Results Center

Effective for the first quarter of 2019, the Company realigned the composition of its segments to correspond with changes to its operating model and how the business is managed. As a result of this realignment, the Company’s SilverScript® Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (“PDP”) moved from the Pharmacy Services segment to the Health Care Benefits segment. In addition, the Company moved the mail order and specialty pharmacy operations of Aetna Inc. (“Aetna”), which it acquired on November 28, 2018 (the “Aetna Acquisition”), from the Health Care Benefits segment to the Pharmacy Services segment. Prior period segment financial information has been retrospectively adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.

Revenues and adjusted revenues (3) increased 34.8% and 34.9%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. Revenue growth was primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition, as well as increased volume and brand name drug price inflation in both the Pharmacy Services and Retail/LTC segments. The increase was partially offset by continued price compression in the Pharmacy Services segment, reimbursement pressure in the Retail/LTC segment and an increased generic dispensing rate.

Operating expenses and adjusted operating expenses (4) increased 67.9% and 60.6%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase in both operating expenses and adjusted operating expenses was primarily driven by the impact of the Aetna Acquisition. The increase in operating expenses was also due to an increase in intangible amortization related to the Aetna Acquisition, a $135 million store rationalization charge recorded during the first quarter of 2019 primarily related to operating lease right-of-use asset impairment charges in connection with the planned closure of 46 underperforming retail pharmacy stores in the second quarter of 2019, and an increase in acquisition-related integration costs. The increase in operating expenses was partially offset by the absence of the $86 million pre-tax loss associated with the divestiture of the Company's RxCrossroads subsidiary recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Operating income and adjusted operating income increased 34.8% and 56.8%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to the Aetna Acquisition, partially offset by reimbursement pressure and the investment of a portion of the savings from tax reform in wages and benefits in the Retail/LTC segment and continued price compression in the Pharmacy Services segment. The increase in operating income was also partially offset by the other increases in operating expenses described above.

Net income increased 43.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily due to higher operating income described above, partially offset by higher interest expense primarily due to financing activity associated with the Aetna Acquisition.

The effective income tax rate was 26.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 32.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in the effective income tax rate compared to the prior year was primarily due to the impact of the non-deductible goodwill included in the loss associated with the divestiture of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Total revenues increased 3.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily due to brand name drug price inflation as well as increased total pharmacy claims volume, partially offset by continued price compression and an increased generic dispensing rate.

Total pharmacy claims processed increased 2.8% on a 30-day equivalent basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by net new business and the continued adoption of Maintenance Choice® offerings.

Operating income and adjusted operating income decreased 5.7% and 4.2%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by continued price compression and investments related to the Company’s agreement with Anthem Inc. during the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in operating income also was due to increased intangible amortization related to Aetna’s mail order and specialty pharmacy operations.

compared to the prior year driven by continued pricing compression.

Total revenues increased 3.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by increased prescription volume and brand name drug price inflation, partially offset by continued reimbursement pressure and the impact of generic drug introductions.

Front store revenues represent approximately 22.7% of total Retail/LTC segment revenues. Front store revenues increased in the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by increases in health product sales.

Total prescription volume grew 5.5%, on a 30-day equivalent basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year. The growth was driven mainly by the continued adoption of patient care programs, collaborations with PBMs and the Company’s preferred status in a number of Medicare Part D networks.

Operating income and adjusted operating income decreased 23.8% and 18.9%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in both operating income and adjusted operating income was primarily due to (i) continued reimbursement pressure, (ii) increased operating expenses primarily driven by the investment of a portion of the savings from tax reform in wages and benefits and higher legal costs and (iii) declining year-over-year performance in our long-term care business. The decrease in operating income also was driven by the $135 million store rationalization charge recorded during the first quarter of 2019 described above, partially offset by the absence of the $86 million pre-tax loss associated with the divestiture of the Company’s RxCrossroads subsidiary recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Total revenues increased $16.6 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition. Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflect strong membership growth in the Health Care Benefits segment’s Medicare products.

Operating income and adjusted operating income increased $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year primarily driven by the Aetna Acquisition. The increase in operating income was partially offset by an increase in intangible amortization related to the Aetna Acquisition. Operating loss and adjusted operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 reflect the seasonality of earnings for the Company’s SilverScript PDP business. The quarterly earnings of the Company’s SilverScript PDP business generally increase as the year progresses.

Medical membership as of March 31, 2019 increased compared with December 31, 2018, reflecting increases in Medicare, Commercial ASC and Medicaid products, partially offset by declines in Commercial Insured products.

The Health Care Benefits segment experienced favorable development of prior-years’ health care cost estimates in its Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid products, primarily attributable to fourth quarter 2018 performance and provider recoveries.

Prior years’ health care costs payable estimates developed favorably by $446 million during the first quarter of 2019. This development is reported on a basis consistent with the prior years’ development reported in the health care costs payable table in the Company’s annual audited financial statements, and does not directly correspond to an increase in 2019 operating results.

The Company revised its full year 2019 consolidated GAAP operating income guidance range to $11.8 billion to $12.0 billion from $11.7 billion to $12.1 billion and narrowed and raised the mid-point of the guidance range for full year adjusted operating income to $15.0 billion to $15.2 billion from $14.8 billion to $15.2 billion. The Company also narrowed the GAAP diluted EPS guidance range to $4.90 to $5.05 from $4.88 to $5.08, and raised the Adjusted EPS guidance range to $6.75 to $6.90 from $6.68 to $6.88.

The Company also provided guidance for the second quarter of 2019. GAAP diluted EPS is projected to be in the range of $1.20 to $1.24, and Adjusted EPS is projected to be in the range of $1.68 to $1.72.

The adjustments between GAAP operating income and GAAP diluted EPS and adjusted operating income and Adjusted EPS include adding back amortization of intangible assets, integration costs related to the Aetna Acquisition, and a store rationalization charge.