ICON reports second quarter 2021 financial results

• Record net business wins in the quarter of $1,106 million, an increase of 21.6% year on year; a net book to bill of 1.27.
• Record closing backlog of $10.2 billion, an increase of 12.7% year on year.
• Quarter 2 reported revenue of $871.2 million representing a year on year increase of 40.5% and 1.5% increase on Quarter 1 2021.
• Adjusted income from operations* amounted to $132.9 million or 15.3% of revenue, a year on year increase of 77.1%.  Adjusted net income attributable to the Group* was $113.2 million or $2.12 per diluted share, compared to $1.20 per share for the equivalent prior year period, an increase of 76.8%.
• US GAAP income from operations amounted to $112.9 million or 13.0% of revenue, a year on year increase of 98.2%. US GAAP net income attributable to the Group was $73.9 million or $1.38 per diluted share, compared to $0.90 per share for the equivalent prior year period, an increase of 53.3%.
• Strong cash generation resulting in a record gross cash position of $1,057 million. Days sales outstanding reduced to 35 days from 53 days at June 30, 2020.
• Net business wins for PRA’s Clinical Research segment for Quarter 2 including reimbursement revenue was approximately $1,191 million; a net book to bill of 1.21. Quarter 2 revenue was approximately $1,047 million, a year on year increase of 43.5%. 
• Following completion of our acquisition of PRA Health Sciences on July 1, 2021, new revenue and EPS guidance is issued including PRA Health Sciences for quarters 3 and 4. Full year 2021 revenue guidance issued in the range of $5,300 - $5,500 million, representing a year over year increase of 89.5% - 96.6%. Full year 2021 adjusted earnings per share guidance issued in the range of $9.10 - $9.50, representing a year over year increase of 39.4% - 45.5%.  Adjusted earnings per share to exclude amortization, stock compensation and transaction-related / integration-related costs.
• *before transaction-related costs and integration-related costs.

Dublin, Ireland, July 21st, 2021 – ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

CEO Dr. Steve Cutler commented, “ICON’s quarter 2 results show continuing progress and represent a strong platform for sustained future growth.  During the quarter, ICON’s net business wins were a record $1,106 million, representing a robust book to bill of 1.27. We grew our backlog 13% year over year to $10.2 billion, revenue grew 40.5% to $871 million and adjusted earnings per share increased 76.8% year over year to $2.12.

As announced on 1st July, ICON’s acquisition of PRA brings together two complementary organisations to create a world leading healthcare intelligence and clinical CRO. We expect to create significant long-term shareholder value by combining revenue growth from enhanced service offerings, innovative solutions and increased scale with our best in class global support services model. As a result of this acquisition we are updating our 2021 outlook with revenue guidance in the range of $5,300 - $5,500 million and adjusted earnings per share guidance in the range of $9.10 - $9.50.”

Full consolidated income statements and summary balance sheet data can be read here. 

Second Quarter 2021 Results

Gross business wins in the second quarter were $1,316 million and cancellations were $210 million. This resulted in net business wins of $1,106 million and a book to bill of 1.27.

Reported revenue for Quarter 2 was $871.2 million. This represents a year on year increase of 40.5% or 37.5% on a constant currency basis.

US GAAP income from operations amounted to $112.9 million or 13.0% of revenue, a year on year increase of 98.2%. Adjusted income from operations* in the quarter was $132.9 million or 15.3% of revenue compared to $75.0 million or 12.1% of revenue for Quarter 2 2020. This represents a year on year increase of 77.1%. 

US GAAP net income attributable to the Group was $73.9 million or 8.5% of revenue. Adjusted net income* attributable to the Group for the quarter was $113.2 million or 13.0% of revenue compared with $63.6 million or 10.3% of revenue in Quarter 2 2020. This represents year on year growth of 78.0%. 

US GAAP earnings per share attributable to the Group on a diluted basis was $1.38 compared to $0.90 per share for the equivalent prior year period, an increase of 53.3%. Adjusted earnings per share* attributable to the Group on a diluted basis was $2.12, compared to $1.20 per share for Quarter 2 2020. This represents a year on year increase of 76.8%.  Quarter 2 earnings per share excluding amortization, stock compensation and transaction-related / integration-related costs was $2.27.

During the quarter the company recorded $42.1 million of transaction-related/ integration-related costs.  On a comparative basis, non-GAAP days sales outstanding were 35 days at June 30, 2021, compared with 39 days at the end of March 2021 and 53 days at the end of June 2020.

Cash generated from operating activities for the quarter was $128.4 million. During the quarter, $12.9 million was spent on capital expenditure. As a result, at June 30, 2021 the Group had net cash of $707.2 million, compared to net cash of $595.6 million at March 31, 2021 and $244.0 million at the end of June 2020.

Year to date 2021 Results

Gross business wins year to date were $2,611 million and cancellations were $404 million. This resulted in net business wins of $2,206 billion and a book to bill of 1.28.

Year to date reported revenue was $1,729.4 million. This represents a year on year increase of 29.5% or 27.0% on a constant currency basis.

US GAAP income from operations year to date amounted to $228.9 million or 13.2% of revenue. Adjusted income from operations* year to date was $261.4 million or 15.1% of revenue compared to $181.3 million or 13.6% of revenue for Quarter 2 2020. This represents a year on year increase of 44.2%. 

US GAAP net income attributable to the Group year to date was $171.0 million or 9.9% of revenue. Adjusted net income* attributable to the Group year to date was $222.8 million or 12.9% of revenue compared with $155.3 million or 11.6% of revenue in Quarter 2 2020. This represents year on year growth of 43.5%. 

US GAAP earnings per share attributable to the Group on a diluted basis year to date was $3.21 compared to $2.51 per share for the equivalent prior year period. Adjusted earnings per share* attributable to the Group on a diluted basis year to date was $4.18, compared to $2.89 per share for Quarter 2 2020. This represents a year on year increase of 44.6%. Year to date earnings per share excluding amortization, stock compensation and transaction-related / integration-related costs was $4.46.

* before transaction-related costs and integration-related costs.

Second Quarter 2021 Results for PRA Health Sciences, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Net new business for PRA’s Clinical Research segment for the three months ended June 30, 2021 including reimbursement revenue was approximately $1,191 million, representing a net book-to-bill of 1.21 for the period.

For the three months ended June 30, 2021, revenue was approximately $1,047 million, which represents an increase of 43.5% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. 

GAAP net income was approximately $71 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, or $1.06 per share on a diluted basis, compared to GAAP net income of $13.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, or $0.22 per share on a diluted basis.

Adjusted net income was approximately $96 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, representing an increase of 73.6% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. Adjusted earnings per share was approximately $1.43 for the three months ended June 30, 2021, representing an increase of 66.6% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Days sales outstanding (DSO) was approximately 14 days at June 30, 2021.

Other Information

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP operating and net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Non-GAAP operating and net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share exclude transaction-related costs.  While non-GAAP financial measures are not superior to or a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, ICON believes certain non-GAAP information is useful to investors for historical comparison purposes.

Adjusted earnings per share attributable to the Group (Non-GAAP) has been computed by dividing non-GAAP net income attributable to the Group by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  GAAP earnings per share attributable to the Group has been computed by dividing net income attributable to the Group plus a GAAP charge associated with non-controlling interest in MeDiNova Research (“MeDiNova”) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  ICON purchased a majority shareholding in MeDiNova on May 23, 2019.  ICON exercised its call on the outstanding shares in MeDiNova and derecognized the non-controlling interest effective from March 2020.

For guidance purposes adjusted earnings per share excludes amortization, stock compensation and transaction-related / integration-related costs.

ICON will hold a conference call tomorrow, July 22nd, 2021 at 09:00 EDT [14:00 Ireland & UK].  This call and linked slide presentation can be accessed live from our website at http://investor.iconplc.com.  A recording will also be available on the website for 90 days following the call.  In addition, a calendar of company events, including upcoming conference presentations, is available on our website, under “Investors”.  This calendar will be updated regularly.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and information currently available, including current economic and industry conditions.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actual results, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those stated in this press release.  The forward-looking statements are subject to future events, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements, including, but not limited to, the ability to enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships, manage the opening of new offices and offering of new services, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, the impact of COVID-19 on our business, as well as other economic and global market conditions and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control. For these reasons, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. The word "expected" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, F-4, S-8 and F-3, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

ICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation. From molecule to medicine, we advance clinical research providing outsourced services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and government and public health organisations. We develop new innovations, drive emerging therapies forward and improve patient lives. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON employed approximately 16,480 employees in 89 locations in 45 countries as at June 30, 2021. For further information about ICON, visit: www.iconplc.com and www.iconplc.com/pra.

Source: ICON plc

Contact: Investor Relations +1888 381 7923 or
Brendan Brennan Chief Financial Officer +353 1 291 2000
Jonathan Curtain Vice President Corporate Finance and Investor Relations +353 1 291 2000

All at ICON.