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BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. (BTSG)·Q2 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- BrightSpring delivered Q2 2024 revenue of $2.730B (+26.0% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $139.1M; adjusted EPS was $0.10 .
- Segment performance was broad-based: Pharmacy Solutions revenue $2.114B (+32%) and Provider Services revenue $616M (+8%); Provider adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 14.0% .
- Full-year 2024 guidance was raised again: revenue to $10.45–$10.90B and adjusted EBITDA to $570–$580M; pharmacy revenue guide $8.0–$8.4B and provider $2.45–$2.50B .
- Management highlighted sustained specialty strength (118 LDDs; +36% specialty script growth), a large SNF pharmacy win ramping in H2, and margin tailwinds from calendar days, payroll taxes, operational excellence, and hospice final rule in Q4 .
- Stock reaction catalysts: repeated guidance raises, continued specialty pipeline and oncology generics wave (first conversion expected in Q4 2024), and improving provider margins/OCF, offset by leverage at 4.51x and one-time legal cash outflow in Q2 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Specialty and infusion strength: infusion and specialty revenue +40% YoY; specialty scripts +36% with 118 LDDs and expected ~18 more LDD wins over 12–18 months .
- Provider margin expansion and volume growth: Provider adjusted EBITDA $86M (+16% YoY), margin 14.0% (vs 13.1% LY); home health ADC 44,246 (+13% YoY) and rehab billable hours grew high single digits .
- FY24 guidance raised on momentum: Adj. EBITDA midpoint raised ~+$13M vs prior quarter (now $570–$580M) and revenue guide increased to $10.45–$10.90B, signaling confidence in H2 trajectory .
Management quote: “We are pleased to report strong second quarter performance… adjusted EBITDA of $139.1 million, which represented 17% growth year-over-year and exceeded our internal plan” (ex-QIP) .
What Went Wrong
- QIP not received: the specialty PBM Quality Incentive Payment program concluded; NPS of 87 was below the 90 contractual threshold, eliminating a $30M benefit received in 2023 .
- Cash from operations negative in Q2 (-$15M) due to a $90M legacy pharmacy legal payment; excluding this, OCF was +$75M .
- Corporate costs and growth investments: corporate costs were $41M in Q2 and the quarter included start-up costs for a large SNF customer and de novo investments, tempering near-term margin despite future benefit .
Financial Results
Consolidated Performance vs prior quarters and estimates
Notes: SPGI consensus estimates for Q2 2024 were unavailable due to data access limits; comparisons to Street estimates cannot be provided at this time.
Actual vs SPGI Consensus (Q2 2024)
Segment Breakdown
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Management noted midpoint of adjusted EBITDA guide has increased nearly $35M since the start of the year; margin expected to expand through H2 .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategy and momentum: “Total revenue… representing 26% growth year-over-year and adjusted EBITDA of $139.1 million… exceeded our internal plan” (ex-QIP) .
- Specialty differentiation: “We continue to expand access to limited distribution drugs… high Net Promoter Scores… approach or exceed 90” .
- H2 margin drivers: “Benefit from favorability in the way the days fall… reduction in payroll taxes… operational initiatives… hospice final rule… go live in Q4” .
- Provider outlook: “We do see sustainability in those [14%] margins… underpinned by operational performance and volume growth” .
- OCF/leverage: “Cash flow from operations was negative $15 million… included a $90 million… legal matter… Excluding that… $75 million… leverage ratio at 4.51x” .
Q&A Highlights
- Pharmacy H2 trajectory: Management expects similar growth rates into H2; ~53% of annual EBITDA typically in H2; margins to increase due to calendar/taxes and fixed cost leverage .
- Specialty drivers: Brand ramps/LDD launches, high-value generics, large sales force; specialty margins picked up and expected to continue improving .
- Large SNF win: Onboarded a very large national skilled nursing customer in late Q2; start-up costs incurred, revenue ramps H2 .
- Oncology generics pipeline: First significant brand-to-generic conversion expected in Q4 2024; 11 large brands converting over 5–6 years .
- Guidance raise composition: Even mix of pharmacy and provider; margin drivers include operational initiatives and fixed cost leverage .
- Haven Hospice: Attractive Florida CON asset; immaterial near-term guidance impact; longer-term ~$15M+ EBITDA potential post-integration .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q2 2024 revenue, EPS, and EBITDA was unavailable due to data access limits; therefore, we cannot quantify beats/misses at this time. Management reported adjusted EPS of $0.10, revenue $2.730B, and adjusted EBITDA $139.1M .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Re-acceleration in specialty and infusion, plus home/community pharmacy customer wins, supports continued top-line strength into H2 and 2025; oncology generics provide incremental tailwinds starting Q4 .
- Provider margins are expanding with volume growth and operational efficiencies; 14.0% Q2 margin appears sustainable per management .
- H2 margin expansion catalysts (calendar days, payroll taxes, automation/lean, hospice rule) position the company to deliver the raised FY24 adjusted EBITDA guidance range .
- Cash flow trajectory improving: Q2 OCF would have been +$75M excluding legacy legal payment; path to ~3x leverage within ~3 years remains a focus .
- M&A remains targeted and accretive (tuck-ins), with selective larger assets like Haven Hospice offering longer-term EBITDA growth without near-term guidance reliance .
- QIP program conclusion removes prior-year $30M tailwind; underlying growth and margin initiatives offset this headwind in 2024 .
- Monitor SPGI estimates when available for confirmation of beats/misses; repeated guidance raises indicate internal momentum and may drive estimate revisions upward .