The Pennant (US:PNTG)2026-02-26 18:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported full-year consolidated revenue of $947.7 million, an increase of $252.5 million, or 36.3% year-over-year [6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year was $72.5 million, up $19.2 million, or 36% compared to the previous year [6] - Adjusted earnings per share for the full year reached $1.18, exceeding the midpoint of the updated annual guidance of $1.16 [5][6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the home health and hospice segment, Q4 revenue was $233.3 million, an increase of $91.3 million, or 64.3% year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA of $33.7 million, up $12.4 million, or 58.2% [12] - Fourth quarter admissions surged 81.3%, with Medicare admissions growing 87.5% year-over-year [12] - The senior living segment saw full-year revenue improve to $215 million, an increase of $39.2 million, or 22.3% over the prior year [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average daily census in hospice care grew to 5,060, a 46.9% increase over the prior year quarter [15] - Same-store Medicare admissions in home health grew 8.2%, with a 3.7% increase in Medicare revenue per episode [13] - All store occupancy in senior living rose 200 basis points to 80.6%, with same-store occupancy ending the year at 82.1% [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing performance and driving operational excellence while remaining open to selective acquisitions [9] - Key focus areas include leadership development, clinical excellence, employee experience, margin improvement, and growth [8] - The company aims to continue the upward trajectory of its senior living business, with significant growth potential ahead [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying trajectory of the business despite reimbursement headwinds [15] - The company anticipates a full-year revenue guidance of $1.13 billion to $1.17 billion for 2026, reflecting a 22.4% increase at the midpoint [11] - Management highlighted the importance of local leadership in responding to community needs and driving organic growth [57] Other Important Information - The company completed significant acquisitions, including the purchase of over 50 locations from UnitedHealth and Amedisys, enhancing its reach in the Southeast [8] - The balance sheet remains strong, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.7 times, well under the covenant limit [23] - The company generated $21 million of cash flows from operations in Q4, bringing the year-to-date total to $48.3 million [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is the guidance conservative due to the integration of Amedisys and UnitedHealth? - Management confirmed that the guidance reflects a conservative approach due to expected initial noise during the transition of operations [30] Question: How do joint ventures perform compared to non-JV agencies? - Management stated that joint ventures are treated like any Pennant business, focusing on local leadership and collaboration with health system partners to achieve exceptional outcomes [32] Question: How does the Amedisys and UnitedHealth asset ramp-up compare to Signature? - Management noted similarities in leadership quality and operational strengths, expressing confidence in the transition process based on past experiences [39] Question: What is the expected same-store revenue growth for 2026? - Management indicated a projected 7% increase in home health and hospice revenue for 2026, despite anticipated rate decreases [51] Question: What is the competitive landscape in the hospice segment? - Management highlighted a normalization in growth rates post-pandemic, with strong organic growth driven by local community needs [78]