Fresenius expects new records for sales and earnings in the current business year. At the Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt today, Ulf Mark Schneider, CEO of Fresenius, confirmed the 2016 targets. The company is forecasting sales growth of 6 to 8 percent and an increase of 8 to 12 percent in net income, both in constant currency.

In his speech, Schneider also confirmed the company’s mid-term financial goals: “For fiscal 2019 we are targeting sales of €36 to €40 billion, and net income between €2 and €2.25 billion. This means a doubling of our net income within a period of just five years, and a fourfold increase in one decade.”

Schneider said that by combining a disciplined growth focus with operational and structural stability, the company has built a solid basis for excellent long-term performance. “2015 marked our 12th consecutive record year and delivered our 23rd straight dividend increase,” the Fresenius CEO added. “These results demonstrate that we are continuing to generate strong, stable growth over time.”

Shareholders approved with a majority of 90.68% the 23rd consecutive dividend increase proposed by the general partner and the Supervisory Board. The dividend was raised by 25% to €0.55 per share.

With clear majorities, the shareholders elected all candidates for a new Supervisory Board. Prof. Dr. med. Iris Löw-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of UCB S.A., and Hauke Stars, a Member of the Management Board of Deutsche Börse AG, were elected to the 12-member body for the first time, as shareholder representatives.

Shareholder majorities of 99.64% and 99.52%, respectively, approved the actions of the Management and Supervisory Boards in 2015.

At the Annual General Meeting, 72.73% of the subscribed capital was represented.

Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of dialysis products and services, expects significant sales and earnings growth in 2016. At the Annual General Meeting in Frankfurt today, CEO Rice Powell confirmed the full-year guidance announced in February. The company is targeting 7 to 10 percent revenue growth in constant currency, and an increase in net income of 15 to 20 percent.

Powell also confirmed Fresenius Medical Care’s long-term financial goals: Revenue of $28 billion is targeted for 2020, corresponding to an average growth rate of about 10 percent. Over the same period, an annual, high single-digit percent increase in net income is expected.

“We have every reason to look to the future with great confidence,” Powell said in his speech to the shareholders. “In the past year, we have positioned ourselves to continue the unique success story of Fresenius Medical Care in the years to come. We will continue to grow our dialysis services and products business while actively shaping the development of the dialysis market. We are extending our range of related medical services in the area of Care Coordination.”

A large shareholder majority of 99.96 percent approved the company’s 19th consecutive dividend increase. The dividend will be raised from €0.78 to €0.80 per share.

All candidates for the new term of the Supervisory Board were elected by the shareholders with clear majorities. Joining the Board for the first time are Deborah Doyle McWhinney, former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Citi Enterprise Payments (Citigroup, Inc.), and Pascale Witz, Executive Vice President, Global Diabetes & Cardiovascular at Sanofi S.A.

Shareholder majorities of 99.92%, respectively, approved the actions of the Management and Supervisory Boards in 2015.

At the Annual General Meeting, 77.77% of the subscribed capital was represented.

The next Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 11, 2017.

 

• Group revenue increased +6%, strong net income growth of +9%
• North America: revenue +10%, significant increase of operating income (EBIT) +28%
• Segments outside North America strongly influenced by currency
• Care Coordination with strong organic growth of +17%
• First quarter performance in line to achieve full year guidance

First quarter 2016 key figures:

Net revenue: $4,205 million, +6%
Operating income (EBIT): $540 million, +7%
Net income¹: $228 million, +9%
Basic earnings per share: $0.75, +8%

 

¹ attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

Rice Powell, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care stated: “We had a strong start to the year. Our core dialysis service and products business showed a very strong underlying growth globally. While our businesses outside the United States were largely influenced by currency, the North American market delivered a very satisfying result. In addition, Care Coordination continues to show strong topline growth. We are investing in our future growth in this area, but also expect the profitability to improve again in the course of the year. We are on track to achieve our full year guidance for 2016.”

Revenue & Earnings

Net revenue for the company improved by 6% and reached $4,205 million (+9% at constant currency), largely driven by strong Net Health Care revenue growth of +10% in North America. Net Health Care revenue contributed a 7% increase to $3,414 million, while product revenue grew 2% (6% at constant currency) to $791 million. Solid organic growth rates of 7% for Net Health Care as well as for the products business demonstrated a solid business performance. The development was primarily driven by higher revenue per treatment and more dialysis days.

Total operating income (EBIT) increased by 7% to $540 million (margin of 12.8%). This increase was driven by lower costs for Health Care supplies, a favorable impact from higher volume with commercial payors and further efficiency gains partially offset by higher personnel expense related to dialysis services in the North America segment, unfavourable foreign exchange effects in all segments outside North America as well as higher legal and consulting expenses.

Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA for the first quarter of 2016 was $228 million, a strong increase of 9% compared to $210 million of last year’s first quarter. Based on a number of approximately 305.3 million shares (weighted average number of shares outstanding), basic earnings per share (EPS) for the first three months 2016 amounted to $0.75, compared to $0.69 for the first quarter of 2015.

Segment development

North America revenue increased by 10% to $3,044 million (72% of total revenue). Dialysis business grew by 8%, Care Coordination increased by 20%. The continued progress in Care Coordination was driven by organic growth of +17% and reached $522 million in revenues. Dialysis growth was positively influenced by a higher volume with commercial payors, two more dialysis days and increased product sales (especially machines and dialyzers).

The substantially improved dialysis operating income margin of 16.9% (+300 basis points compared to Q1 2015) was due to lower costs from Health Care supplies, a favourable impact from commercial payors as well as decreased legal expenses. Total operating income (EBIT) for the quarter under review was $436 million, an impressive increase of 28%. Total operating income margin improved to 14.3%.

EMEA revenue increased by 5% to $631 million at constant currency. Positive business movements from an increase in dialysis treatments were offset by the negative currency impact, especially due to the strong US Dollar. Also product revenue came in with a 5% plus at constant currency ($330 million) due to increased sales of bloodlines, products for acute care treatments and hemodialysis solutions and concentrates. Operating income of $130 million in Q1 2016 was negatively impacted mainly due to the weakening of various local currencies.

Asia Pacific grew by 10% at constant currency to $374 million. The region recorded $168 million in Net Health Care revenue, based on an increase of 6% in dialysis treatments. With a growth of +16% at constant currency to $206 million, the product business showed a very strong sales performance in dialysers, bloodlines, machines and peritoneal dialysis products. Operating income decreased to $65 million (-23%) and was impacted by unfavorable foreign exchange effects, increased costs related to further sales development and costs associated with changes in the Management Board.

Latin America delivered revenue of $153 million, an improvement of 5% at constant currency (-23% on a reported basis). In addition to the negative currency impact, the business was mainly influenced by clinics sold in Venezuela in 2015. Dialysis treatments decreased accordingly by 6%. Product revenue decreased by 4% at constant currency to $40 million. Operating income was at $11 million, compared to $18 million in Q1 2015. Operating income margin decreased to 7.1% in Q1 2016 from 9.0% in Q1 2015 mainly due to higher costs related to inflation, unfavorable foreign exchange effects and an unfavorable impact from manufacturing production costs, partially offset by the impact from prior year lower margin dialysis service business in Venezuela which was subsequently divested in the third quarter of 2015.

Net interest expense in Q1 2016 was $105 million compared to $102 million in the first quarter of 2015. The slight increase is based on a lower interest income as a result of the repayment of interest bearing notes receivables.

Income tax expense was $138 million for the first quarter of 2016, which translates into an effective tax rate of 31.8%, substantially lower than in Q1 2015 (34.3%). This was primarily driven by increased tax-free income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the US and lower tax rates in other jurisdictions.

Cash flow

In the first quarter of 2016, the company generated $180 million in net cash provided by operating activities, representing 4% of revenue, compared to $447 million in last year’s Q1. The lower level was driven by an adjustment in invoicing within the quarter and the timing of cash payroll payments in the US. The number for DSO (days sales outstanding) increased accordingly to 74 days (71 days in Q1 2015). These timing effects will have no meaningful impact on the full year 2016.

Employees

As of March 31, 2016, Fresenius Medical Care had 104,687 employees (full-time equivalents) worldwide, compared to 101,543 employees at the end of March 2015. This increase was mainly attributable to our continued organic growth. 

Outlook 2016 confirmed

Based on the positive Q1 business development, Fresenius Medical Care confirms its full year outlook 2016. The company expects a currency-adjusted revenue growth between +7% and +10% for 2016. Net income attributable to shareholders of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA is expected to increase by +15% to +20% over the previous year.

Conference call

Fresenius Medical Care will hold a conference call to discuss the results of the first quarter 2016 on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 3.30 p.m. CEDT/ 9.30 a.m. EDT. The company invites investors to follow the live webcast of the call at the company’s website www.freseniusmedicalcare.com in the “Investors/Events” section. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

Please refer to the attachments for a complete overview of the results for the first quarter of 2016.