Elevance Health Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

Indianapolis, IN - April 18, 2024 - Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE: ELV) reported first quarter 2024 results.

“First quarter results reflect disciplined execution of our strategic initiatives during a dynamic time for our industry. We are making significant progress expanding Carelon’s capabilities, scaling our flywheel for enterprise growth, and delivering results for all stakeholders. Given the solid start to the year, we have increased our outlook for full year earnings. Earlier this week, we also announced the next step in our journey to expand access to high-quality, patient-centered, value-based care in our local markets. This strategic partnership with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has the potential to accelerate innovation in care delivery, enhance healthcare experiences, and improve health outcomes, all while advancing our value-based care and physician enablement strategy.”

Gail K. Boudreaux
President and Chief Executive Officer

*Earnings per diluted share ("EPS")
**Refer to GAAP reconciliation tables.

Consolidated Enterprise Highlights

Operating revenue was $42.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.4 billion, or approximately 1 percent compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by higher premium yields to reflect medical cost trend, and growth in Carelon, including a full quarter of revenue from BioPlus, which closed in February of 2023, partially offset by attrition in Medicaid membership.

The benefit expense ratio was 85.6 percent, an improvement of 20 basis points, driven primarily by premium rate adjustments to cover medical cost trend in our Health Benefits business. Days in Claims Payable was 49.0 days as of March 31, 2024, an increase of 1.7 days from December 31, 2023, and an increase of 3.0 days compared to March 31, 2023.

The operating expense ratio was 11.6 percent, an increase of 10 basis points due to investment and integration costs. Excluding adjustment items, the operating expense ratio was unchanged at 11.4 percent.

Elevance Health now expects net income per diluted share to be greater than $34.05 in 2024 and adjusted diluted net income per share to be greater than $37.20.

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet

Operating cash flow for the first quarter was $2.0 billion, or 0.9 times net income. As of March 31, 2024, cash and investments at the parent company totaled approximately $1.0 billion.

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its common stock for $566 million, at a weighted average price of $492.76. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $3.6 billion of Board approved share repurchase authorization remaining. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share, representing a distribution of cash totaling $379 million.

Reportable Segment Highlights

Health Benefits is comprised of Individual, Employer Group risk-based, Employer Group fee-based, BlueCard, Medicare, Medicaid, and Federal Health Products & Services businesses.

Operating revenue was $37.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024, unchanged compared to the prior year quarter, as premium rate increases to reflect medical cost trends were offset by Medicaid membership attrition associated with eligibility redeterminations and expected footprint adjustments.

Operating gain totaled $2.3 billion, an increase of 6 percent, driven by premium yields, including disciplined commercial underwriting.

Medical membership totaled approximately 46.2 million as of March 31, 2024, a decrease of 1.9 million, or 4 percent compared to the prior year quarter, driven by attrition in our Medicaid business associated with eligibility redeterminations and expected footprint adjustments. These membership losses were partially offset by growth in our commercial Employer Group fee-based, Affordable Care Act, and BlueCard membership.

Carelon is comprised of CarelonRx and Carelon Services.

Operating revenue for Carelon was $12.1 billion in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.6 billion, or 5 percent compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by the launch of new risk-based capabilities in Carelon Services and growth in CarelonRx, including a full quarter of revenue from the acquisition of BioPlus, which closed in February of 2023, and growth in external customers served, partially offset by the impact of Medicaid membership attrition on affiliated revenue streams.

Operating gain for Carelon totaled $0.8 billion, an increase of $72 million, or 10 percent, primarily driven by improved performance on certain risk-based arrangements in Carelon Services.

Quarterly Dividend

On April 16, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors declared a second quarter 2024 dividend to shareholders of $1.63 per share. The second quarter dividend is payable on June 25, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 10, 2024.

About Elevance Health, Inc.

Elevance Health is a lifetime, trusted health partner whose purpose is to improve the health of humanity. The company supports consumers, families, and communities across the entire healthcare journey – connecting them to the care, support, and resources they need to lead better lives. Elevance Health’s companies serve approximately 115 million consumers through a diverse portfolio of industry-leading medical, pharmacy, behavioral, clinical, and complex care solutions. For more information, please visit www.elevancehealth.com or follow us @ElevanceHealth on X and Elevance Health on LinkedIn.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) to discuss the company’s first quarter results and outlook. The conference call should be accessed at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call with the following numbers:

• 888-947-9963 (Domestic)
• 800-876-4955 (Domestic Replay)
• 312-470-0178 (International)
• 203-369-3997 (International Replay)

The access code for today's conference call is 3972058. There is no access code for the replay.  The replay will be available from 11:30 a.m. EDT today, until the end of the day on May 17, 2024. The call will also be available through a live webcast at www.elevancehealth.com under the “Investors” link. A webcast replay will be available following the call.

Basis of Presentation

1.      Operating revenue and operating gain/loss are the key measures used by management to evaluate performance in each of its reporting segments, allocate resources, set incentive compensation targets and to forecast future operating performance. Operating gain/loss is calculated as total operating revenue less benefit expense, cost of products sold and operating expense. It does not include net investment income, net gains/losses on financial instruments, interest expense, amortization of other intangible assets, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt or income taxes, as these items are managed in a corporate shared service environment and are not the responsibility of operating segment management. Refer to the GAAP reconciliation tables.

2.      Operating margin is defined as operating gain divided by operating revenue.

Elevance Health Contacts

Investor Relations:
Stephen Tanal
Investor.Relations@elevancehealth.com

Media Contact:
Leslie Porras
Leslie.Porras@elevancehealth.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect our views about future events and financial performance and are generally not historical facts. Words such as “expect,” “feel,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to: financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and statements regarding future performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. You are also urged to carefully review and consider the various risks and other disclosures discussed in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors that affect our business. Except to the extent required by law, we do not update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: trends in healthcare costs and utilization rates; reduced enrollment; our ability to secure and implement sufficient premium rates; the impact of large scale medical emergencies, such as public health epidemics and pandemics, and other catastrophes; the impact of new or changes in existing federal, state and international laws or regulations, including laws and regulations impacting healthcare, insurance, pharmacy services and other diversified products and services, or their enforcement or application; the impact of cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents or breaches or our failure to comply with any privacy, data or security laws or regulations, including any investigations, claims or litigation related thereto; information technology disruptions; changes in economic and market conditions, as well as regulations that may negatively affect our liquidity and investment portfolios; competitive pressures and our ability to adapt to changes in the industry and develop and implement strategic growth opportunities; risks and uncertainties regarding Medicare and Medicaid programs, including those related to non-compliance with the complex regulations imposed thereon; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Star ratings and other quality scores and funding risks with respect to revenue received from participation therein; a negative change in our healthcare product mix; costs and other liabilities associated with litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; our ability to contract with providers on cost-effective and competitive terms; failure to effectively maintain and modernize our information systems; risks associated with providing healthcare, pharmacy and other diversified products and services, including medical malpractice or professional liability claims and non-compliance by any party with the pharmacy services agreement between us and CaremarkPCS Health, L.L.C.; risks associated with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; possible impairment of the value of our intangible assets if future results do not adequately support goodwill and other intangible assets; possible restrictions in the payment of dividends from our subsidiaries and increases in required minimum levels of capital; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and pay dividends on our common stock due to the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings and other considerations; the potential negative effect from our substantial amount of outstanding indebtedness and the risk that increased interest rates or market volatility could impact our access to or further increase the cost of financing; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; the effects of any negative publicity related to the health benefits industry in general or us in particular; events that may negatively affect our licenses with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; intense competition to attract and retain employees; risks associated with our international operations; and various laws and provisions in our governing documents that may prevent or discourage takeovers and business combinations.