Aetna Reports Third Quarter 2009 Results.-- Third-quarter 2009 operating earnings Operating Earnings Profits after subtracting expenses such as marketing, cost of goods sold, administration and general operating costs from revenue. Notes: Tax and interest expenses are not subtracted - operating earnings are synonymous with EBIT (earnings before per share ((1)) were $.69, above the Thomson-First Call mean of $.66 -- Net income per share in the third quarter 2009 was $.73; increase driven by improved investment environment -- Commercial medical benefit ratio was 85.6 percent in the third quarter 2009 -- Medical membership totaled 19.0 million members at September 30, 2009 -- Aetna projects full-year 2009 operating earnings per share of $2.75 ((2)) HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aetna (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AET AET Aetna, Inc. AET After Extra Time AET Actual Evapotranspiration AET Alliance for Environmental Technology AET Alpha-Ethyltryptamine AET Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. ) today announced third-quarter 2009 operating earnings of $308.2 million, or $.69 per share, a 38 percent decrease from the prior-year quarter. Operating earnings (1) exclude net realized capital gains (losses) and other items. The decrease in operating earnings per share from the prior-year quarter reflects a lower Commercial underwriting Underwriting 1. The process by which investment bankers raise investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities (both equity and debt). 2. The process of issuing insurance policies. margin and a previously announced increase in pension expense partially offset by the impact of a lower number of shares outstanding year-over-year. The lower Commercial underwriting margin was due to a significant increase in Commercial medical costs which was partially offset by an increase in health care premiums. Net income was $326.2 million, or $.73 per share, a 26 percent increase from the prior-year quarter, which included net realized capital losses of $.48 per share due to the then-deteriorating global economic conditions. [TABLE OMITTED] "Our third-quarter financial results reflect a Total Medical Benefit Ratio that is in line with expectations despite a Commercial Medical Benefit Ratio that was higher than projected," said Ronald A. Williams, chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "The higher-than-expected Commercial MBR (Master Boot Record) See boot sector. was due primarily to greater-than-anticipated costs from the H1N1 flu and COBRA cobra, name for African and Asian snakes of the family Elapidae that are equipped with inflatable neck hoods. The family also includes the African mambas, the Asian kraits, the New World coral snakes and a large number of Australian snakes. penetration rates. "We expect in 2010 that ongoing uncertainty about the U.S. economy with respect to employment and growth will continue to impact provider and member behavior as well as customer preferences. Despite this uncertainty, we continue to have a great deal of confidence in our long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. future, given our well-positioned, diverse portfolio of businesses, our customer-focused strategy and our underlying financial strength." Williams continued: "Looking ahead, as the health care reform debate intensifies, we will continue to be an active, constructive voice for a bipartisan solution that gets and keeps everyone covered, builds on the strengths of the employer-based system, and addresses the underlying cost and affordability of health care. We believe that the right reforms can yield positive, market based change that improves the health care system for more Americans." Joseph M. Zubretsky, executive vice president and CFO See Chief Financial Officer. , said, "The increase in net income in the third quarter was primarily a result of improved valuations in our investment portfolio. Going forward, we expect that our ongoing medical cost management and pricing action plans will have a noticeable effect beginning in the first quarter of 2010, with additional financial impact realized during the remaining three quarters of the year. As we work through the challenges facing us, our financial position, capital structure and liquidity remain strong and we are committed to making sure our operating expense Operating Expense The essential things that a company must purchase in order to maintain business. Notes: For example, the payment of employees wages are an operating expense. Also known as OPEX. structure is appropriately aligned with the size, profile and needs of our customers." Health Care business results Health Care, which provides a full range of insured and self-insured self-insured Self fund Health insurance adjective Referring to the practice of carrying an individual health insurance policy for oneself; self insurance is usually more expensive than group insurance medical, pharmacy pharmacy, art of compounding and dispensing drugs and medication. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes. Until modern times medication was prepared and dispensed by the physician himself. In the 18th cent. , dental and behavioral health Behavioral health was first used in the 1980's to name the combination of the fields mental health and substance abuse. As an example, an organization serving both mental health and substance abuse clients might refer to its practice as behavioral health or products and services, reported: * Operating earnings of $345.7 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $496.8 million for the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in operating earnings reflects a 16 percent increase in medical costs partially offset by a 10 percent increase in premiums. * Revenues excluding net realized capital gains (losses) for the third quarter of 2009 increased by 9 percent to $8.0 billion from $7.3 billion for the third quarter of 2008. Premium revenues grew by 10 percent, primarily from membership growth and rate increases for renewing membership. Fees and other revenue increased 5 percent in 2009 primarily driven by membership growth. Including net realized capital gains (losses), total revenue increased by 13 percent in 2009. * Medical benefit ratios ("MBRs") for third-quarter 2009 and 2008 were as follows: > > > > > > > > 2009 2008 > > > > > Com- > > > 85.6 % 80.3 % > > > > > Med- > > > 85.4 % 83.0 % > > > > > Med- > > > 86.6 % 81.1 % > > > > > Tot- > > > 85.6 % 80.9 % -The year-over-year increase in the Commercial MBR reflects the impact of continued higher claim intensity, higher costs from the H1N1 flu and higher COBRA participation. -The third quarter 2009 Commercial MBR exceeded the adjusted Commercial MBR of 84.6 percent (3) reported in the second quarter of 2009. The sequentially higher medical costs were due primarily to a provision for certain prior year provider medical costs, higher costs from the H1N1 flu and higher COBRA participation. -The total MBR for the third quarter of 2009 reflects approximately $30 million of favorable fa·vor·a·ble adj. 1. Advantageous; helpful: favorable winds. 2. Encouraging; propitious: a favorable diagnosis. 3. development of prior-period health care cost estimates, including modest favorable development in each of Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid U.S. government programs in effect since 1966. Medicare covers most people 65 or older and those with long-term disabilities. Part A, a hospital insurance plan, also pays for home health visits and hospice care. products. * Sequentially, third-quarter medical membership decreased by 25,000 to 19.027 million; pharmacy membership decreased by 79,000 to 11.155 million; and dental membership decreased by 386,000 to 14.183 million. * Net income of $356.5 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $357.9 million for the third quarter of 2008. Group Insurance business results Group Insurance, which includes group life, disability and long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. products, reported: * Operating earnings of $33.3 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $46.4 million for the third quarter of 2008, primarily due to lower life underwriting margins. * Net income of $46.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with a net loss of $57.5 million for the third quarter of 2008. * Revenues excluding net realized capital gains (losses) for the third quarter of 2009 were $528.2 million, compared with $511.2 million for the third quarter of 2008. Third-quarter total revenue, which includes net realized capital gains (losses), was $541.1 million and $393.6 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Large Case Pensions business results Large Case Pensions, which manages a variety of discontinued dis·con·tin·ue v. dis·con·tin·ued, dis·con·tin·u·ing, dis·con·tin·ues v.tr. 1. To stop doing or providing (something); end or abandon: and other retirement and savings products, primarily qualified pension plans, reported: * Operating earnings of $6.7 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $8.8 million for the third quarter of 2008, reflecting the run-off mode of this business. * Net income of $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with a net loss of $7.8 million for the third quarter of 2008. Total company results * Revenues excluding net realized capital gains (losses) increased 9 percent to $8.7 billion for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $8.0 billion for the third quarter of 2008. The growth in third-quarter revenue reflects a 9 percent increase in premium revenue and a 5 percent increase in fees and other revenue. This revenue growth reflects a higher level of membership and premium rate increases. * Total Operating Expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. were $1.6 billion for the third quarter of 2009, $140.8 million higher than the third quarter of 2008, reflecting a previously disclosed increase in the financing component of pension expense. The operating expense ratio (4)was 18.1 percent and 17.4 percent for the third quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively. Including net realized capital gains (losses) and an other item, these percentages were 18.1 percent for the third quarter of 2009 and 18.8 percent for the third quarter of 2008. * Corporate Financing Interest Expense was $39.4 million after tax for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $39.3 million after tax for the third quarter of 2008. * Net Income was $326.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $277.3 million for the third quarter of 2008. Net income includes $18.0 million of net realized capital gains in the third quarter of 2009 and $232.0 million of net realized capital losses in the third quarter of 2008, which included significant other-than-temporary impairments of certain investments which decreased due to the then-deteriorating global economic conditions. * Pre-tax Operating Margin Operating Margin A ratio used to measure a company's pricing strategy and operating efficiency. Calculated by: ((5)) was 6.3 percent for the third quarter of 2009, compared with 11.4 percent for the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in year-over-year pretax pre·tax adj. Existing before tax deductions: pretax income. pretax adj [profit] → vor (Abzug der) Steuern operating margin is due primarily to the decrease in operating earnings. For the third quarter of 2009, the after tax net income margin was 3.7 percent compared to 3.6 percent for 2008. * Share Repurchases Share Repurchase A program by which a company buys back its own shares from the marketplace, reducing the number of outstanding shares. This is usually an indication that the company's management thinks the shares are undervalued. totaled 3.9 million shares at a cost of $114 million in the third quarter of 2009. Aetna's conference call to discuss third quarter 2009 results and full-year 2009 guidance will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET today. The public may access the conference call through a live audio webcast available on Aetna's Investor Information link on the internet at www.aetna.com. Financial, statistical and other information, including GAAP GAAP See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). reconciliations, related to the conference call also will be available on Aetna's Investor Information web site. The conference call also can be accessed by dialing 877-397-0292 or 719-325-4781 for international callers. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call. The access code is 4099734. Individuals who dial in will be asked to identify themselves and their affiliations. A replay of the call may be accessed through Aetna's Investor Information link on the internet at www.aetna.com or by dialing 888-203-1112, or 719-457-0820 for international callers. The replay access code is 4099734. Telephone replays will be available from 11:00 a.m. ET on Oct. 29, 2009 until midnight ET on Nov. 12, 2009. About Aetna Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified diversified (di·verˑ·s health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid Medicaid, national health insurance program in the United States for low-income persons; established in 1965 with passage of the Social Security Amendments and now run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. plans. Our customers include employer groups employer group Association of employers Managed care An entity with a current group benefits agreement in effect with a health plan to provide covered health care services to its employee-subscribers and eligible dependents. , individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] (1) Operating earnings exclude net realized capital gains and losses and other items, if any, from net income. Although the excluded items may recur, management believes that operating earnings and operating earnings per share provide a more useful comparison of Aetna's underlying business performance from period to period. Management uses operating earnings to assess business performance and to make decisions regarding Aetna's operations and allocation of resources allocation of resources Apportionment of productive assets among different uses. The issue of resource allocation arises as societies seek to balance limited resources (capital, labour, land) against the various and often unlimited wants of their members. among Aetna's businesses. Operating earnings is also the measure reported to the Chief Executive Officer for these purposes. Each of the excluded items is discussed below: * Net realized capital gains and losses arise from various types of transactions, primarily in the course of managing a portfolio of assets that support the payment of liabilities. However, these transactions do not directly relate to the underwriting or servicing of products for customers and are not directly related to the core performance of Aetna's business operations Business operations are those activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders. Compare business processes. The outcome of business operations is the harvesting of value from assets . * Following a Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (pĕnsəlvā`nyə), one of the Middle Atlantic states of the United States. It is bordered by New Jersey, across the Delaware River (E), Delaware (SE), Maryland (S), West Virginia (SW), Ohio (W), and Lake Erie and New York Supreme Court ruling in June 2009, we received $38.2 million ($24.9 million after tax) from one of our liability insurers related to certain litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. we settled in 2003. We believe these litigation-related insurance proceeds neither relate to the ordinary course of our business nor reflect our underlying business performance, and therefore, we consider these to be an other item for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. * Release of reserves for anticipated future losses on discontinued products in Large Case Pensions of $28.5 million, after tax, is considered an other item for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as it represents a reduction of reserves previously established for certain products no longer offered by Aetna that do not benefit ongoing business operations. * As a result of the liquidation The collection of assets belonging to a debtor to be applied to the discharge of his or her outstanding debts. A type of proceeding pursuant to federal Bankruptcy proceedings of Lehman Re Ltd. ("Lehman Re"), a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH), founded in 1850, is a diversified, global financial services firm. It is a participant in investment banking, equity and fixed income sales, research and trading, investment management, private equity, and private banking. Holdings Inc., Aetna recorded an allowance against its reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. recoverable from Lehman Re of $27.4 million ($42.2 million pretax) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008. This reinsurance was placed in 1999 and is on a closed book of paid-up Paid-Up The state of a settlement when all payment obligations for a security have been completed in a customer account. When an individual has paid up, he or she has paid for the security in full. group whole life insurance business. This is an other item for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 because it does not reflect underlying 2008 performance. Revenue excludes net realized capital gains and losses. For a reconciliation of these items to financial measures calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles The standard accounting rules, regulations, and procedures used by companies in maintaining their financial records. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provide companies and accountants with a consistent set of guidelines that cover both broad accounting ("GAAP"), refer to the tables on pages 7 through 9 and page 11 of this press release. (2)Projected operating earnings per share exclude any future net realized capital gains or losses capital gains or losses n. particularly when calculating the tax liability of an individual or business, this is the difference between the original cost plus the cost of capital improvements, excluding maintenance, called "basis" and the sales price. and other items, if any, from net income. Aetna is not able to project the amount of future net realized capital gains or losses and therefore cannot reconcile projected operating earnings to projected net income in any period. Projected operating earnings per share for the full year 2009 assumes approximately 450 million weighted average diluted di·lute tr.v. di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes 1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water. 2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture. shares. (3) The Commercial MBR for the second quarter of 2009 reflected approximately $65 million pretax of unfavorable development of prior period health care cost estimates. Including this development, the Commercial MBR for the second quarter of 2009 was 85.9%. (4)The operating expense ratio excludes net realized capital gains and losses and other items, if any. Refer to a reconciliation of this metric to the comparable GAAP measure on page 9 of this press release. (5)In order to provide useful information regarding Aetna's profitability on a basis comparable to others in the industry, without regard to financing decisions Financing decisions Decisions concerning the liabilities and stockholders' equity side of the firm's balance sheet, such as a decision to issue bonds. , income taxes or amortization of other acquired intangible assets Intangible Asset An asset that is not physical in nature. Notes: Examples are things like copyrights, patents, intellectual property, and goodwill. These are the opposite of tangible assets. (each of which may vary for reasons not directly related to the performance of the underlying business), Aetna's pretax operating margin is based on operating earnings excluding interest expense, income taxes and amortization of other acquired intangible assets. Management also uses pre-tax operating margin to assess Aetna's performance, including performance versus competitors. (6)Includes an allowance on reinsurance recoverable and litigation-related insurance proceeds as described in footnote Text that appears at the bottom of a page that adds explanation. It is often used to give credit to the source of information. When accumulated and printed at the end of a document, they are called "endnotes." (1)above. (7)Our Corporate Financing segment is not a business segment. It is added to our business segments to reconcile to our consolidated results. The Corporate Financing segment includes interest expense on our outstanding debt and, beginning in 2009, the financing components of our pension and other postretirement benefit plan expenses (referred to herein as "pension expense") (the service cost (or operating component) of this expense is allocated to our business segments). The service cost component allocated to our business segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $10.7 million ($6.9 million after tax) and $32.0 million ($20.7 million after tax), respectively, and $9.5 million ($6.2 million after tax) and $28.3 million ($18.4 million after tax) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. Prior periods have been reclassified to reflect this change. (8) Revenue and operating expense information is presented before income taxes. Operating earnings information is presented net of income taxes. (9) Represents members in consumer-directed health plans included in Aetna's Commercial medical membership. (10) Represents members in products that allow these members access to Aetna's dental provider network for a nominal fee. (11) Represents members who purchased medications through Aetna Rx Home Delivery([R]), our mail order pharmacy, during the quarterly period and are included in pharmacy membership above. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -- -- Certain information in this press release is forward-looking, including our projections as to operating earnings per share and weighted average diluted shares. Forward-looking information is based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections, and is subject to significant uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Aetna's control. Important risk factors could cause actual future results and other future events to differ materially from those currently estimated by management, including unanticipated increases in medical costs (including increased intensity or medical utilization as a result of the H1N1 flu, increased COBRA participation rates or otherwise; changes in membership mix to higher cost or lower-premium products or membership-adverse selection; changes in medical cost estimates due to the necessary extensive judgment that is used in the medical cost estimation estimation In mathematics, use of a function or formula to derive a solution or make a prediction. Unlike approximation, it has precise connotations. In statistics, for example, it connotes the careful selection and testing of a function called an estimator. process, the considerable variability inherent in such estimates, and the sensitivity of such estimates to changes in medical claims payment patterns and changes in medical cost trends; increases resulting from unfavorable changes in contracting or re-contracting with providers; and increased pharmacy costs); adverse and less predictable economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad (including unanticipated levels of or rate of increase in the unemployment rate) which can significantly and adversely affect Aetna's business and profitability; failure to achieve desired rate increases and/or profitable membership growth due to the slowing economy and/or significant competition, especially in key geographic markets where membership is concentrated; continued volatility and further deterioration de·te·ri·o·ra·tion n. The process or condition of becoming worse. of the U.S. and global capital markets, including fluctuations in interest rates, fixed income and equity prices and the value of financial assets Financial assets Claims on real assets. , along with the general deterioration in the commercial paper, capital and credit markets, which can adversely impact the value of Aetna's investment portfolio, Aetna's profitability by reducing net investment income and/or Aetna's financial position by causing us to realize additional impairments on our investments; adverse pricing or funding actions by federal or state government payors; adverse changes in federal or state government policies or regulation (including legislative proposals that would affect our business model and/or limit our ability to price for the risk we assume and/or reflect reasonable costs or profits in our pricing and other proposals, such as initiatives to mandate minimum medical benefit ratios or eliminate or reduce ERISA See Employee Retirement Income Security Act. ERISA See Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). pre-emption PRE-EMPTION, intern. law. The right of preemption is the right of a nation to detain the merchandise of strangers passing through her territories or seas, in order to afford to her subjects the preference of purchase. 1 Chit. Com. Law, 103; 1 Bl. Com. 287. 2. of state laws, that would increase potential litigation exposure or mandate coverage of certain health benefits); and the ability to improve relations with providers while taking actions to reduce medical costs and/or expand the services we offer. Other important risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in size, product mix or medical cost experience of membership; increases in medical costs or Group Insurance claims resulting from any epidemics This article is a list of major epidemics. Worldwide Pandemics
regulatory agency administrative body, administrative unit - a unit with administrative responsibilities of, certain of our payment practices with respect to out-of-network providers; and reputational issues arising from data security breaches or other means. For more discussion of important risk factors that may materially affect Aetna, please see the risk factors contained in Aetna's 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), Aetna's 2009 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and Aetna's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (Aetna's "Third Quarter 10-Q"), when filed with the SEC. You also should read Aetna's Third Quarter 10-Q, when filed with the SEC, for a discussion of Aetna's historical results of operations and financial condition. |
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