Analysis of Profitability Ratios
Quarterly Data
Profitability ratios measure the company ability to generate profitable sales from its resources (assets).
Profitability Ratios (Summary)
Express Scripts Holding Co., profitability ratios (quarterly data)
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
- Gross Profit Margin
- The gross profit margin shows an overall upward trend from March 2014 through September 2018. Starting at approximately 7.81% in early 2014, the margin increased consistently each quarter, reaching approximately 8.81% by the third quarter of 2018. This improvement indicates enhanced efficiency in managing the cost of goods sold relative to revenue over the observed period.
- Operating Profit Margin
- The operating profit margin also demonstrated a steady increase during the same timeframe. It started near 3.41% in the first quarter of 2014 and rose gradually to around 5.31% by mid-2018 before showing a slight decrease to approximately 5.27% in the third quarter of 2018. This trend suggests improving control over operating expenses and potentially better operational performance.
- Net Profit Margin
- Net profit margin exhibited a significant upward trajectory, increasing from 1.77% in early 2014 to 4.83% by the third quarter of 2018. The most notable acceleration occurs in 2017 and 2018, indicating enhanced profitability after accounting for all expenses, taxes, and interest.
- Return on Equity (ROE)
- The return on equity presented a notably strong growth pattern over the period. From approximately 8.45% in early 2014, ROE ascended steadily, peaking near 24.93% in the first quarter of 2018, before slightly declining to about 23.82% by the third quarter of 2018. This suggests increased efficiency in generating profit from shareholders' equity, though the minor recent decline might warrant closer monitoring.
- Return on Assets (ROA)
- ROA followed a consistent upward trend as well, increasing from roughly 3.44% in early 2014 to approximately 8.84% by the third quarter of 2018. The marked improvement highlights enhanced asset utilization to generate earnings, reflecting positively on management's effectiveness in deploying the company's assets.
Return on Sales
Return on Investment
Gross Profit Margin
Express Scripts Holding Co., gross profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 2,351,400) | 2,204,200) | 1,879,400) | 2,490,500) | 2,237,700) | 2,161,200) | 1,872,700) | 2,338,200) | 2,274,100) | 2,161,200) | 1,847,000) | 2,263,200) | 2,173,500) | 2,131,200) | 1,834,000) | 2,094,000) | 2,073,000) | 2,007,700) | 1,750,400) | 2,061,000) | 1,994,200) | 2,115,100) | 1,962,100) | |||||||
| Revenues | 25,563,200) | 25,641,800) | 24,769,400) | 25,378,800) | 24,683,400) | 25,347,500) | 24,654,900) | 24,863,300) | 25,410,100) | 25,222,300) | 24,791,800) | 26,175,400) | 25,222,600) | 25,454,200) | 24,899,600) | 26,312,600) | 25,778,500) | 25,111,000) | 23,685,000) | 25,781,400) | 25,915,600) | 26,381,900) | 26,019,900) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit margin1 | 8.81% | 8.77% | 8.75% | 8.76% | 8.65% | 8.62% | 8.63% | 8.60% | 8.41% | 8.33% | 8.28% | 8.26% | 8.08% | 7.94% | 7.84% | 7.86% | 7.86% | 7.77% | 7.78% | 7.81% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbott Laboratories | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Elevance Health Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Intuitive Surgical Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Medtronic PLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
1 Q3 2018 Calculation
Gross profit margin = 100
× (Gross profitQ3 2018
+ Gross profitQ2 2018
+ Gross profitQ1 2018
+ Gross profitQ4 2017)
÷ (RevenuesQ3 2018
+ RevenuesQ2 2018
+ RevenuesQ1 2018
+ RevenuesQ4 2017)
= 100 × (2,351,400 + 2,204,200 + 1,879,400 + 2,490,500)
÷ (25,563,200 + 25,641,800 + 24,769,400 + 25,378,800)
= 8.81%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Revenue Trends
- Revenues show a generally fluctuating pattern across the quarters from March 2013 to September 2018. There is a noticeable decline in revenue starting from the first quarter of 2014, dropping from approximately 26 billion USD in early 2013 to about 23.7 billion USD by March 2014. Subsequently, revenues maintain a range primarily between 24.7 billion and 26.4 billion USD, without a clear sustained upward or downward trend, indicating volatility and cyclical variations.
- Gross Profit Trends
- Gross profit figures follow somewhat similar fluctuations to revenues, with values ranging roughly between 1.75 billion USD and 2.5 billion USD. There is a dip observed around March 2014 and March 2016, where gross profit reached lower levels compared to previous quarters. The highest gross profit occurs in the fourth quarter of 2017, surpassing 2.4 billion USD. Despite periodic declines, gross profit generally exhibits a recovery pattern following these dips.
- Gross Profit Margin Analysis
- Gross profit margin data, available from the first quarter of 2014 onward, exhibits a gradual and steady improvement over the observed period. Starting at approximately 7.81% in March 2014, the margin consistently increases to about 8.81% by the third quarter of 2018. This steady upward trend in gross profit margin suggests improved efficiency or cost management relative to revenues despite fluctuations in absolute profit and revenue figures.
- Overall Insights
- The overall financial data indicates periods of volatility in revenue and gross profit levels; however, the persistent increase in gross profit margin signals enhanced profitability on sales over time. Such a pattern may reflect successful strategies in operational efficiency or pricing, which enable maintenance of profit margins even when revenues vary. It is important to note that revenue does not demonstrate a clear growth trajectory but gross profit margin improvement may signal positive internal cost controls or value generation.
Operating Profit Margin
Express Scripts Holding Co., operating profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 1,488,600) | 1,312,200) | 961,600) | 1,582,400) | 1,478,400) | 1,378,600) | 1,054,600) | 1,474,700) | 1,416,000) | 1,256,300) | 940,800) | 1,213,800) | 1,166,200) | 1,132,700) | 826,600) | 942,800) | 984,400) | 966,000) | 709,200) | 828,800) | 875,500) | 1,004,300) | 843,100) | |||||||
| Revenues | 25,563,200) | 25,641,800) | 24,769,400) | 25,378,800) | 24,683,400) | 25,347,500) | 24,654,900) | 24,863,300) | 25,410,100) | 25,222,300) | 24,791,800) | 26,175,400) | 25,222,600) | 25,454,200) | 24,899,600) | 26,312,600) | 25,778,500) | 25,111,000) | 23,685,000) | 25,781,400) | 25,915,600) | 26,381,900) | 26,019,900) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating profit margin1 | 5.27% | 5.31% | 5.39% | 5.49% | 5.41% | 5.31% | 5.19% | 5.07% | 4.75% | 4.51% | 4.38% | 4.26% | 3.99% | 3.79% | 3.64% | 3.57% | 3.48% | 3.36% | 3.36% | 3.41% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbott Laboratories | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Elevance Health Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Intuitive Surgical Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Medtronic PLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
1 Q3 2018 Calculation
Operating profit margin = 100
× (Operating incomeQ3 2018
+ Operating incomeQ2 2018
+ Operating incomeQ1 2018
+ Operating incomeQ4 2017)
÷ (RevenuesQ3 2018
+ RevenuesQ2 2018
+ RevenuesQ1 2018
+ RevenuesQ4 2017)
= 100 × (1,488,600 + 1,312,200 + 961,600 + 1,582,400)
÷ (25,563,200 + 25,641,800 + 24,769,400 + 25,378,800)
= 5.27%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Operating Income
-
Operating income demonstrates notable fluctuations over the observed periods, initially showing moderate values around 800 million US dollars in early 2013. A visible increase occurs in mid to late 2014, where operating income peaks near 1 billion US dollars. After some variability, a significant upward trend is observed from early 2016 to late 2017, reaching a maximum near 1.58 billion US dollars by December 2017. Subsequently, operating income decreases somewhat in 2018 but remains above the levels observed in earlier years, indicating overall growth with some volatility.
- Revenues
-
Revenues show a generally stable pattern with mild fluctuations throughout the period. Starting near 26 billion US dollars in early 2013, revenues dip in the first quarter of 2014 to approximately 23.7 billion US dollars, marking one of the lower points in the series. Revenues then partially recover and stabilize around 24.5 to 26 billion US dollars for the remainder of the data, with a few quarters exhibiting slight increases or decreases. The quarter-to-quarter changes do not show any sharp trends, indicating a relatively steady revenue base with some minor seasonal or operational variations.
- Operating Profit Margin
-
The operating profit margin data commences in the first quarter of 2014 and indicates a steady upward trajectory over the subsequent quarters. Initially around 3.4%, the margin gradually improves, reaching above 5% by late 2017. This continuous increase reflects enhanced operational efficiency or improved cost management over time. The margin peaks near 5.49% at the end of 2017 and slightly declines but remains stable around 5.3% through 2018, suggesting sustained profitability improvements.
- Summary and Insights
-
The financial data displays overall growth in operating income and operating profit margin, suggesting enhanced profitability and efficiency. While revenues experienced some decline in early 2014, they generally remained stable across the remaining periods, indicating a consistent business volume. The rising operating profit margin alongside stable revenues and growing operating income implies effective cost control and possibly improved pricing strategies or higher-margin business activities. However, some volatility in operating income points to external factors or operational challenges affecting short-term performance.
Net Profit Margin
Express Scripts Holding Co., net profit margin calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Express Scripts | 1,071,600) | 877,300) | 623,200) | 2,327,600) | 841,700) | 801,800) | 546,300) | 1,434,700) | 722,900) | 720,700) | 526,100) | 773,500) | 661,700) | 600,100) | 441,100) | 581,800) | 582,300) | 515,200) | 328,300) | 501,900) | 426,700) | 543,000) | 373,000) | |||||||
| Revenues | 25,563,200) | 25,641,800) | 24,769,400) | 25,378,800) | 24,683,400) | 25,347,500) | 24,654,900) | 24,863,300) | 25,410,100) | 25,222,300) | 24,791,800) | 26,175,400) | 25,222,600) | 25,454,200) | 24,899,600) | 26,312,600) | 25,778,500) | 25,111,000) | 23,685,000) | 25,781,400) | 25,915,600) | 26,381,900) | 26,019,900) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net profit margin1 | 4.83% | 4.65% | 4.59% | 4.51% | 3.64% | 3.50% | 3.42% | 3.39% | 2.70% | 2.64% | 2.52% | 2.43% | 2.24% | 2.15% | 2.08% | 1.99% | 1.92% | 1.76% | 1.77% | 1.77% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Profit Margin, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbott Laboratories | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Elevance Health Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Intuitive Surgical Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Medtronic PLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
1 Q3 2018 Calculation
Net profit margin = 100
× (Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ3 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ2 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ1 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ4 2017)
÷ (RevenuesQ3 2018
+ RevenuesQ2 2018
+ RevenuesQ1 2018
+ RevenuesQ4 2017)
= 100 × (1,071,600 + 877,300 + 623,200 + 2,327,600)
÷ (25,563,200 + 25,641,800 + 24,769,400 + 25,378,800)
= 4.83%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Net Income Attributable to Express Scripts
- The net income demonstrates a cyclical yet upward trend with notable growth over the reported periods. Initial quarters of 2013 show moderate net incomes, which increase significantly towards the end of 2016 and throughout 2017. The highest recorded net income is observed in the quarter ended December 31, 2017, at approximately 2.33 million US dollars, which marks a substantial increase compared to previous quarters. Despite some fluctuations, the general pattern points to an increasing profitability trend, with net income in late 2018 maintaining a relatively high level compared to the earlier years. Notably, the net income exhibits seasonal peaks, often higher in the fourth quarter of each year.
- Revenues
- Revenues fluctuate throughout the periods but do not show a consistent upward or downward trend. The values hover around 25 billion US dollars with minor quarterly variations. The highest revenues occurred between late 2013 and early 2015, approaching or exceeding 26 billion US dollars in some quarters. Post-2015, revenues slightly decline, stabilizing around 25 billion US dollars, and show minor oscillations without significant growth or decline. These fluctuations suggest a fairly stable revenue base with no abrupt changes during the analyzed periods.
- Net Profit Margin
- The net profit margin starts being reported from the first quarter of 2014 and displays a consistent upward trend over time. It begins slightly below 2% and steadily increases through subsequent years, reaching nearly 5% by the last available quarter in 2018. This improvement in profit margin indicates enhanced efficiency or better cost management relative to revenues. The margin growth complements the net income growth observed, implying that Express Scripts has managed to increase profitability both in absolute terms and relative to its sales.
Return on Equity (ROE)
Express Scripts Holding Co., ROE calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Express Scripts | 1,071,600) | 877,300) | 623,200) | 2,327,600) | 841,700) | 801,800) | 546,300) | 1,434,700) | 722,900) | 720,700) | 526,100) | 773,500) | 661,700) | 600,100) | 441,100) | 581,800) | 582,300) | 515,200) | 328,300) | 501,900) | 426,700) | 543,000) | 373,000) | |||||||
| Total Express Scripts stockholders’ equity | 20,565,900) | 19,370,000) | 18,442,500) | 18,119,600) | 15,916,500) | 15,744,600) | 15,922,600) | 16,236,000) | 15,600,300) | 15,403,100) | 14,841,100) | 17,372,800) | 16,538,300) | 15,822,200) | 20,604,800) | 20,054,200) | 20,157,700) | 20,451,900) | 21,874,300) | 21,837,400) | 23,702,300) | 23,866,500) | 23,617,800) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE1 | 23.82% | 24.11% | 24.91% | 24.93% | 22.77% | 22.27% | 21.51% | 20.97% | 17.58% | 17.41% | 17.26% | 14.25% | 13.81% | 13.94% | 10.29% | 10.01% | 9.56% | 8.66% | 8.23% | 8.45% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROE, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbott Laboratories | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Elevance Health Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Intuitive Surgical Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Medtronic PLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
1 Q3 2018 Calculation
ROE = 100
× (Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ3 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ2 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ1 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ4 2017)
÷ Total Express Scripts stockholders’ equity
= 100 × (1,071,600 + 877,300 + 623,200 + 2,327,600)
÷ 20,565,900 = 23.82%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Net Income Attributable to Express Scripts
- The net income showed a generally increasing trend from March 2013 to September 2018, with some fluctuations. Starting at 373,000 thousand USD in March 2013, the figure increased to a peak of 2,327,600 thousand USD by December 2017. This represents substantial growth in profitability over the period. There were notable jumps from December 2016 to December 2017, and again in the first three quarters of 2018, indicating periods of accelerated earnings growth.
- Total Express Scripts Stockholders’ Equity
- The stockholders' equity displayed a more volatile trend over the timeframe. Beginning at 23,617,800 thousand USD in March 2013, equity declined through mid-2014 to a low of 20,054,200 thousand USD in December 2014. Following that, there was a decline continuing until June 2016, reaching 14,841,100 thousand USD. However, from that low point, equity gradually increased again, reaching a higher level of 20,565,900 thousand USD by September 2018. This pattern suggests periods of equity reduction possibly linked to share buybacks, dividends, or other capital management decisions, followed by recovery or capital inflows.
- Return on Equity (ROE)
- ROE data begins in March 2014, showing consistent improvement throughout the periods. Starting at 8.45%, the ROE rose steadily, surpassing 20% by March 2017. This upward trajectory continued with values exceeding 24% in mid-2018, peaking near 24.93% in March 2018. This improvement in ROE alongside fluctuating equity suggests enhanced profitability management or more efficient use of shareholder equity over time.
- Overall Observations
- The company demonstrated a marked increase in net income and ROE over the analyzed periods, indicating strengthening profitability and improving returns to shareholders. Simultaneously, the fluctuating stockholders' equity broke into two phases: an initial decline followed by subsequent recovery and growth. The rising ROE in the face of varying equity points to improved operational efficiency or favorable changes in financial leverage. Noteworthy is the sharp increase in net income in late 2017 and 2018, which was the primary driver for the elevated ROE during these periods.
Return on Assets (ROA)
Express Scripts Holding Co., ROA calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | Mar 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Jun 30, 2016 | Mar 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Sep 30, 2015 | Jun 30, 2015 | Mar 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Sep 30, 2014 | Jun 30, 2014 | Mar 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Sep 30, 2013 | Jun 30, 2013 | Mar 31, 2013 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Express Scripts | 1,071,600) | 877,300) | 623,200) | 2,327,600) | 841,700) | 801,800) | 546,300) | 1,434,700) | 722,900) | 720,700) | 526,100) | 773,500) | 661,700) | 600,100) | 441,100) | 581,800) | 582,300) | 515,200) | 328,300) | 501,900) | 426,700) | 543,000) | 373,000) | |||||||
| Total assets | 55,441,600) | 54,677,800) | 53,405,600) | 54,255,800) | 51,206,200) | 50,513,400) | 51,056,000) | 51,744,900) | 50,909,300) | 50,858,600) | 51,107,600) | 53,243,300) | 51,996,500) | 51,867,800) | 51,905,100) | 53,798,900) | 53,439,200) | 54,633,800) | 52,747,100) | 53,548,200) | 54,763,000) | 54,581,500) | 55,585,700) | |||||||
| Profitability Ratio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA1 | 8.84% | 8.54% | 8.60% | 8.33% | 7.08% | 6.94% | 6.71% | 6.58% | 5.39% | 5.27% | 5.01% | 4.65% | 4.39% | 4.25% | 4.09% | 3.73% | 3.61% | 3.24% | 3.41% | 3.44% | — | — | — | |||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROA, Competitors2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abbott Laboratories | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Elevance Health Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Intuitive Surgical Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Medtronic PLC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31).
1 Q3 2018 Calculation
ROA = 100
× (Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ3 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ2 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ1 2018
+ Net income attributable to Express ScriptsQ4 2017)
÷ Total assets
= 100 × (1,071,600 + 877,300 + 623,200 + 2,327,600)
÷ 55,441,600 = 8.84%
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Net income attributable to Express Scripts
- The net income exhibited significant fluctuations over the reported quarters, showing a general upward trend with notable seasonal variations. From March 2013 through December 2013, net income fluctuated between approximately $373 million and $544 million, peaking in the June quarter of 2013. In 2014, the net income ranged between $328 million and $582 million, with the highest figure recorded in the September quarter. The subsequent years showed marked growth, with net income exceeding $700 million consistently in the latter quarters of 2015 and 2016. Particularly notable is the sharp increase in December 2016 and December 2017, where net income nearly doubled compared to previous quarters, reaching approximately $1.43 billion in December 2016 and $2.33 billion in December 2017. The first quarters of each year generally showed lower net income relative to December quarters, indicating possible seasonality in earnings.
- Total assets
- Total assets remained relatively stable throughout the time frame, fluctuating within a narrow range of approximately $51 billion to $55.6 billion. A gradual decline is seen from $55.6 billion in March 2013 to levels near $51 billion throughout 2016 and early 2017. Notwithstanding this decline, the asset base showed modest recovery starting in late 2017, trending upwards towards $55.4 billion by September 2018. The fluctuations indicate slight asset divestitures or revaluations with no dramatic shifts, suggesting a steady asset management approach with no significant expansions or contractions.
- Return on Assets (ROA)
- The ROA figures, available from the first quarter of 2014 onwards, demonstrate a consistent and steady increase over the observed period. Beginning at approximately 3.44% in March 2014, the ratio gradually climbs quarter to quarter, reaching values above 8.5% by mid to late 2018. This improving ROA indicates enhanced efficiency in utilizing assets to generate net income, aligning with the observed growth in net income while the asset base remained relatively stable or declined slightly until late 2017. The rising ROA trend reflects positively on operational profitability and asset management effectiveness.
- Overall financial trend analysis
- The data reveals progressive increases in profitability, as seen in higher net income and improved ROA, despite a relatively static asset base. The substantial spikes in net income at year-end quarters suggest a consistent presence of seasonal factors influencing earnings. The sustained growth in net income from 2015 through 2018, coupled with stable total assets, suggests improvements in core business operations and asset utilization. The growth in ROA corroborates this enhancement in financial performance, indicating the company is generating more returns from its asset investments over time.