Molina Healthcare Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Molina Healthcare reported strong financial results for Q4 2021, with GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.74 and adjusted earnings of $2.88. For the full year 2021, GAAP earnings were $11.25 per diluted share, while adjusted earnings reached $13.54. Premium revenue increased by 47% year-over-year to $26.9 billion. The company issued a positive 2022 guidance, expecting total revenue of $29.5 billion and adjusted EPS growth of 26% to no less than $17.00 per share. Molina also acquired Cigna's Texas Medicaid contracts, enhancing its market position.

Positive

• Premium revenue increased by 47% year-over-year to $26.9 billion for 2021.
• Adjusted EPS for 2021 grew to $13.54, an increase from $10.67 in 2020.
• 2022 guidance expects total revenue of $29.5 billion, up approximately 6% from 2021.
• Projected adjusted EPS growth of 26% to no less than $17.00 for 2022.

Negative

• The net effect of COVID-19 decreased net income by approximately $3.50 per diluted share in 2021.
• Medical Care Ratio (MCR) increased to 88.3% for 2021 compared to 86.5% in 2020.

Introduces Full Year 2022 Earnings Guidance

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) (the “Company”) today reported fourth quarter 2021 GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.74 and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $2.88. The Company also reported full year 2021 GAAP earnings per diluted share of $11.25 and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $13.54. Financial results are summarized below:

	Quarter ended				Year ended
	December 31,				December 31,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
(In millions, except per-share results)
Premium Revenue	$7,166		$4,855		$26,855		$18,299
Total Revenue	$7,409		$5,235		$27,771		$19,423
GAAP:
Net Income	$103		$34		$659		$673
EPS – Diluted	$1.74		$0.56		$11.25		$11.23
Medical Care Ratio (MCR)	88.8%		90.8%		88.3%		86.5%
G&A Ratio	7.8%		8.6%		7.4%		7.6%
After-tax Margin	1.4%		0.6%		2.4%		3.5%
Adjusted:
Net Income (loss)	$170		($30)		$793		$640
EPS – Diluted	$2.88		($0.51)		$13.54		$10.67
G&A Ratio	7.4%		8.6%		7.2%		7.6%
After-tax Margin	2.3%		(0.6%)		2.9%		3.3%
See the Reconciliation of Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this release.

Full Year Highlights

• As of December 31, 2021, the Company served approximately 5.2 million members, an increase of 1.2 million members or 29% year over year.

• Premium revenue was approximately $26.9 billion for the full year 2021, an increase of 47% year over year.

• GAAP earnings were $11.25 per diluted share.

• Adjusted earnings were $13.54 per diluted share.

• The net effect of COVID decreased net income by approximately $3.50 per diluted share in the full year 2021.

• The Company issued its full year 2022 earnings guidance with premium revenue of approximately $28.5 billion and 26% adjusted EPS growth to no less than $17.00 per diluted share.

“We are very pleased with the quarter and our full year results,” said Joseph Zubretsky, President and CEO. “Our proven momentum enables us to continue building this valuable and exemplary health care franchise. We are proud to serve our members in this challenging time while sustaining profitable growth.”

Texas Acquisition

On January 3, 2022, the Company announced that it closed its acquisition of Cigna Corporation’s Texas Medicaid contracts on January 1, 2022.

Premium Revenue

Premium revenue was approximately $26.9 billion for the full year 2021, an increase of 47% compared to the full year 2020. The higher premium revenue reflects increased organic membership in all lines of business and the impact of acquisitions.

Net Income

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $11.25 per diluted share, compared to $11.23 per diluted share in the year ended December 31, 2020. Adjusted net income for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $13.54 per diluted share, compared to $10.67 per diluted share in the year ended December 31, 2020. The net effect of COVID decreased full year 2021 GAAP and adjusted EPS by $3.50 per diluted share, compared to $2.30 per diluted share a year earlier.

Medical Care Ratio

The consolidated MCR for the year ended December 31, 2021, was 88.3%, compared to 86.5% for 2020. The net effect of COVID increased the consolidated MCR by approximately 90 basis points and impacted all three lines of business. In the prior year, the net effect of COVID increased the consolidated MCR by approximately 50 basis points.

• The Medicaid MCR increased to 88.7% in 2021 compared to 87.4% in 2020 mainly due to portfolio mix, but remained squarely in line with the Company’s long-term target.

• The Medicare MCR increased to 87.2% in 2021 compared to 86.0% in 2020, driven primarily by the net effect of COVID and also in line with the Company’s long-term target.

• The Marketplace MCR increased to 86.9% in 2021 compared to 78.7% in 2020, primarily due to the higher net effect of COVID and non-COVID utilization by Special Enrollment Period members.

General and Administrative Expense Ratio

The G&A ratio for the full year 2021 was 7.4%, compared to 7.6% for the full year 2020. The adjusted G&A ratio was 7.2% for the full year 2021, compared to 7.6% for the full year 2020 reflecting the benefits of scale produced by the Company’s growth and continued disciplined cost management while making the appropriate investments to fuel growth.

Balance Sheet

Cash and investments at the parent company amounted to $348 million as of December 31, 2021, compared to $644 million as of December 31, 2020. The decrease was due to acquisitions and share repurchases partially offset by dividends received from regulated health plan subsidiaries. In November 2021, the Company closed on its private offering of $750 million principal amount of 3.875% senior notes due May 15, 2032. The Company used the proceeds to redeem the entire $700 million outstanding principal amount of its 5.375% senior notes due 2022.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2021, amounted to $2.1 billion and was higher compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to growth in operations and the net impact of timing differences in government receivables and payables.

2022 Guidance

The Company expects its full year 2022 total revenue to be approximately $29.5 billion, an increase of approximately 6% from the full year 2021.

Premium revenue for the full year 2022 is expected to be approximately $28.5 billion, an increase of approximately 6% from the full year 2021.

The Company expects its full year 2022 adjusted earnings per share to be no less than $17.00 per share, or 26% growth over the prior year, with key metrics in line with the Company’s long-term targets.

Guidance reflects:

• Lower net effect of COVID;

• Continued strong performance in Medicare and Medicaid;

• The restoration of mid-single digit pretax margin in our Marketplace business; and

• The impact of regulatory headwinds created by the mid-year resumption of redeterminations and the carveout of pharmacy benefits in our California and Ohio contracts.

See the Reconciliation of Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures at the end of this release.

Full Year 2022 Guidance (1)
Premium Revenue	$28.5B
Total Revenue	$29.5B
GAAP Net Income	$919M
Adjusted Net Income (2)	$993M
GAAP EPS – Diluted	>$15.73
Adjusted EPS – Diluted (2)	>$17.00
Diluted weighted average shares	58.4M
Year End Total Membership	4.5M
Medicaid	4.1M
Medicare	150K
Marketplace	250K
MCR	88.0%
GAAP G&A Ratio	6.9%
Adjusted G&A Ratio	6.8%
Effective Tax Rate	25.4%
GAAP After-tax Margin	3.1%
Adjusted After-tax Margin	3.4%
______________
(1) All amounts are rounded and approximations.
(2) Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.

Conference Call

Management is hosting a conference call and webcast to discuss Molina Healthcare’s fourth quarter and year-end 2021 results at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 10, 2022. The number to call for the interactive teleconference is (877) 883-0383 and the confirmation number is 8807414. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, February 24, 2022, by dialing (877) 344-7529 and entering confirmation number 9770251. A live audio broadcast of this conference call will be available on Molina Healthcare’s website, molinahealthcare.com. A 30-day online replay will be available approximately an hour following the conclusion of the live broadcast.

About Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed healthcare services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served approximately 5.2 million members as of December 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com.

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

This earnings release and the Company’s accompanying oral remarks contain forward-looking statements regarding its 2022 guidance, as well as its plans and expectations regarding future developments. Actual results could differ materially due to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties are discussed under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements,” and “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is on file with the SEC, and also in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2021, which are on file with the SEC. Additional information will also be set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which the Company expects to file on or about February 14, 2022.

These reports can be accessed under the investor relations tab of the Company’s website or on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Given these risks and uncertainties, the Company can give no assurances that its forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, or that any other results or developments projected or contemplated by its forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and the Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these statements. All forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of February 9, 2022, and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in its expectations.

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
	Three Months Ended								Year Ended
	December 31,								December 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
	(In millions, except per-share amounts)
Revenue:
Premium revenue	$	7,166			$	4,855			$	26,855			$	18,299
Premium tax revenue		211				172				787				649
Health insurer fees reimbursed		—				65				—				271
Marketplace risk corridor judgment		—				128				—				128
Investment income		13				11				52				59
Other revenue		19				4				77				17
Total revenue		7,409				5,235				27,771				19,423
Operating expenses:
Medical care costs		6,362				4,408				23,704				15,820
General and administrative expenses		579				450				2,068				1,480
Premium tax expenses		211				172				787				649
Health insurer fees		—				68				—				277
Depreciation and amortization		35				24				131				88
Other		31				22				61				31
Total operating expenses		7,218				5,144				26,751				18,345
Operating income		191				91				1,020				1,078
Other expenses, net:
Interest expense		30				30				120				102
Other expense, net		25				10				25				15
Total other expenses, net		55				40				145				117
Income before income tax expense		136				51				875				961
Income tax expense		33				17				216				288
Net income	$	103			$	34			$	659			$	673
Net income per share – Diluted	$	1.74			$	0.56			$	11.25			$	11.23
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		58.7				59.4				58.6				59.9
Operating Statistics:
Medical care ratio		88.8	%			90.8	%			88.3	%			86.5	%
G&A ratio		7.8	%			8.6	%			7.4	%			7.6	%
Premium tax ratio		2.9	%			3.4	%			2.8	%			3.4	%
Effective income tax rate		24.2	%			33.8	%			24.7	%			30.0	%
After-tax margin		1.4	%			0.6	%			2.4	%			3.5	%

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	December 31,
		2021				2020
	Unaudited
	(Dollars in millions, except per-share amounts)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,438			$	4,154
Investments		3,202				1,875
Receivables		2,177				1,672
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		247				175
Total current assets		10,064				7,876
Property, equipment, and capitalized software, net		396				391
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		1,252				941
Restricted investments		212				136
Deferred income taxes		106				69
Other assets		179				119
Total assets	$	12,209			$	9,532
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Medical claims and benefits payable	$	3,363			$	2,696
Amounts due government agencies		2,472				1,253
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other		842				641
Deferred revenue		370				375
Total current liabilities		7,047				4,965
Long-term debt		2,173				2,127
Finance lease liabilities		219				225
Other long-term liabilities		140				119
Total liabilities		9,579				7,436
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 150 million shares authorized; outstanding: 58 million shares at December 31, 2021, and 59 million shares at December 31, 2020		—				—
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 20 million shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding		—				—
Additional paid-in capital		236				199
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(5	)			37
Retained earnings		2,399				1,860
Total stockholders’ equity		2,630				2,096
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	12,209			$	9,532

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Year Ended
	December 31,
		2021				2020
	(In millions)
Operating activities:
Net income	$	659			$	673
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		131				88
Deferred income taxes		(24	)			(19	)
Share-based compensation		72				57
Loss on debt repayment		25				15
Other, net		33				12
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(415	)			(100	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(19	)			(16	)
Medical claims and benefits payable		471				544
Amounts due government agencies		1,046				446
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other		138				86
Deferred revenue		(5	)			126
Income taxes		7				(14	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		2,119				1,898
Investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(2,713	)			(670	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments		1,329				1,097
Net cash paid in business combinations		(129	)			(755	)
Purchases of property, equipment, and capitalized software		(77	)			(74	)
Other, net		(63	)			2
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,653	)			(400	)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from senior notes offering, net of issuance costs		740				1,429
Repayment of senior notes		(723	)			(338	)
Common stock purchases		(128	)			(606	)
Common stock withheld to settle employee tax obligations		(53	)			(8	)
Contingent consideration liabilities settled		(20	)			—
Repayment of term loan facility		—				(600	)
Proceeds from borrowings under term loan facility		—				380
Cash paid for partial termination of warrants		—				(30	)
Cash paid for partial settlement of conversion option		—				(27	)
Cash received for partial settlement of call option		—				27
Repayment of principal amount of convertible senior notes		—				(12	)
Other, net		1				2
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(183	)			217
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents		283				1,715
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		4,223				2,508
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	4,506			$	4,223

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
UNAUDITED SEGMENT DATA
(Dollars in millions)
		December 31,
		2021		2020
Ending Membership by Segment:
Medicaid		4,329,000		3,599,000
Medicare		142,000		115,000
Marketplace		728,000		318,000
Total (1)		5,199,000		4,032,000
(1) Approximately 200,000 members, from the Magellan Complete Care acquisition that closed on December 31, 2020, are not included in the totals as of December 31, 2020.

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2021									2020
	Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)			Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)
Medicaid	$	5,146		$	532		89.6	%		$	3,754		$	509		86.4	%
Medicare		875			151		82.8				632			91		85.6
Marketplace		779			68		91.3				382			70		81.6
Consolidated	$	6,800		$	751		88.9	%		$	4,768		$	670		85.9	%
	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2021									2020
	Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)			Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)
Medicaid	$	5,441		$	635		88.3	%		$	3,850		$	377		90.2	%
Medicare		873			101		88.3				616			18		97.1
Marketplace		852			68		92.1				389			52		86.6
Consolidated	$	7,166		$	804		88.8	%		$	4,855		$	447		90.8	%
	Year Ended December 31,
	2021									2020
	Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)			Premium Revenue			Medical Margin			MCR (1)
Medicaid	$	20,461		$	2,322		88.7	%		$	14,265		$	1,804		87.4	%
Medicare		3,361			430		87.2				2,512			351		86.0
Marketplace		3,033			399		86.9				1,522			324		78.7
Consolidated	$	26,855		$	3,151		88.3	%		$	18,299		$	2,479		86.5	%
(1) The MCR represents medical costs as a percentage of premium revenue.

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.

CHANGE IN MEDICAL CLAIMS AND BENEFITS PAYABLE

(Dollars in millions)

The Company’s claims liabilities include additional reserves to account for moderately adverse conditions based on historical experience and other factors including, but not limited to, variations in claims payment patterns, changes in utilization and cost trends, known outbreaks of disease, and large claims. The Company’s reserving methodology is consistently applied across all periods presented. The amounts displayed for “Components of medical care costs related to: Prior year” represent the amounts by which the original estimates of claims and benefits payable at the beginning of the year were more than the actual liabilities based on information (principally the payment of claims) developed since those liabilities were first reported. The following table presents the components of the change in medical claims and benefits payable for the periods indicated:

	Year Ended
	December 31,
		2021				2020
	Unaudited
Medical claims and benefits payable, beginning balance	$	2,696			$	1,854
Components of medical care costs related to:
Current year		23,943				15,939
Prior year		(239	)			(119	)
Total medical care costs		23,704				15,820
Payments for medical care costs related to:
Current year		21,148				13,871
Prior year		2,080				1,507
Total paid		23,228				15,378
Acquired balances, net of post-acquisition adjustments		197				294
Change in non-risk and other provider payables		(6	)			106
Medical claims and benefits payable, ending balance	$	3,363			$	2,696
Days in claims payable, fee for service (1)		51				50
______________
(1) Claims payable includes primarily claims incurred but not paid, or IBNP. It also includes certain fee-for-service payables reported in medical claims and benefits payable amounting to $150 million and $78 million, as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In millions, except per diluted share amounts)

The Company believes that certain non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) financial measures are useful supplemental measures to investors in comparing the Company’s performance to the performance of other public companies in the health care industry. The non-GAAP financial measures are also used internally to enable management to assess the Company’s performance consistently over time. These non-GAAP financial measures, presented below, should be considered as supplements to, and not as substitutes for or superior to, GAAP measures.

Adjustments represent additions and deductions to GAAP net income as indicated in the table below, which include the non-cash impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition-related expenses, and the impact of certain expenses and other items that management believes are not indicative of longer-term business trends and operations.

Adjusted G&A Ratio represents the GAAP G&A ratio, recognizing adjustments.

Adjusted net income represents GAAP net income recognizing the adjustments, net of tax. The Company believes that adjusted net income is helpful to investors in assessing the Company’s financial performance.

Adjusted net income per diluted share represents adjusted net income divided by weighted average common shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis.

Adjusted after-tax margin represents adjusted net income, divided by total revenue.

	Three Months Ended December 31,																Year Ended December 31,
	2021								2020								2021								2020
	Amount				Per Diluted Share				Amount				Per Diluted Share				Amount				Per Diluted Share				Amount				Per Diluted Share
Net income	$	103			$	1.74			$	34			$	0.56			$	659			$	11.25			$	673			$	11.23
Adjustments:
Acquisition-related expenses (1)		49				0.84				18				0.31				93				1.59				22				0.37
Amortization of intangible assets		14				0.23				4				0.07				49				0.83				16				0.26
Loss on debt repayment		25				0.43				10				0.18				25				0.43				15				0.26
Marketplace risk corridor judgment		—				—				(128	)			(2.15	)			—				—				(128	)			(2.14	)
Other (2)		—				—				12				0.19				9				0.16				31				0.51
Subtotal, adjustments		88				1.50				(84	)			(1.40	)			176				3.01				(44	)			(0.74	)
Income tax effect		(21	)			(0.36	)			20				0.33				(42	)			(0.72	)			11				0.18
Adjustments, net of tax		67				1.14				(64	)			(1.07	)			134				2.29				(33	)			(0.56	)
Adjusted net income (loss)	$	170			$	2.88			$	(30	)		$	(0.51	)		$	793			$	13.54			$	640			$	10.67
__________________
(1) Beginning in the third quarter of 2020, reflects non-recurring costs associated with acquisitions, including various transaction and integration costs.
(2) The year ended December 31, 2021 includes change in premium deficiency reserves, loss on sale of property, and restructuring costs. The year ended December 31, 2020 includes charitable contribution, premium deficiency reserves, and restructuring costs.

MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF UNAUDITED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
2022 GUIDANCE
	Amount				Per Diluted Share (2)
Net income	$	919			$	15.73
Adjustments:
Acquisition-related expenses		33				0.56
Amortization of intangible assets		64				1.10
Subtotal, adjustments		97				1.66
Income tax effect (1)		(23	)			(0.39	)
Adjustments, net of tax		74				1.27
Adjusted net income per diluted share	$	993			$	17.00
__________________
(1) Income tax effect calculated at the statutory tax rate of approximately 23.8%.
(2) Computations assume approximately 58.4 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220209005837/en/

Investor Contact: Joseph Krocheski, Joseph.Krocheski@molinahealthcare.com, 562-951-8382

Media Contact: Caroline Zubieta, Caroline.Zubieta@molinahealthcare.com, 562-951-1588

Source: Molina Healthcare, Inc.

FAQ

What were Molina Healthcare's Q4 2021 earnings per share?

Molina Healthcare reported Q4 2021 GAAP earnings per diluted share of $1.74 and adjusted earnings of $2.88.

How much did Molina Healthcare's premium revenue increase in 2021?

Molina Healthcare's premium revenue increased by 47% year-over-year to $26.9 billion for the full year 2021.

What is Molina Healthcare's 2022 earnings guidance?

Molina Healthcare's 2022 earnings guidance includes total revenue of approximately $29.5 billion and adjusted EPS growth to no less than $17.00 per diluted share.

How many members does Molina Healthcare serve as of 2021?

As of December 31, 2021, Molina Healthcare served approximately 5.2 million members, a 29% increase year-over-year.