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Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ESRX)

This company has been moved to the archive! The financial data has not been updated since October 31, 2018.

Enterprise Value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA)

Microsoft Excel

Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA)

Express Scripts Holding Co., EBITDA calculation

US$ in thousands

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2015 Dec 31, 2014 Dec 31, 2013
Net income attributable to Express Scripts 4,517,400 3,404,400 2,476,400 2,007,600 1,844,600
Add: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 14,300 23,200 23,100 27,400 28,100
Less: Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax — — — — (53,600)
Add: Income tax expense 397,300 999,500 1,364,300 1,031,200 1,104,000
Earnings before tax (EBT) 4,929,000 4,427,100 3,863,800 3,066,200 3,030,300
Add: Interest expense and other 607,900 694,800 500,300 582,900 596,100
Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 5,536,900 5,121,900 4,364,100 3,649,100 3,626,400
Add: Depreciation and amortization 1,802,000 2,154,600 2,359,100 2,242,900 2,447,000
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 7,338,900 7,276,500 6,723,200 5,892,000 6,073,400

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31).


The financial trajectory from 2013 to 2017 is characterized by consistent growth across all primary profitability metrics, with a notable acceleration in net income relative to operational earnings.

EBITDA Performance
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization showed an overall upward trend, rising from 6.07 billion US dollars in 2013 to 7.34 billion US dollars in 2017. A brief contraction is observed in 2014, where the value declined to 5.89 billion US dollars, followed by a recovery and steady growth through 2017.
Net Income Acceleration
Net income attributable to the company exhibited the most significant growth rate among the analyzed metrics. Starting at 1.84 billion US dollars in 2013, it increased to 4.52 billion US dollars by 2017. This growth is markedly more aggressive than the growth seen in EBITDA, suggesting a significant improvement in the conversion of operational earnings to bottom-line profit.
Operating Profitability and Amortization
A divergence is noted between the growth of EBITDA and EBIT. While EBITDA grew by approximately 21% over the period, EBIT grew by approximately 52%, rising from 3.63 billion US dollars to 5.54 billion US dollars. This pattern indicates a reduction in the total amount of depreciation and amortization expenses relative to overall earnings over the five-year span.
Tax and Interest Influence
Earnings before tax (EBT) increased steadily from 3.03 billion US dollars in 2013 to 4.93 billion US dollars in 2017. The fact that net income grew at a faster rate than EBT suggests a decrease in the effective tax rate or a reduction in other liabilities impacting the final net income figure.

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Enterprise Value to EBITDA Ratio, Current

Express Scripts Holding Co., current EV/EBITDA calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Enterprise value (EV) 68,388,005
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 7,338,900
Valuation Ratio
EV/EBITDA 9.32
Benchmarks
EV/EBITDA, Competitors1
Abbott Laboratories 15.16
Elevance Health Inc. 9.02
Intuitive Surgical Inc. 37.29
Medtronic PLC 14.22
UnitedHealth Group Inc. 18.41

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

1 Click competitor name to see calculations.

If the company EV/EBITDA is lower then the EV/EBITDA of benchmark then company is relatively undervalued.
Otherwise, if the company EV/EBITDA is higher then the EV/EBITDA of benchmark then company is relatively overvalued.


Enterprise Value to EBITDA Ratio, Historical

Express Scripts Holding Co., historical EV/EBITDA calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016 Dec 31, 2015 Dec 31, 2014 Dec 31, 2013
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Enterprise value (EV)1 58,090,748 54,675,184 58,275,458 74,781,795 71,810,588
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)2 7,338,900 7,276,500 6,723,200 5,892,000 6,073,400
Valuation Ratio
EV/EBITDA3 7.92 7.51 8.67 12.69 11.82
Benchmarks
EV/EBITDA, Competitors4
Abbott Laboratories — — — — —
Elevance Health Inc. — — — — —
Intuitive Surgical Inc. — — — — —
Medtronic PLC — — — — —
UnitedHealth Group Inc. — — — — —

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31).

1 See details »

2 See details »

3 2017 Calculation
EV/EBITDA = EV ÷ EBITDA
= 58,090,748 ÷ 7,338,900 = 7.92

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial metrics between 2013 and 2017 reveal a significant compression in the Enterprise Value to EBITDA multiple. This trend is characterized by a divergence where Enterprise Value generally declined while operational earnings expanded, leading to a lower valuation multiple over the observed period.

Enterprise Value Trends
Enterprise Value reached a peak of approximately 74.78 billion USD in 2014. Following this peak, a substantial reduction occurred, with the value falling to 58.28 billion USD in 2015 and reaching a period low of 54.68 billion USD in 2016. A marginal recovery was noted in 2017, with the value rising to 58.09 billion USD.
EBITDA Performance
Operational profitability showed a consistent upward trajectory after a minor decline in 2014. EBITDA grew from 6.07 billion USD in 2013 to 7.34 billion USD in 2017. This growth indicates a steady increase in the company's ability to generate cash flow from core operations despite the fluctuations in total enterprise valuation.
EV/EBITDA Ratio Interpretation
The EV/EBITDA ratio experienced a sharp contraction, moving from a high of 12.69 in 2014 to a low of 7.51 in 2016. Although the ratio slightly increased to 7.92 in 2017, it remained significantly lower than the levels seen in 2013 and 2014. This pattern suggests a market re-rating of the company's valuation or a shift in the perceived risk and growth profile relative to its earnings capacity.

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