CVS Health Corporation reports first quarter 2024 results and revises full-year 2024 guidance

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First quarter highlights

• Total revenues increased to $88.4 billion, up 3.7% compared to prior year 
• GAAP diluted EPS of $0.88 and Adjusted EPS of $1.31 
• Generated cash flow from operations of $4.9 billion 

2024 full-year guidance

• Revised GAAP diluted EPS guidance to at least $5.64 from at least $7.06 
• Revised Adjusted EPS guidance to at least $7.00 from at least $8.30 
• Revised cash flow from operations guidance to at least $10.5 billion from at least $12.0 billion 

CEO commentary

“The current environment does not diminish our opportunities, enthusiasm, or the long-term earnings power of our company. We are confident we have a pathway to address our near-term Medicare Advantage challenges. We remain committed to our strategy and believe that we have the right assets in place to deliver value to our customers, members, patients, and shareholders.”

— Karen S. Lynch, CVS Health President and CEO

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, May 1, 2024 — CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) today announced operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

First quarter revenues of $88.4 billion increased by 3.7% compared to the prior year, reflecting strong growth in the Health Care Benefits and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments, partially offset by a decline in our Health Services segment.

First quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.88 decreased from $1.65 in the prior year and Adjusted EPS of $1.31 decreased from $2.20 in the prior year, primarily due to a decline in the Health Care Benefits segment’s operating results, reflecting utilization pressure in the Company’s Medicare business.

Recognizing the potential for continued elevated medical cost trends in the remainder of 2024, the Company revised its full-year 2024 GAAP diluted EPS, Adjusted EPS and cash flow from operations guidance to reflect the assumption that the majority of this pressure will persist throughout 2024.

The information presented above includes both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures to assist in the comparison of the Company’s past financial performance with its current financial performance. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” in the full press release, which is linked below, for explanations of the non-GAAP financial measures presented above and reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Please review the entire press release for the quarterly period, which provides important additional information related to our financial results. The full press release can be downloaded here (PDF).

Visit Investor Relations for more about Q1 2024 earnings.

(1) The Company defines adjusted operating income as operating income (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets, net realized capital gains or losses and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, such as acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, opioid litigation charges, office real estate optimization charges and losses on assets held for sale. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) uses adjusted operating income as its principal measure of segment performance as it enhances the CODM’s ability to compare past financial performance with current performance and analyze underlying business performance and trends. The consolidated measure is not determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, consolidated operating income. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” in the full press release linked above for additional information regarding the items excluded from consolidated operating income in determining consolidated adjusted operating income.

(2) GAAP diluted earnings per share and Adjusted EPS, respectively, are calculated by dividing net income attributable to CVS Health and adjusted income attributable to CVS Health by the Company’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding. The Company defines adjusted income attributable to CVS Health as net income attributable to CVS Health (GAAP measure) excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets, net realized capital gains or losses and other items, if any, that neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, such as acquisition-related transaction and integration costs, opioid litigation charges, office real estate optimization charges, losses on assets held for sale, as well as the corresponding income tax benefit or expense related to the items excluded from adjusted income attributable to CVS Health. See “Non-GAAP Financial Information” in the full press release linked above for additional information regarding the items excluded from net income attributable to CVS Health in determining adjusted income attributable to CVS Health.