PresentationThank you all for joining us here in person. For those who are joining us via webcast, my name is Ben Rossi, and I'm the health care facilities analyst here at JPMorgan. We are excited to welcome Aveanna back to the stage this morning. With us here today are CEO, Jeff Shaner, and CFO, Matt Buckhalter. Thank you both for being here.Jeffrey ShanerCEO & Director Thanks, Ben, and good morning. As Ben said, I'm Jeff Shaner, the CEO of Aveanna Healthcare, and I'm here today with Matt Buckhalter, our C ...

Aveanna Healthcare FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Aveanna Healthcare (NasdaqGS:AVAH) - **Industry**: Healthcare Services - **Key Executives**: CEO Jeff Shaner, CFO Matt Buckhalter - **Conference Date**: January 14, 2026 Core Points and Arguments Business Model and Strategy - Aveanna is a leading national provider of healthcare services with a diversified platform offering pediatric, adult, and geriatric services across 38 states, supported by nearly 30,000 caregivers [3][4] - The company emphasizes the importance of scale and density in healthcare services to enhance its value proposition and improve clinical outcomes [3] - The acquisition of Thrive Skilled Pediatrics has expanded Aveanna's pediatric services into Kansas and New Mexico, serving as a model for future tuck-in acquisitions [4] Financial Performance - Aveanna achieved a **10.3% revenue CAGR** over the last five years, with no single payer contributing more than 10% of total revenue [4] - The company reported a revenue range for 2025 of **$2.425 billion to $2.445 billion**, up from previous guidance of greater than $2.375 billion, and an adjusted EBITDA range of **$318 million to $322 million**, increased from greater than $300 million [13][17] - For 2026, initial guidance is set at a revenue range of **$2.54 billion to $2.56 billion** and an adjusted EBITDA range of **$318 million to $322 million** [17] Growth Drivers - Aveanna's long-term organic growth goal is **5%-7%**, supported by preferred payer agreements and government partnerships [9] - The company has established **93 preferred payer agreements** as of Q3, with plans to grow this number further [4][6] - The Home Health and Hospice segment achieved a year-over-year episodic growth of **14.2%** in Q3, with expectations for continued growth [8][11] Capital Structure and Cash Flow - As of Q3, Aveanna maintained a strong liquidity position of over **$478 million**, with cash on hand of approximately **$146 million** [11] - The company has reduced leverage to approximately **4.6 times**, with a goal of achieving less than **4 times** in the near term [12][47] - Free cash flow generation was reported at **$86.2 million** for Q3, with expectations to exceed **$100 million** for the full year [12][50] Challenges and Legislative Efforts - Aveanna is actively advocating for Medicaid rate increases, particularly in California, where the state has not effectively addressed home-based nursing rates [29][30] - The company aims to achieve reimbursement rate wins in at least **10 states** for 2026, focusing on cost-of-living adjustments [27] Technology and Efficiency - Investments in technology, including artificial intelligence and automation, are enhancing the efficiency of the collections process [50][52] - Standardization of business operations has improved collections efficiency, contributing to better financial outcomes [52] Additional Important Insights - The company is focused on maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing deleveraging while exploring tuck-in M&A opportunities [44][47] - Aveanna's management team is committed to delivering long-term value for patients, families, and shareholders through strategic growth and operational excellence [17][54] - The company has a strong focus on caregiver recruitment and retention, with wage increases being a key strategy to address labor market challenges [42] This summary encapsulates the key points from Aveanna Healthcare's FY conference, highlighting the company's strategic direction, financial performance, growth drivers, and challenges faced in the healthcare industry.

Summary of Aviana Healthcare Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Aviana Healthcare - **Industry**: Home Care Services - **CEO**: Jeff Shaner - **CFO**: Matt Buckhalter - **Key Focus**: Strategic transformation and growth in home care services, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric care [3][5] Core Insights and Arguments - **Market Position**: Aviana is a leading national provider of home care services with over 340 locations across 34 states, serving over 80,000 patients weekly [4][6] - **Growth Strategy**: The company aims to enhance partnerships with government and preferred payers, identify cost efficiencies, modernize medical solutions, manage capital structure, and engage employees [10][12][13] - **Revenue Growth**: Aviana expects 2025 revenue to exceed $2.15 billion and adjusted EBITDA to exceed $207 million, reflecting a strong growth trajectory [8] - **Preferred Payer Agreements**: The goal is to increase preferred payer agreements from 22 to 30 by 2025, with a current mix of 54% in managed care organization volumes [14][15] - **Episodic Payer Mix**: The company aims to maintain an episodic payer mix above 70%, achieving 77% in Q1 2025 [19] Financial Performance - **Q1 Financials**: Revenues rose 14% year-over-year, with private duty services leading at 16.5% organic growth [27] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Increased by 93.1% year-over-year to $67.4 million, driven by payer relations and government affairs strategies [28] - **Capital Structure**: Maintains liquidity of over $260 million and has $1.47 billion in variable rate debt, mostly hedged [29][30] Strategic Initiatives - **Acquisition Plans**: Recently announced plans to acquire Thrive Skilled Pediatric Care, expanding pediatric services into New Mexico and Kansas [6][7] - **Value-Based Agreements**: Focus on enhancing reimbursement rates and adding value-based agreements to improve clinical outcomes and attract caregivers [16] - **Legislative Advocacy**: Aiming to improve reimbursement rates in at least 10 states and advocate for Medicaid rate integrity for children with complex medical conditions [17][18] Additional Important Points - **Demand for Services**: The industry does not face a demand problem, with strong interest from state and federal governments for home and community-based care solutions [13] - **Long-Term Outlook**: Aviana is optimistic about its future, emphasizing cost-effective, patient-preferred solutions that align with payer and government interests [22][31]