Express Scripts Profit Tops Estimates, Revenue Misses; Lifts FY Guidance

(RTTNews) - Pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX) on Tuesday reported second-quarter net earnings of $600 million or $0.88 per share compared with $515.2 million or $0.67 per share last year.

Excluding items, adjusted earnings for the quarter were $1.44 per share compared with $1.23 per share a year ago.

Revenues for the quarter were higher at $25.45 billion compared with $25.11 billion in the prior year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $1.40 per share on revenues of $26.15 billion for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

The company reported adjusted claims of 321.2 million for the quarter, down 1% from a year ago.

For the third quarter, the company expects adjusted earnings of $1.41 to $1.45 per share, while analysts expect $1.43 per share.

For the full year 2015, the company now expects earnings of $5.46 to $5.54 per share, up from prior guidance of $5.37 to $5.47 per share. Analysts expect earnings of $5.44 per share for the year.

The company anticipates 320 million to 340 million adjusted claims in the third quarter, and continues to expect 1.28 billion to 1.32 billion adjusted claims in the full year.