CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS) today announced record third quarter revenues, operating profit, and net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.
Revenues
Net revenues for the third quarter of 2009, increased $3.8 billion to $24.6 billion, up from $20.9 billion during the third quarter of 2008. Net revenues were positively impacted by one more reporting day during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008.
Revenues in the pharmacy services segment increased 23.4% to $13.0 billion in the third quarter of 2009. Adjusting the growth rate for the impact of new generics, net revenues would have grown 27.2% in the pharmacy services segment. Pharmacy network claims processed during the third quarter of 2009 increased 9.0% to 146.5 million, compared to 134.4 million in the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to the addition of RxAmerica claims and new client starts. This was offset by a reduction in claims due to the termination of two large health plan clients effective January 1, 2009. Mail choice claims processed during the third quarter of 2009 increased 11.4% to 16.4 million compared to 14.7 million in the prior year period, primarily as a result of net new client starts.
Revenues in the retail pharmacy segment increased 17.9% to $13.6 billion in the third quarter of 2009. Same store sales (sales from stores open more than one year based on a comparable 90-day reporting period) increased 5.7% over the prior year period. Pharmacy same store sales rose 8.0% and were negatively impacted by approximately 380 basis points due to recent generic introductions. Pharmacy same store sales were positively impacted by approximately 250 basis points due to Maintenance Choice™. Front store same store sales increased 0.8%.
The generic dispensing rate in our pharmacy services segment increased 320 basis points to a best-in-class 68.3% in the third quarter. At the same time, the generic dispensing rate in our retail segment increased approximately 210 basis points to 70.1%.
Income from Continuing Operations
Income from continuing operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, increased 25.0% to $1.0 billion, compared with income from continuing operations of $818.8 million during the third quarter of 2008. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded approximately $155.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, of previously unrecognized tax benefits. These tax benefits are related to the expiration of various statutes of limitation and settlements with tax authorities.
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, which excludes $108.0 million of intangible asset amortization related to acquisition activity, for the third quarter were $0.76 (including the $0.11 per diluted share income tax benefit), compared with $0.60 in the third quarter of 2008. GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2009 were $0.71 (including the $0.11 per diluted share income tax benefit), compared with $0.56 in the third quarter of 2008.
Income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, increased 11.1% to $2.7 billion, compared with income from continuing operations of $2.4 billion during the nine months ended September 27, 2008. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, which excludes $322.8 million of intangible asset amortization related to acquisition activity, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, were $1.96 (including the $0.11 per diluted share income tax benefit), compared with $1.75 in the nine months ended September 27, 2008. GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $1.82 (including the $0.11 per diluted share income tax benefit), compared with $1.63 in the nine months ended September 27, 2008.
Tom Ryan, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I’m very pleased with our performance across the enterprise this quarter. The quarter was characterized by continued industry-leading performance in our retail business, solid performance in our PBM, and record results from MinuteClinic. Our integrated pharmacy care offerings are contributing to results across the company at a growing pace. We achieved solid revenue growth, healthy earnings growth and significant free cash flow. In addition, we recently completed the Longs integration, and the early customer feedback and improvement in financial results are quite positive.”
Dave Rickard, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer, said, “Given our continued strong performance year to date, we are narrowing our earnings guidance range for 2009. We expect to deliver adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, excluding the effect of the tax benefit, of $2.61 to $2.64, up from our previous guidance of $2.59 to $2.64.”
Loss from Discontinued Operations