Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, consolidated net revenue was $259.9 million, reflecting a sequential increase of $1.7 million or 0.7% quarter over quarter, but a decrease of $2.5 million or 1% year over year [15] - Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $26.6 million, an increase of $1.5 million or 6% sequentially, and up $1.3 million or 5.1% year over year, with an overall EBITDA margin of 10.2%, an increase of 60 basis points from the prior year [16] - The leverage ratio improved to 4.4 times, below the covenant of 4.5 times, allowing for better pricing under existing agreements and additional flexibility for acquisitions [22][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Home Health revenue was $200.6 million, a slight increase of $200,000 or 0.1%, with a 3.7% increase in average daily census [16][18] - Hospice revenue reached $59.3 million, reflecting a sequential increase of $1.5 million or 2.6% and a year-over-year increase of $10.1 million or 20.5% [19] - Home Health adjusted EBITDA totaled $38.3 million, reflecting a sequential increase of $2.8 million or 7.9% [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-Medicare admissions increased by 7.4% year over year, driven by payer innovation contracts, with 44% of non-Medicare visits in payer innovation contracts in Q1 2025 [8][9] - Hospice segment admissions grew 8% year over year, with same-store growth of 5.2% [10] - Average daily census in hospice reached 38.09, an improvement of 2.1% sequentially and 12.3% year over year [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on payer contract initiatives to drive growth, with a goal to balance admissions and maintain a healthy payer mix [6][26] - A de novo strategy is being implemented, with one new hospice location opened and 13 projects underway [11] - The company is piloting two internally developed apps aimed at improving efficiency and communication [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to build capacity and improve average daily census, with expectations of continued growth through the year [29][42] - The company is monitoring labor market conditions and anticipates a return to normal salary inflation rates of 2% to 3% [28] - Management reaffirmed 2025 guidance based on strong Q1 results and business momentum [23] Other Important Information - The company completed the transition to outsourced coding resources, expected to deliver $1.5 million in cost savings for the remainder of 2025 [12] - Free cash flow generated in Q1 was approximately $17 million, with a 63.5% conversion rate [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on volume growth within the non-Medicare book of business - Management noted that payer innovation contracts contributed significantly to positive growth, with a focus on hiring to improve average daily census and admissions [26] Question: Labor market inflation expectations - Management indicated a return to normal inflation rates of 2% to 3%, with some markets experiencing tighter conditions [28] Question: Hospice ADC growth initiatives - Management highlighted the combination of increased referrals and the establishment of regional admissions departments as key drivers of growth [31] Question: Dynamics behind business per episode trends - The use of the Metalogics Pulse tool has been critical in optimizing visits per episode, focusing on higher acuity patients [33] Question: Capacity and productivity in hospice - Management confirmed that they are monitoring capacity at the branch level and do not anticipate changes in growth trajectory [42] Question: Rate increases and inflation protection in payer contracts - Most contracts are 2-3 years in length, with some having escalators tied to quality metrics, and management is actively renegotiating contracts [46] Question: Research recertification rates - Management acknowledged challenges in research due to the growth of Medicare Advantage and emphasized the focus on growing census as a primary driver [49]

Core Viewpoint - Enhabit (EHAB) reported quarterly earnings of $0.10 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.07 per share, marking a 42.86% earnings surprise compared to the previous year's earnings of $0.07 per share [1] Financial Performance - Enhabit posted revenues of $259.9 million for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.56% and down from $262.4 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times [2] Stock Performance - Enhabit shares have increased by approximately 2.9% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -4.7% [3] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.09 on revenues of $267.14 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.37 on revenues of $1.07 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Enhabit is currently favorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) for the stock, indicating expected outperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Medical Services industry, to which Enhabit belongs, is currently ranked in the top 27% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a positive outlook for stocks within this sector [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $337.7 million, a 20.3% increase from $280.7 million in Q1 2024 [9] - Adjusted earnings per share rose to $1.42, up 17.4% from $1.21 in Q1 2024 [9] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $40.6 million, a 25.1% rise from $32.4 million in Q1 2024 [9] - Gross margin percentage improved to 31.9% from 31.4% in Q1 2024 [24] - Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12%, compared to 11.6% in Q1 2024 [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Personal Care segment revenues were $258.3 million, accounting for 76.5% of total revenue, with a 7.4% organic revenue growth [23] - Hospice same store revenue increased by 9.9%, with average daily census rising to 3,515, a 4.6% increase year-over-year [14][21] - Home Health segment revenues were $18 million, representing 5.3% of total revenue, with a 1.3% organic revenue growth [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Personal Care services received favorable reimbursement support, including a 5.5% rate increase in Illinois effective January 1, 2025 [12] - Same store hours in Personal Care increased by 2% compared to Q1 2024, marking the largest year-over-year volume growth in recent quarters [13] - The company experienced solid caregiver hiring success, with 79 hires per day in Personal Care, up from 78 in Q1 2024 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for a minimum annual revenue growth of 10%, focusing on acquisitions that complement organic growth [17] - The Gentiva acquisition added approximately $280 million in annualized revenues, significantly expanding market coverage [22] - The company is actively pursuing additional acquisition opportunities to enhance density in existing markets and add clinical services [23][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued demand for home-based care, viewing it as a growth opportunity [18] - The company anticipates stable gross margins and consistent cash flow conversion in line with historical averages [25][27] - Management noted that the clinical hiring environment remains challenging, but improvements have been observed in the personal care segment [11][67] Other Important Information - The company utilized approximately $2.5 million in ARPA funding during Q1 2025, with $8.8 million remaining [28] - As of March 31, 2025, the company had cash on hand of approximately $97 million and reduced bank debt by $20 million [9][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Commentary on hospice cap limitations - Management indicated that cap limitations have not been material, with effective management of referral mix [33][34] Question: Impact of weather on personal care services - Management confirmed weather events affected January but noted a rebound in February and March, expecting hours growth to remain in the 2% to 2.5% range [40][41] Question: Hospice revenue growth expectations - Management projected hospice revenue growth in the 5% to 7% range, leaning towards the upper end [44] Question: Margin expansion expectations - Management expects typical margin expansion of 40 to 50 basis points into Q2, with Q1 usually being the low point [50][51] Question: Impact of Medicaid changes - Management stated that potential changes to Medicaid would likely have no direct impact on the company, as its patient base is primarily elderly and disabled [54][56] Question: Performance of Gentiva post-acquisition - Management reported that Gentiva's bottom line performance has exceeded expectations, while top line growth was slightly lighter than anticipated [77] Question: Update on home health services - Management noted stability in Medicare rates and improvements in contracting with Medicare Advantage plans, with discounts narrowing from 40% to 15-20% [106]