Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. All deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as long-term. Deferred tax assets are evaluated to ensure the asset will be realized. To the extent Express Scripts does not consider it more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will be recovered, a valuation allowance is established.

Source: Express Scripts Holding Co., Annual Report

Express Scripts Holding Co., income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations

USD $ in thousands

Source: Based on data from Express Scripts Holding Co. Annual Reports

Item	Description	The company
Current provision	The component of income tax expense for the period representing amounts of income taxes paid or payable (or refundable) for the period for all income tax obligations as determined by applying the provisions of relevant enacted tax laws to relevant amounts of taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s current provision declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level.
Deferred benefit	The component of income tax expense for the period representing the net change in the entity's deferred tax assets and liabilities pertaining to continuing operations.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s deferred benefit declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.
Provision for income taxes	The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations; income tax expense (benefit) may include interest and penalties on tax uncertainties based on the entity's accounting policy.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s provision for income taxes declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Express Scripts Holding Co., effective income tax rate (EITR) reconciliation

Source: Based on data from Express Scripts Holding Co. Annual Reports

Item	Description	The company
Effective tax rate	A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s effective tax rate declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Express Scripts Holding Co., components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

USD $ in thousands

Source: Based on data from Express Scripts Holding Co. Annual Reports

Item	Description	The company
Gross deferred tax assets	The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amounts of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws (before the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such sum amount to net realizable value). Includes any tax benefit realized in deferred tax assets for significant impacts of tax planning strategies.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s gross deferred tax assets declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.
Net deferred tax assets	The aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; net of deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s net deferred tax assets declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	For entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s net deferred tax assets (liabilities) increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Express Scripts Holding Co., deferred tax assets and liabilities, classification

USD $ in thousands

Source: Based on data from Express Scripts Holding Co. Annual Reports

Item	Description	The company
Current deferred tax assets	The current portion of the aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference. An unrecognized tax benefit that is directly related to a position taken in a tax year that results in a net operating loss carryforward should be presented as a reduction of the related deferred tax asset.
Noncurrent deferred tax assets (included in Other assets)	The noncurrent portion as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate carrying amount of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; after the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s noncurrent deferred tax assets (included in Other assets) increased from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly declined from 2016 to 2017.
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	Represents the noncurrent portion of deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A noncurrent taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of a noncurrent asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In a classified statement of financial position, an enterprise shall separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount. Deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be classified as current or noncurrent based on the classification of the related asset or liability for financial reporting. A deferred tax liability or asset that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting, including deferred tax assets related to carryforwards, shall be classified according to the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s noncurrent deferred tax liabilities declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Express Scripts Holding Co., adjustments to financial data

USD $ in thousands

Express Scripts Holding Co., adjusted ratios

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted current ratio	A liquidity ratio calculated as adjusted current assets divided by adjusted current liabilities.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted current ratio improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.
Adjusted net profit margin	An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted net profit margin improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.
Adjusted total asset turnover	An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.
Adjusted financial leverage	A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted financial leverage increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.
Adjusted ROE	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.
Adjusted ROA	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted current ratio	A liquidity ratio calculated as adjusted current assets divided by adjusted current liabilities.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted current ratio improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted net profit margin	An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted net profit margin improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted total asset turnover	An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted financial leverage	A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted financial leverage increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted ROE	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted ROA	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets.	Express Scripts Holding Co.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly deteriorated from 2016 to 2017.