Surgery Partners(US:SGRY)2025-05-12 13:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Surgery Partners reported first quarter net revenue of $776 million and adjusted EBITDA of $103.9 million, both meeting expectations [5][18] - Adjusted EBITDA grew nearly 7% and net revenue grew 8% compared to the prior year's first quarter [5][18] - Same facility revenue growth was over 5%, with total revenue increasing by 5.2% in the first quarter [5][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Surgical case growth was 6.5%, with a decline in rates of approximately 1%, primarily due to growth in lower acuity specialties [6][8] - Orthopedic cases grew by 3.4% year-over-year, driven by a 22% increase in total joint procedures [9][10] - The company performed over 60,000 surgical cases in the first quarter, with growth across all core specialties [8][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects full year 2025 same facility growth to be at or above the high end of the target of 6% [7] - The company has opened 20 de novo facilities since February 2022, with 10 currently under construction [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Surgery Partners focuses on organic growth, margin improvement, and capital deployment for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) [4][12] - The company has a robust pipeline of attractive partnership opportunities and has deployed $55 million in 2025 for five surgical facilities [12][13] - The company aims to maintain a balance between volume and rate growth as the year progresses [7][30] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory and the ability to navigate regulatory uncertainties [15][17] - The company does not foresee material exposure to tariff-related price increases or significant risks from potential legislative changes to Medicaid [15] - Management reiterated guidance for full year 2025 revenue and adjusted EBITDA, expecting continued margin expansion [23][22] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $229 million in cash and over $615 million in total liquidity [19][22] - The effective interest rate on corporate debt is fixed at approximately 6%, with no maturity until 2030 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Current utilization trends and sustainability - Management acknowledged tough comparisons but noted strong growth in de novos and MSK procedures contributing to case growth [25][26] Question: Pricing and payer mix - Management confirmed no significant changes in payer mix, with strong commercial growth and good visibility in rate negotiations [41][43] Question: Labor dynamics and specialty areas - Management indicated that professional fees were in line with expectations, driven by recent acquisitions, and noted no major headwinds from anesthesia costs [52][54] Question: Physician recruiting and acuity - Management highlighted a diverse recruiting class with a focus on higher acuity service lines, noting a 14% increase in net revenue per physician compared to last year [56][57] Question: Impact of GI mix on revenue - Management reported slight growth in GI cases, with a marginal impact on revenue per case, and expects continued growth throughout the year [61][64] Question: Tariff exposure confidence - Management expressed confidence due to strong relationships with HealthTrust and good visibility into contract protections [70][74] Question: Free cash flow expectations - Management expects free cash flow to improve as the year progresses, despite some timing issues in the first quarter [92][94] Question: Margin expansion efforts - Management discussed ongoing improvements in revenue cycle management and operational efficiencies as key drivers for margin expansion [97][100]