Elevance Health Inc.

01/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/23/2025 05:12

Elevance Health Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results; Sets Full Year 2025 Outlook

Indianapolis, IN -- January 23, 2025 - Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE: ELV) reported fourth quarter and full year 2024 results.

"As part of our commitment to elevating whole health and advancing health beyond healthcare, we deliver value to the members and care providers we serve by ensuring simple, affordable, and accessible care. Our fourth quarter results demonstrate tangible progress in improving our operations in response to the dynamic environment facing the industry. As we look to 2025, we remain resolute in our goal to simplify the healthcare experience, deepen the impact of Carelon, and deploy innovative care models, positioning us to achieve sustainable growth over the long run."

Gail K. Boudreaux
President and Chief Executive Officer

*Earnings per diluted share ("EPS")
**Refer to GAAP reconciliation tables.

Consolidated Enterprise Highlights

Operating revenue was $45.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $2.5 billion, or 6 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Operating revenue was $175.2 billion in 2024, an increase of $5.0 billion, or 3 percent. The increase in revenue for the quarter and year was driven by higher premium yields in our Health Benefits segment, acquisitions completed in 2024, and growth in CarelonRx product revenue, partially offset by membership attrition in our Medicaid business.

The benefit expense ratio was 92.4 percent in the fourth quarter, an increase of 320 basis points compared to the prior year period, and 88.5 percent for the full year, an increase of 150 basis points year over year. The increases were driven primarily by higher Medicaid medical cost trends. Days in Claims Payable was 42.9 days as of December 31, 2024, a slight increase of 0.1 days from September 30, 2024, and a decrease of 4.4 days compared to December 31, 2023.

The operating expense ratio was 10.7 percent in the fourth quarter and 11.4 percent for the full year. On an adjusted basis, the corresponding operating expense ratios were 9.9 percent and 10.6 percent. The improvements in the adjusted operating expense ratio over prior year periods of 170 basis points and 70 basis points, respectively, reflect disciplined cost management and enhanced efficiency.

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet

Operating cash flow was $5.8 billion in 2024, approximately 1.0 times GAAP net income. As of December 31, 2024, cash and investments at the parent company totaled approximately $2.4 billion.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company repurchased 4.5 million shares of its common stock for $1.8 billion, at a weighted average price of $401.29, and paid a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share, representing a distribution of cash totaling $373 million. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $9.3 billion of Board approved share repurchase authorization remaining.

Reportable Segment Highlights

Health Benefits is comprised of Individual, Employer Group risk-based, Employer Group fee-based, BlueCard® , Medicare, Medicaid, and Federal Employee Program businesses.

Health Benefits segment operating revenue was $37.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $1.0 billion, or 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Operating revenue was $150.3 billion in 2024, an increase of $1.7 billion, or 1 percent. The increases for the quarter and year were driven primarily by higher premium yields, partially offset by membership attrition in our Medicaid business.

Operating gain totaled $0.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $6.2 billion for the full year. On an adjusted basis, operating gain was $0.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $6.3 billion for the full year. Adjusted operating gain in both periods was impacted primarily by higher cost trend in Medicaid related to redeterminations.

Medical membership totaled approximately 45.7 million as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of 1.1 million, or 2 percent year over year, driven by attrition in our Medicaid business, partially offset by growth in Employer Group fee-based and Affordable Care Act health plan membership.

Carelon is comprised of CarelonRx and Carelon Services.

Operating revenue for Carelon was $14.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $2.3 billion, or 19 percent compared to the prior year period. Operating revenue was $53.9 billion in 2024, an increase of $5.9 billion, or 12 percent. The increases for the quarter and the year were driven by the launch and growth of risk-based capabilities in Carelon Services and acquisitions completed in 2024.

Operating gain for Carelon totaled $0.6 billion in the fourth quarter, effectively flat year over year; however, on an adjusted basis, operating gain was $0.8 billion, an increase of $0.2 billion, or 32 percent. The increase for the fourth quarter of 2024 was driven by higher pharmacy product revenue. On a full year basis, operating gain was $2.9 billion in 2024, an increase of $0.2 billion, or 9 percent. Similarly, on an adjusted basis, operating gain was $3.1 billion, an increase of $0.4 billion, or 17 percent.

Quarterly Dividend

On January 22, 2025, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors declared a first quarter 2025 dividend to shareholders of $1.71 per share. The first quarter dividend is payable on March 25, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2025.

About Elevance Health

Elevance Health is a lifetime, trusted health partner whose purpose is to improve the health of humanity. The company supports consumers, families, and communities across the entire healthcare journey - connecting them to the care, support, and resources they need to lead better lives. Elevance Health's companies serve approximately 112 million consumers through a diverse portfolio of industry-leading medical, pharmacy, behavioral, clinical, home health, and complex care solutions. For more information, please visit www.elevancehealth.com or follow us @ElevanceHealth on X and Elevance Health on LinkedIn.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") to discuss the company's fourth quarter and full year 2024 results and 2025 outlook. The conference call should be accessed at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call with the following numbers:

  • 888-947-9963 (Domestic)
  • 866-405-7292 (Domestic Replay)
  • 312-470-0178 (International)
  • 203-369-0604 (International Replay)

The access code for today's conference call is 3972058. There is no access code for the replay. The replay will be available from 11:30 a.m. EST today, until the end of the day on February 21, 2025. The call will also be available through a live webcast at www.elevancehealth.com under the "Investors" link. A webcast replay will be available following the call.

Basis of Presentation

1. Operating revenue and operating gain/loss are the key measures used by management to evaluate performance in each of its reporting segments, allocate resources, set incentive compensation targets and to forecast future operating performance. Operating gain/loss is calculated as total operating revenue less benefit expense, cost of products sold and operating expense. It does not include net investment income, net gains/losses on financial instruments, interest expense, amortization of other intangible assets, gains/losses on extinguishment of debt or income taxes, as these items are managed in a corporate shared service environment and are not the responsibility of operating segment management. Refer to the GAAP reconciliation tables.

2. Operating margin is defined as operating gain divided by operating revenue.

Elevance Health Contacts

Investor Relations:
Nathan Rich
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Leslie Porras
[email protected]