrealized loss of $3.3 million, or $.04 per diluted share, resulting from a decrease in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and; (ii) an unfavorable after-tax impact of $7.4 million, or $.09 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09.

As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our EBITDA net of NCI, was $1.914 billion during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $1.860 billion during the full year of 2020. Our Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI, which excludes the impact of other (income) expense, net, was $1.900 billion during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $1.860 billion during the full year of 2020.

Acute Care Services – Three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

During the fourth quarter of 2021, at our acute care hospitals owned during both periods ("same facility basis"), adjusted admissions (adjusted for outpatient activity) increased by 8.9% and adjusted patient days increased by 5.0%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

At these facilities, excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $155 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased by 3.7% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased by 7.5% during the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.  During the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, net revenues generated from our acute care services on a same facility basis increased by 4.4% including the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020, and increased by 14.8% excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020.   

During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, at our acute care hospitals on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased by 7.7% and adjusted patient days increased by 8.6%, as compared to the full year of 2020.  At these facilities, excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $316 million recorded during the full year of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased by 8.6% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased by 7.7% during the full year of 2021, as compared to 2020. During the full year of 2021, as compared to 2020, net revenues generated from our acute care services on a same facility basis increased by 11.6% including the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the full year of 2020 and increased by 17.6% excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during 2020.   

Behavioral Health Care Services – Three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

During the fourth quarter of 2021, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased by 1.5% and adjusted patient days increased 0.5%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

At these facilities, excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $45 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased by 7.8% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased by 8.9% during the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.  During the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, net revenues generated from our behavioral health care services on a same facility basis increased by 5.4% including the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020, and increased by 9.2% excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the fourth quarter of 2020.   

During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased by 1.6% and adjusted patient days increased by 0.4%, as compared to the full year of 2020. At these facilities, excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $97 million recorded during the full year of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased by 5.4% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased by 6.7% during the full year of 2021, as compared to the full year of 2020.  During the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the full year of 2020, net revenues generated from our behavioral health care services on a same facility basis increased by 5.4% including the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the full year of 2020, and increased by 7.5% excluding the CARES Act and other governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the year ended December 31, 2020.   

COVID-19

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began during the second half of March, 2020, has had a material effect on our operations and financial results since that time. The COVID-19 vaccination process commenced during the first quarter of 2021. Since that time through the second quarter of 2021, we had generally experienced a decline in COVID-19 patients as well as a corresponding recovery in non-COVID patient activity.  However, during the third and fourth quarters of 2021, and continuing into the first quarter of 2022, our facilities have generally experienced an increase in COVID-19 patients resulting from the Delta and, more recently, the highly transmissible Omicron variants. Although booster doses for COVID-19 vaccinations began during the third quarter of 2021, and while we expect the administration of vaccines booster doses will assist in easing the number of COVID-19 patients, the pace at which this is likely to occur is very difficult to predict. Since the future volumes and severity of COVID-19 patients remain highly uncertain and subject to change, including potential increases in future COVID-19 patient volumes caused by new variants of the virus, as well as related pressures on staffing and wage rates, we are not able to fully quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future financial results.  However, developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic could materially affect our financial performance during 2022. 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities and Liquidity and Financing Transactions:

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, our net cash provided by operating activities was $884 million as compared to $2.360 billion during the full year of 2020.  The $1.476 billion net decrease in our cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to full year of 2020, was due to: (i) an unfavorable change of $1.398 billion resulting primarily from the early return of the $695 million of Medicare accelerated payments which were repaid during the first quarter of 2021, as compared to a favorable change of $699 million experienced during 2020 resulting primarily from receipt of the Medicare accelerated payments; (ii) an unfavorable change of approximately $262 million due to the following, as provided for by the CARES Act: (1) a $178 million favorable impact experienced during 2020 resulting from the payment deferral of the employer's share of Social Security taxes, and; (2) an $84 million unfavorable impact experienced during 2021 resulting from the payment of the first of two installments to remit the deferred amount (the $94 million remaining payment deferral will be remitted during 2022); (iii) a favorable change of $137 million in accounts receivable due, in part, to the unfavorable impact experienced during 2020, and corresponding favorable impact experienced during 2021, resulting from the coding, billing and collection delays experienced during the fourth quarter of 2020 resulting from the information technology incident that occurred in September, 2020; (iv) a favorable change of $88 million resulting from an increase in net income plus depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, gain/loss on sales of assets and businesses, costs related to extinguishment of debt and provision for asset impairment; (v) an unfavorable change of $64 million in accrued and deferred income taxes; (vi) a favorable change of $49 million in accrued insurance expense, net of commercial premiums paid, and; (vii) $26 million of other combined net unfavorable changes.    

Liquidity and Financing Transactions:

As of December 31, 2021, we had $854 million of aggregate available borrowing capacity pursuant to our $1.2 billion revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit. 

In connection with the various financing transactions completed during the third quarter of 2021, our results of operations for the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2021, include a $16.8 million pre-tax charge incurred for costs related to the extinguishment of debt. This pre-tax charge consisted of the following: (i) $6.8 million incurred to write-off unamortized deferred charges on the extinguished debt, and; (ii) a $10 million make-whole premium paid on the early redemption of the $400 million, 5.00% senior secured notes.

Stock Repurchase Program and Increased Authorization:

On February 24, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized a $1.4 billion increase to our stock repurchase program. Pursuant to this program, shares of our Class B Common Stock may be repurchased, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or in negotiated private transactions. 

During the fourth quarter of 2021, pursuant to previous share repurchase authorizations, including a $1.0 billion increase to the program approved by our Board of Directors in July, 2021, we have repurchased approximately 3.43 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $432.3 million (approximately $126 per share).  For the year ended December 31, 2021, we have repurchased approximately 8.41 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $1.201 billion (approximately $143 per share).      

As of December 31, 2021, prior to the above-mentioned increased authorization approved in February, 2022, we had an aggregate available repurchase authorization of $358.2 million.  In January and February of 2022, we have repurchased an additional 2.30 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $299.1 million (approximately $130 per share).  As of February 24, 2022, including the above-mentioned $1.4 billion increased authorization, we have an aggregate available repurchase authorization of approximately $1.46 billion. 

2022 Operating Results Forecast:

Reflected below is our 2022 guidance range for consolidated net revenues, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization, and the impacts of other income/expense and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests ("Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI"), adjusted net income attributable to UHS per diluted share ("Adjusted EPS-diluted") and capital expenditures. 

Adjusted EPS-diluted and Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI, are non-GAAP financial measures and should be examined in connection with net income determined in accordance with GAAP as presented in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this report or in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Please see the Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures - 2022 Operating Results Forecast schedule as included herein for additional information and a reconciliation to the financial forecasts as computed in accordance with GAAP.

Our 2022 guidance contains a number of assumptions including, but not limited to, the following:

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began during the second half of March, 2020, has had a material unfavorable effect on our operations and financial results since that time. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response thereto impact our business, results of operations and financial condition will depend on numerous factors and future developments, most of which are beyond our control or ability to predict. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. We are not able to fully quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future financial results, but expect developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic to materially affect our financial performance in 2022 and may cause our 2022 actual operating results to differ materially from our 2022 operating results forecast. Please see additional disclosure above in COVID-19.
• The 2022 forecasted amounts exclude the impact of future items, if applicable, that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, reserves for various matters including settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, potential impacts of non-ordinary course acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures or other strategic transactions, costs related to extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, impairment of long-lived and intangible assets, other amounts that may be reflected in the current financial statements that relate to prior periods, and the impact of share repurchases that differ from our forecasted assumptions. It is also subject to certain conditions including those as set forth below in General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
• Our net revenues are estimated to be approximately $13.424 billion to $13.694 billion representing an increase of approximately 6.2% to 8.3% over our 2021 net revenues of approximately $12.642 billion.
• Our Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI is estimated to be approximately $1.830 billion to $1.927 billion as compared to our 2021 Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI of $1.900 billion.
• Our Adjusted EPS-diluted range is estimated to be $11.90 per diluted share to $12.90 per diluted share as compared to our adjusted net income attributable to UHS of $11.82 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2021, as calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule.

Kentucky Hospital Rate Increase Program:

In early 2021, CMS approved the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program ("HRIP") for SFY 2021, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. In December 2021, CMS approved the HRIP program period for the period July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

Included in our financial results for the three-month period ended December 31, 2021 is approximately $34 million of HRIP reimbursement covering the six-month period of July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.  Included in our financial results for the full year of 2021 was approximately $97 million of HRIP reimbursement covering the eighteen-month period of July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. 

Programs such as HRIP require an annual state submission and approval by CMS. In December, 2021, CMS approved the program for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 at rates similar to the prior year. We estimate that our reimbursements pursuant to HRIP will approximate $58 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. 

Conference call information:

We will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 9:00 a.m. eastern time on February 25, 2022. The dial-in number is 1-877-648-7971. 

A live broadcast of the conference call will be available on our website at www.uhs.com.  Also, a replay of the call will be available following the conclusion of the live call and will be available for one full year.

General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since our inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, our annual revenues during 2021 were approximately $12.6 billion. In 2022, UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; and in 2021 the Company ranked #270 on the Fortune 500 and #307 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Public Companies.

Our operating philosophy is as effective today as it was upon the Company's founding in 1979, enabling us to provide compassionate care to our patients and their loved ones.  Our strategy includes building or acquiring high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, investing in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and becoming the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve.

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has over 89,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates 27 acute care hospitals, 335 behavioral health facilities, 40 outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 39 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. In addition, UHS also has under construction, a new 170-bed acute care hospital located in Reno, Nevada, that is scheduled to be completed and opened during the first quarter of 2022. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE:UHT).  For additional information visit www.uhs.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations.  Numerous factors, including those disclosed herein, those related to the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on our operations and financial results, those related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as set forth in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7-Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021), may cause the results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.  These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore actual results may differ materially.  Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Many of the factors that could affect our future results are beyond our control or ability to predict, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our future operations and financial results will likely be materially impacted by developments related to COVID-19 including, but not limited to, the potential impact on future COVID-19 patient volumes resulting from new variants of the virus, the length of time and severity of the spread of the pandemic; the volume of cancelled or rescheduled elective procedures and the volume of COVID-19 patients treated at our hospitals and other healthcare facilities; measures we are taking to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of government and administrative regulation and stimulus on the hospital industry and potential retrospective adjustment in future periods of CARES Act and other grant income revenues recorded as revenues in prior periods; declining patient volumes and unfavorable changes in payer mix caused by deteriorating macroeconomic conditions (including increases in uninsured and underinsured patients as the result of business closings and layoffs); potential disruptions to our clinical staffing and shortages and disruptions related to supplies required for our employees and patients; and potential increases to expenses related to staffing, supply chain or other expenditures; the impact of our substantial indebtedness and the ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms, as well as risks associated with disruptions in the financial markets and the business of financial institutions as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic which could impact us from a financing perspective; and changes in general economic conditions nationally and regionally in our markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not able to fully quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future financial results, but developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic could materially affect our financial performance during 2022.

We believe that adjusted net income attributable to UHS, adjusted net income attributable to UHS per diluted share, EBITDA net of NCI and Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI, which are non-GAAP financial measures ("GAAP" is Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America), are helpful to our investors as measures of our operating performance. In addition, we believe that, when applicable, comparing and discussing our financial results based on these measures, as calculated, is helpful to our investors since it neutralizes the effect of material items impacting our net income attributable to UHS, such as, the impact of ASU 2016-09, unrealized gains/losses resulting from changes in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and other potential material items that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including, but not limited to, impairments of long-lived and intangible assets, reserves for various matters including settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, costs related to extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance these measures should be examined in connection with net income attributable to UHS, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this report or in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Since the items included or excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance under GAAP, these measures should not be considered to be alternatives to net income as a measure of our operating performance or profitability. Since these measures, as presented, are not determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating our financial performance.