EAGLE, Idaho, Oct. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pennant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PNTG), the parent company of the Pennant group of affiliated home health, hospice, home care and senior living companies, announced today that on October 1, 2025, it acquired certain operations from UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (“UnitedHealth”). The operations were divested pursuant to UnitedHealth’s and Amedisys Inc.’s (“Amedisys”) antitrust settlement with the United States Justice Department. Pennant is purchasing diveste ...

Summary of The Pennant Group Conference Call Company Overview - The Pennant Group operates in the home health, hospice, and senior living sectors, primarily on the West Coast and in some Midwest states, with operations across 14 states [8][10][12]. Recent Acquisition - The company is acquiring assets from Amedisys as part of the Optum transaction, specifically in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, which will enhance its presence in the Southeast [10][11]. - The acquisition is expected to close in early Q4 2025, with a court order mandating closure within the first few weeks of October [11]. Business Model and Differentiation - The Pennant Group emphasizes a local leadership model, investing in local leaders to drive operations and decision-making [13][14]. - The company has programs like the CEO in Training program, which allows Executive Directors to become CEOs, fostering an entrepreneurial environment [13][14]. - The focus is on accountability and peer support among local leaders to drive results [14][15]. Growth Strategy - The company is disciplined in its acquisition strategy, prioritizing locations with strong leadership and operational support [15][16]. - It is agnostic regarding service lines, willing to invest in home health, hospice, or senior living opportunities based on leadership availability [17][18]. Operational Challenges and Strategies - The company is preparing for a potential 6.5% cut in reimbursement rates from CMS, emphasizing the need for efficiency and local accountability [33][34]. - Local teams are expected to adapt by reallocating resources and focusing on profitable service lines [34][37]. - The company is actively lobbying against the proposed cuts, emphasizing the importance of home health in the healthcare system [35][36]. Joint Ventures and Partnerships - The Pennant Group is exploring joint ventures as a strategy for market entry and growth, leveraging the reputation and resources of established healthcare systems [28][29][30]. - A joint venture with the University of Tennessee Medical Center will be part of the Tennessee operations [30]. Medicaid Exposure - Approximately 25% to 30% of revenue comes from Medicaid or waiver programs, with the company monitoring changes in Medicaid benefits closely [52][53]. Future Outlook - The company believes that opportunities for consolidation may arise due to potential distress in the industry from reimbursement cuts [39][41]. - The leadership is confident in their ability to maintain strong cash flows and continue investing in growth despite regulatory challenges [40][42]. Key Takeaways - The Pennant Group has a robust operational model focused on local leadership and accountability, which has proven effective in various market conditions [55][56]. - The company is well-positioned to adapt to regulatory changes and capitalize on potential acquisition opportunities in a challenging environment [37][41].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q2 2025 revenue of $219.5 million, an increase of $50.8 million or 30.1% year-over-year, and adjusted EBITDA of $16.4 million, up $3.2 million or 24.5% from the prior year quarter [7][32][10] - GAAP diluted earnings per share for the quarter was $0.20, while adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.27 [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Home Health and Hospice segment, revenue reached $166 million, an increase of $40.7 million or 32.5%, with adjusted EBITDA of $25.5 million, up $5.9 million or 29.9% year-over-year [15] - Hospice revenue was $73.8 million, an increase of $14.4 million or 24.3%, with hospice admissions up 14.7% and average daily census up 21.4% [16] - Home health revenue grew to $79.2 million, an increase of $17.6 million or 28.5%, with total home health admissions increasing 26.1% [19] - Senior Living segment revenue improved to $53.5 million, an increase of $10 million or 23.1%, with same store occupancy exceeding 80% [24][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates full-year revenue in the range of $852.8 million to $887.6 million, with adjusted earnings per share expected between $1.09 and $1.15 [13][32] - The proposed 2026 Home Health Rule suggests a net reduction of 6.4% in aggregate payments to home health agencies, which could impact the company's revenue [21][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leadership development, clinical excellence, employee engagement, margin improvement, and growth as key focus areas for continuous improvement [7] - The acquisition of divested assets from Amedisys and UnitedHealth Group is seen as a significant opportunity to expand operations in attractive markets, particularly in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia [12][29] - The company is committed to adapting its operations to the changing regulatory environment and believes in the essential role of home health services in the healthcare continuum [23][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed concerns about the proposed home health rule, stating it could negatively affect access to care for vulnerable patients and increase overall healthcare spending [22][23] - Despite challenges, management remains optimistic about the company's growth trajectory, citing strong performance across various segments and a healthy balance sheet [10][13] Other Important Information - The company has a strong focus on operational efficiency and has implemented various initiatives to improve clinical quality and financial performance [20][24] - The company is actively preparing for the integration of newly acquired assets and has invested in leadership and operational training to ensure a smooth transition [58][70] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the Tennessee market and payer landscape - Management highlighted the unique opportunities in the Tennessee market, emphasizing the potential for building a care continuum and the presence of quality providers [41][43] Question: Impact of proposed clawback on capitated relationships - Management acknowledged that adjustments from Medicare rate changes could affect both traditional and capitated contracts, but emphasized the company's diversified business model [46][48] Question: Sustainability of revenue per occupied bed in senior living - Management indicated that while they anticipate mid-single-digit growth in revenue per occupied bed, they are encouraged by recent occupancy growth [54][56] Question: Preparations for the Amedisys acquisition - Management detailed investments in leadership and resources to ensure a successful transition and operational efficiency post-acquisition [57][58] Question: Balancing M&A versus market share growth amid regulatory changes - Management expressed confidence that disruptions in the market could create opportunities for growth, emphasizing a strategic approach to acquisitions [59][62]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - BrightSpring's total revenue for Q2 2025 was $3,100,000,000, representing a 29% year-over-year growth [7][26] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $143,000,000, also reflecting a 29% increase compared to the same period last year [8][29] - The EBITDA margin remained flat at 4.5% compared to Q2 2024 [8][30] - The company has increased its 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $12,200,000,000 to $12,600,000, indicating a growth of 21.1% to 25.1% over 2024 [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pharmacy Solutions revenue grew 32% year-over-year to $2,800,000,000, with adjusted EBITDA also increasing by 32% [7][12] - Provider Services revenue was $358,000,000, marking an 11% growth year-over-year, with home health care revenue growing 17% [28][15] - Specialty and Infusion business revenue grew 39% year-over-year, driven by strong service levels and patient satisfaction [13][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average daily census in home health care grew 6% year-over-year to over 30,000, with hospice census growth of 10% [16] - Specialty scripts grew 38% in Q2, supported by both brand and generic drug growth [12][13] - The company reported a 99.99% dispense accuracy in home and community pharmacy services [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - BrightSpring is focused on disciplined growth, leveraging scale and best practices while investing in areas that enhance care services [6][10] - The company aims to improve operational efficiencies and patient outcomes through continuous improvement initiatives [10][24] - BrightSpring is committed to maintaining high-quality services and expanding its market presence in home health, hospice, and specialty pharmacy [10][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about continued growth in the second half of 2025, driven by strong performance across all business segments [50][51] - The company anticipates favorable rate developments in hospice and home health services, which could enhance revenue [51][62] - Management highlighted the importance of ongoing investments in technology and operational improvements to sustain growth [50][52] Other Important Information - The Community Living divestiture is expected to close in Q4 2025, which will impact future financial reporting [6][9] - The company has a strong cash flow outlook, expecting to deliver over $300,000,000 in annual operating cash flow in 2025 [31] - BrightSpring's net debt outstanding was approximately $2,500,000,000, with a leverage ratio of 3.6 times [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the infusion performance in the quarter and expectations for growth? - Management noted that the infusion business had its best quarter in a long time, with expectations for continued growth driven by new leadership and operational efficiencies [35][38] Question: What factors contributed to the increase in full-year guidance? - Management indicated that continued momentum across the company, particularly in the provider segment, and structural factors like the number of operational days contributed to the raised guidance [47][49] Question: Can you provide insights on the growth in the home health business? - Management stated that the home health rule would not have a material impact on the business, and they expect future rate support to improve as they grow into the market [59][62] Question: How sustainable is the growth in specialty pharmacy? - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of growth in specialty pharmacy, attributing it to strong service levels and ongoing investments [66][69] Question: What is the outlook for generics and their impact on revenue growth? - Management highlighted the importance of driving generic utilization and the investments made in clinical liaison teams to support this growth [85][88]