Elanco Animal Health Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Revenue of $1,205 million
Reported Net income of $32 million, Adjusted Net income of $167 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $294 million, or 24.4% of Revenue
Reported EPS of $0.06, Adjusted EPS of $0.34
Net leverage ratio of 6.1x Adjusted EBITDA
Year over year growth rates are meaningfully impacted by a shift in customer purchasing related to the ERP Blackout in 2023, with an estimated $90 to $110 million of revenue shift from the second quarter of 2023 into the first quarter of 2023
Updating full year 2024 financial guidance to reflect first quarter outperformance offset by expected unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates:
Revenue of $4,460 to $4,515 million, constant currency growth improves to 2% to 3%
Reported Net Loss of $(3) to $(45) million; Reported EPS of $(0.01) to $(0.09)
Adjusted EBITDA of $960 to $1,000 million; Adjusted EPS of $0.88 to $0.96
Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024, provided guidance for the second quarter of 2024, and updated guidance for the full year 2024.
"Elanco's strong business momentum continued in the first quarter, reinforced by the diversity of our portfolio and balanced geographic presence. We delivered estimated revenue growth of 3% to 5% in the first quarter, excluding the impact of the ERP blackout from last year, and exceeded the top end of our guidance range for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS in the quarter. These results follow the 5% revenue growth we delivered in the last two quarters of 2023. We are increasing our new product sales expectations, led by Experior® and AdTab®, and our innovation is enhancing the durability of our base portfolio with customers, allowing us to raise our full year constant currency revenue growth range to 2% to 3%," said Jeff Simmons, Elanco President and CEO. "Additionally, we improved operating cash flow by nearly $150 million year over year in the first quarter as a result of our disciplined focus on improving net working capital and the benefit of completing our ERP system integration."
Simmons continued, "We are encouraged by the strong progress of our late-stage pipeline, which has advanced significantly over the last several months. Based on our dialogue with the FDA and the status of packages submitted, we have increased certainty in the expected approval timing for Bovaer®, Zenrelia™ and Credelio Quattro™. We continue to expect to bring differentiated products to the market, with revenue contribution expected from all three new products in the second half of 2024."
Innovation Highlights
Innovation revenue was $100 million in the first quarter and the company is updating its expectations for the full year to $375 to $410 million from this group of products.
Bovaer, a first-in-class methane reducing feed ingredient for cattle, is in the final stage of review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with completion expected before the end of May.
For Zenrelia, a JAK Inhibitor targeting control of pruritus and atopic dermatitis in dogs, the company believes the FDA has all data necessary to complete its review. All technical sections, including the label, are expected to be approved before the end of June. Full approval is expected in the third quarter after an expected 60-day administrative review period. Additionally, Zenrelia has been submitted in nine additional markets, including the EU, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan, with international approvals expected to begin in late 2024.
For Credelio Quattro, a broad spectrum oral parasiticide covering fleas, ticks and internal parasites, the company believes the FDA has all data necessary to complete its review. All technical sections, including the label, are expected to be approved before the end of June. Full approval is expected in the third quarter after an expected 60-day administrative review period.
For Experior, a medicated feed additive indicated to reduce ammonia gas emissions from cattle, the company submitted combination clearance requests to the FDA for Experior (and other Elanco feed additives) with MGA (melengestrol acetate). Upon approval the combination clearance would open up an additional addressable market with feedlot heifers, which currently comprise nearly 40% of feedlot cattle in the U.S. This clearance, along with continued adoption in the U.S. and Canada gives the company increased confidence that the product will approach blockbuster status (greater than $100 million of annual sales) in 2024.
Received FDA approval for Pradalex, a prescription-only single-injection antimicrobial for the treatment of certain respiratory diseases in cattle and swine. This is the first new molecule and injectable antibiotic treatment to be approved in more than a decade. This product underscores Elanco's commitment to farm animal innovation and further differentiates our strong livestock portfolio in the U.S.
Financial Results
In April 2023, the company completed the successful integration of the legacy Bayer Animal Health business into Elanco's ERP system and shared service center network. As a result of the integration, the company communicated commercial shipping blackout periods impacting April 2023 (the "ERP Blackout"). As reported last year, the company believes the first quarter of 2023 benefited from approximately $90 to $110 million of customer purchases of legacy Bayer Animal Health products that were shifted from the second quarter of 2023. This estimated shift meaningfully impacted the reported growth rates for the first quarter of 2024.
First Quarter Results
1 CC = Constant Currency, representing the growth rate excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates.
Numbers may not add due to rounding.
In the first quarter of 2024, revenue was $1,205 million, a decrease of 4% on a reported and constant currency basis compared to the first quarter of 2023. The ERP Blackout negatively impacted growth by an estimated 7% to 9%.
Pet Health revenue was $639 million, a 5% decrease on both a reported and constant currency basis, with a 3% increase from price, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Excluding the estimated 10 to 13 percentage point headwind from the ERP Blackout, year over year growth in the first quarter was primarily driven by improved supply of certain vaccines, sales of new products, led by AdTab, improved demand for retail parasiticide products in certain European markets, including Spain, the impact of initial stocking of certain legacy Bayer Animal Health products into the U.S. distribution channel and increased pricing, partially offset by the slow start to the U.S. OTC parasiticide season and continued competitive pressure on certain products in the U.S. veterinary channel.
The Advantage® Family of products, inclusive of AdTab, contributed $128 million, a decrease of 19% excluding the impact from foreign exchange rates, with an estimated 16 percentage point headwind from the ERP Blackout. Seresto® revenue was $160 million, a decrease of 11% excluding the impact from foreign exchange rates, with an estimated 23 percentage point headwind from the ERP Blackout.
Farm Animal revenue was $556 million, a 3% decrease on both a reported basis and constant currency basis compared to the first quarter of 2023. Excluding the estimated 4 to 5 percentage point headwind from the ERP Blackout, the year over year growth in the first quarter was primarily driven by strength in poultry sales globally and sales of new products, led by Experior, partially offset by market weakness impacting the swine business in China.
Gross profit was $690 million, or 57.3% of revenue on both a reported and adjusted basis in the first quarter of 2024. Gross profit as a percent of revenue decreased 340 and 350 basis points on a reported and adjusted basis, respectively, primarily driven by the ERP Blackout, planned reduced throughput at certain manufacturing sites to reduce balance sheet inventory and improve cash conversion, and inflation, partially offset by increased pricing. The company estimates gross profit as a percent of revenue growth was negatively impacted by 130 to 200 basis points from the ERP Blackout.
Total operating expenses were $424 million for the first quarter of 2024. Marketing, selling and administrative expenses increased 3% to $337 million, primarily driven by higher marketing and promotional expenses supporting our global pet health business and employee related expenses, partially offset by savings associated with the completion of the ERP system implementation in the second quarter of 2023. Research and development expenses increased 7% to $87 million, primarily driven by higher employee related expenses and timing of project expenses.
Asset impairment, restructuring and other special charges were $46 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $40 million in the first quarter of 2023. Charges recorded in the first quarter of 2024 consist of $39 million of costs associated with the restructuring plan we announced in February 2024 and $7 million of acquisition integration and divestiture-related costs. Charges recorded in the first quarter of 2023 primarily related to costs associated with the implementation of new systems, programs and processes due to the integration of Bayer Animal Health.
Reported and adjusted net interest expense was $66 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $2 million compared to the first quarter of 2023. The increase was driven by the impact of higher interest rates partially offset by lower debt.
Other expense was $9 million in the first quarter of 2024 on a reported basis, flat to last year. Adjusted other expense was $4 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $11 million in the first quarter of 2023. The decline was driven by lower currency transaction losses, notably in our Argentina subsidiary.
The reported effective tax rate was (182.2)% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 4.4% in the first quarter of 2023. The reported effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2024 was impacted by the partial release of a valuation allowance attributable to the anticipated sale of our aqua business and the benefit of certain state tax credits. The adjusted effective tax rate decreased to 15.0% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 21.9% in the first quarter of 2023, primarily driven by the benefit of certain refundable state income tax credits.
The following table summarizes the estimated impact on year over year growth rates from the ERP Blackout on adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:
First Quarter Results
Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $32 million and $0.06 per diluted share on a reported basis, compared with net income of $103 million and $0.21 per diluted share for the same period in 2023. On an adjusted basis, net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $167 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, a 24% decrease compared with the same period in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was $294 million in the first quarter of 2024, a 22% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of revenue was 24.4% compared with 30.2% for the first quarter of 2023, a decrease of 580 basis points.
Working Capital and Balance Sheet
Cash provided by operations was $2 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to cash used for operations of $145 million in the first quarter of 2023. The $147 million increase in cash from operations year over year reflects improved working capital, primarily related to inventory.
As of March 31, 2024, Elanco's net leverage ratio was 6.1x adjusted EBITDA, compared to 5.6x as of December 31, 2023. The trailing twelve month (TTM) EBITDA was negatively impacted by the ERP Blackout timing from 2023, which drove an estimated 0.4x to 0.6x increase in the net leverage ratio as of March 31, 2024.
Select Business Highlights Since the Last Earnings Call
The restructuring announced on February 26, 2024 is progressing as expected, with 40% of the positions exited as of the end of April. The company continues to expect savings between $20 to $25 million, primarily in the second half of 2024.
The transaction to divest the company's aqua business as announced on February 5, 2024 is progressing as planned, with a closing expected around mid-year. The company continues to expect after tax proceeds of $1.05 billion to $1.1 billion.
Financial Guidance
Elanco is updating financial guidance for the full year 2024, summarized in the following table. Aligned with the company's February guidance, the impact of the anticipated aqua divestiture and contribution from late-stage innovation products are not included in the May guidance.
2024 Full Year
The company is updating 2024 financial guidance to reflect expectations for improved operational performance and additional unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates compared to the February guidance. The company now anticipates revenue between $4,460 and $4,515 million, with an additional headwind of approximately $30 millionfrom the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates compared to the February guidance, reflecting a $35 millionheadwind compared to the prior year. The updated guidance reflects expected constant currency revenue growth of 2% to 3%, up from 1% to 3% in February, with improved expectations in the U.S. farm animal and international pet health businesses, offset by expectations for reduced sales of Kexxtone, a European cattle product. Elanco has paused sales of Kexxtone while the manufacturing process is under review by the EU Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP), resulting in an expected reduction of approximately $20 million in revenue and approximately $18 million in adjusted EBITDA, compared to the February guidance.
The company now anticipates adjusted EBITDA of $960 million to $1 billion, reflecting expectations for improved operational performance and partially offset by an additional $15 million unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates compared to the February guidance.
The company now anticipates adjusted EPS of $0.88 to $0.96, reflecting expectations for improved operational performance, lower interest expense and a lower tax rate, partially offset by an additional $0.03 unfavorable impact from foreign exchange rates compared to the February guidance.
"Strength in our U.S. farm animal and International pet health business drove our revenue overperformance in the first quarter, led by innovation products. We are updating our financial guidance to reflect our increased expectations for business performance and the impact of Kexxtone, as well as the increased strength of the U.S. dollar since February," said Todd Young, Executive Vice President and CFO of Elanco Animal Health. "We remain confident in our expectation for debt paydown of $280 to $320 million in 2024. This, paired with the anticipated proceeds from the sale of the aqua business, is expected to reduce leverage to the mid-4x range by the end of the year."
The company continues to expect the aqua divestiture to close around mid-year 2024. In 2023, the aqua business contributed $175 million in revenue, approximately $92 million in adjusted EBITDA, and approximately $0.14 in adjusted EPS, excluding the allocation of corporate costs. The expected debt payment with proceeds from the sale of the aqua business is expected to result in reduced interest expense of approximately $65 million, or $0.11 of EPS, annually. The company expects to update guidance to reflect the transaction on its quarterly cadence once the transaction has closed.
Additionally, the company is providing guidance for the second quarter of 2024, as summarized in the following table:
As previously reported in 2023, as a result of the ERP system go-live in April 2023, the company experienced sales order processing blackout periods on legacy Bayer products in the second quarter of 2023. As a result, the company reported a shift of approximately $90 to $110 million of revenue, $70 million to $90 million of adjusted EBITDA and $0.11 to $0.14of adjusted EPS into the first quarter of 2023 that would otherwise have been expected in the second quarter of 2023. This significant shift in timing in 2023 impacts the growth rates implied from the company's guidance for the second quarter of 2024.
For the second quarter of 2024, the company anticipates revenue between $1,145 and $1,170 million, with a headwind of approximately $20 million from the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates compared to the prior year. Excluding the estimated impact from the ERP Blackout, the company expects constant currency revenue growth of 1% to 3%.
The financial guidance reflects foreign currency exchange rates as of the beginning of May. Further details on guidance, including GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted reconciliations, are included in the financial tables of this press release and will be discussed on the company's conference call this morning.
