Syneos Health Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

• Revenue for the third quarter of $1,336.2 million decreased 0.9% on a reported basis and increased 2.2% on a constant currency basis year-over-year.
  
• Clinical Solutions net new business awards and book-to-bill ratios:
  • Including reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, $182.2 million for the third quarter, a year-over-year decline of 86.5% and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.18x, and $2,729.7 million for the trailing twelve months, a year-over-year decline of 48.8% and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.67x.
  • Excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, $208.4 million for the third quarter, a year-over-year decline of 80.0% and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.30x, and $2,776.1 million for the trailing twelve months, a year-over-year decline of 23.0% and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.98x.
• Commercial Solutions net new business awards and book-to-bill ratios:
  • Including reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, $276.3 million for the third quarter, flat year-over-year and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.83x, and $1,399.9 million for the trailing twelve months, year-over-year growth of 6.1% and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.07x.
  • Excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, $223.0 million for the third quarter, a year-over-year decline of 12.3% and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.80x, and $1,203.5 million for the trailing twelve months, year-over-year growth of 3.6% and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.07x.
• Year-over-year ending backlog:
  • Including reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, a year-over-year decline of 13.6% in Clinical Solutions and year-over-year growth of 7.0% in Deployment Solutions as of September 30, 2022.
  • Excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, a year-over-year decline of 2.5% in Clinical Solutions and year-over-year growth of 6.4% in Deployment Solutions as of September 30, 2022.
• GAAP net income of $87.0 million increased 11.3% year-over-year.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $210.0 million increased 3.7% year-over-year.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.84 increased 12.0% year-over-year.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.23 increased 0.8% year-over-year.
• Updated full year 2022 guidance.

MORRISVILLE, N.C., Nov. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syneos Health (Nasdaq:SYNH), the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.

“We are disappointed in our third quarter results, as we experienced more significant headwinds in net awards, revenue and margins in the quarter than we had anticipated. We are taking decisive actions to address these issues — including accelerating Clinical Reimagined, enhancing business development, improving visibility and increasing efficiency — in order to improve our performance moving forward,” said Michelle Keefe, CEO, Syneos Health. “While these initiatives are a top priority, we are continuing to leverage our unique product development model to drive differentiation and achieve sustainable, long-term growth. We remain confident in our ability to thrive in a growing market as we execute on our vision of becoming the premier biopharma solutions provider.”

Please refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" included in this press release and accompanying tables for important disclosures about non-GAAP measures and a reconciliation of these measures to the nearest GAAP measures.

Third Quarter 2022 Results

Revenue of $1,336.2 million decreased 0.9% on a reported basis and increased 2.2% on a constant currency basis for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in the prior year. Revenue was below the Company's guidance primarily due to the impact of lower net new business awards, delays in backlog conversion and customer delays in its FSP business within Clinical Solutions. Clinical Solutions revenue decreased 3.5% on a reported basis and 0.2% on a constant currency basis to $1,003.3 million. Acquisitions contributed approximately 80 basis points to Clinical Solutions reported revenue growth. Commercial Solutions revenue increased 8.0% on a reported basis and 10.6% on a constant currency basis to $333.0 million. Prior period segment results have been recast to conform to insignificant changes to management reporting in 2022.

GAAP net income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 increased 11.3% to $87.0 million, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $0.84, compared to GAAP net income of $78.2 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.75, for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Adjusted net income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 decreased 0.4% to $127.3 million, resulting in adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.23, compared to adjusted net income of $127.8 million, or adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.22, for the three months ended September 30, 2021. GAAP net income and GAAP diluted earnings per share were above the Company's guidance primarily due to other income from foreign currency gains.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2022 increased 3.7% to $210.0 million from the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share were below the Company's guidance primarily due to the impact of lower than expected revenue, partially offset by cost reductions.

Year-to-Date 2022 Results

Revenue of $4,033.2 million increased 5.0% on a reported basis and 7.2% on a constant currency basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in the prior year. Clinical Solutions revenue increased 2.5% on a reported basis and 4.8% on a constant currency basis to $3,047.3 million. Acquisitions contributed approximately 90 basis points to Clinical Solutions reported revenue growth. Commercial Solutions revenue increased 13.7% on a reported basis and 15.5% on a constant currency basis to $985.9 million.

GAAP net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased 32.8% to $211.0 million, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $2.04, compared to GAAP net income of $158.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of $1.51, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased 15.6% to $361.4 million, resulting in adjusted diluted earnings per share of $3.49, compared to adjusted net income of $312.7 million, or adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.98, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased 12.0% to $591.7 million from the prior year.

Net New Business Awards and Backlog

Net new business awards and book-to-bill ratios for the three and twelve months ended September 30, 2022 were as follows (dollars in millions):

Our backlog as of September 30, 2022, was as follows (dollars in millions):

Liquidity and Capital Management Update

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $132.4 million and $303.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company made $25.0 million of voluntary prepayments on its term loan and repaid the remaining outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility. The Company’s Net Leverage Ratio was 3.2x based on trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA.

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company did not repurchase any common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company repurchased $150.0 million of common stock and has $350.0 million of remaining share repurchase authorization available through December 31, 2024.

Full Year 2022 Business Outlook

The Company updated its full year 2022 guidance for revenue primarily to reflect the impact of lower net new business awards, delays in backlog conversion, and customer delays in its FSP business within Clinical Solutions, along with the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations. The Company updated its full year 2022 guidance for GAAP Net Income, GAAP diluted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS primarily to reflect lower expected revenue and the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The Company's guidance takes into account a number of factors, including existing backlog, current sales pipeline, trends in cancellations and delays, trends in reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, and the Company’s ForwardBound initiative, which includes expansion of the Syneos Operations Network, process optimization, workforce management and automation initiatives. In addition, the guidance presented below represents the Company’s best efforts to estimate economic trends, including inflation, expected interest rates, the impact of COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine on its business. Furthermore, the guidance presented below is based on foreign currency exchange rates as of September 30, 2022, expected interest rates, and the Company's expected non-GAAP effective tax rate of approximately 23.5% for the year ending December 31, 2022. The guidance is based upon the Company's estimated number of weighted average diluted shares outstanding and does not take into account any share repurchases beyond the third quarter of 2022. The Company's full year 2022 guidance is outlined below:

Webcast and Conference Call Details

Syneos Health will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on November 4, 2022, to discuss its third quarter 2022 financial results. The live webcast will be available in listen-only mode in the Events section of the Company's Investor Relations website at investor.syneoshealth.com. To participate in conference, please register in advance at this link. Upon registration, all participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique passcode and registrant ID that can be used to access the call.

A webcast replay will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Syneos Health website at investor.syneoshealth.com after 1:00 p.m. on November 4, 2022.

About Syneos Health

Syneos Health^® (Nasdaq:SYNH) is the only fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization purpose-built to accelerate customer success. We lead with a product development mindset, strategically integrating clinical development, medical affairs and commercial capabilities to address modern market realities.

We bring together more than 29,000 minds, across more than 110 countries, with a deep understanding of patient and physician behaviors and market dynamics. Together we share insights, use the latest technologies and apply advanced business practices to speed our customers’ delivery of important therapies to patients.

Syneos Health supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that cares for colleagues, customers, patients, communities and the environment.

To learn more about how we are Shortening the distance from lab to life^®, visit syneoshealth.com or subscribe to our podcast.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, the war between Russia and Ukraine and other macroeconomic trends on our business, financial results and financial condition, expected interest rates, anticipated financial results for the full year 2022, our sales pipeline, existing backlog and expectations of net awards, including expectations regarding lower net new business awards, delays in backlog conversion, and customer delays in its FSP business within Clinical Solutions, expected non-GAAP tax rate, trends in reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, benefits of recent acquisitions, and plans for capital deployment. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company’s potential failure to generate a large number of new business awards and the risk of delay, termination, reduction in scope, or failure to go to contract of our business awards; the Company’s potential failure to convert backlog to revenue; fluctuations in the Company’s operating results and effective income tax rate; the impact of potentially underpricing the Company’s contracts, overrunning our cost estimates, or failing to receive approval for or experiencing delays with documentation of change orders; cyber-security and other risks associated with the Company’s information systems infrastructure; changes and costs of compliance with regulations related to data privacy; concentration of the Company’s customers or therapeutic areas; the risks associated with doing business internationally, including risks related to the war in Ukraine; challenges by tax authorities of the Company’s intercompany transfer pricing policies; the Company’s potential failure to successfully increase its market share, grow its business, and execute its growth strategies; the Company’s ability to effectively upgrade its information systems; the Company’s failure to perform its services in accordance with contractual requirements, regulatory standards, and ethical considerations; risks related to the management of clinical trials; the need to hire, develop, and retain key personnel; the impact of unfavorable economic conditions, including the uncertain international economic environment, changes in foreign currency exchange rates; effective income tax rate fluctuations; the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property; risks related to the Company’s acquisition strategy, including its ability to realize synergies; the Company’s relationships with customers who are in competition with each other; any failure to realize the full value of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets; risks related to restructuring; the Company’s compliance with anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws; the Company’s dependence on third parties; potential employment liability; impacts from increasing focus on environmental sustainability and social initiatives; the Company’s ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes; downgrades of the Company’s credit ratings; competition in the biopharmaceutical services industry; outsourcing trends and changes in aggregate spending and research and development budgets; the impact of, including changes in, government regulations and healthcare reform; intense competition faced by our customers from lower cost generic products and other competing products; the Company’s ability to keep pace with rapid technological change; the cost of and the Company’s ability to service its substantial indebtedness; other risks related to ownership of the Company’s common stock; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 as updated by the Company’s other SEC filings, copies of which are available free of charge on the Company's website at investor.syneoshealth.com. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Operating Metrics

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income (including adjusted diluted earnings per share), EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP effective income tax rate. We also present revenue growth in constant currency. Constant currency revenue growth is defined as revenues for a given period restated at the comparative period's foreign currency exchange rates measured against the comparative period's revenues. Constant currency segment revenue growth is defined as revenue for a given period restated at the comparative period’s foreign currency exchange rates measured against the comparative period’s revenues.

A “non-GAAP financial measure” is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that excludes or includes amounts from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of operations, balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of the Company.

The Company defines adjusted net income (including adjusted diluted earnings per share) as net income (including diluted earnings per share) excluding acquisition-related amortization; restructuring and other costs; transaction, integration-related and other expenses; share-based compensation expense; gain or loss on extinguishment of debt; other income (expense), net; and the income tax effect of the above adjustments.

EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA, further adjusted to exclude expenses and transactions that the Company believes are not representative of its core operations, namely: restructuring and other costs; transaction, integration-related and other expenses; share-based compensation expense; other income (expense), net; and gain or loss on extinguishment of debt. The Company presents EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA because it believes they are useful metrics for investors as they are commonly used by investors, analysts and debt holders to measure the Company's ability to fund capital expenditures and meet working capital requirements.

Net Leverage represents total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by trailing twelve month Adjusted EBITDA.

Each of the non-GAAP measures noted above are used by management and the Board to evaluate the Company's core operating results because they exclude certain items whose fluctuations from period-to-period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the core operations of the business. Adjusted net income (including adjusted diluted earnings per share) and adjusted EBITDA are used by management and the Board to assess the performance of the Company's business.

Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. Also, other companies might calculate these measures differently. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures included in this press release and the accompanying tables.

We also present certain key operating metrics excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, due to our expectations that reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses as a percentage of revenue will remain lower relative to pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, Clinical Solutions book-to-bill ratio excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, represents Clinical Solutions net new business awards, excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, divided by Clinical Solutions revenue, excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, in each case for the respective period. Commercial Solutions book-to-bill ratio excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, represents Commercial Solutions net new business awards, excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, divided by Commercial Solutions revenue, excluding reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses, in each case for the respective period. Segment operating metrics such as backlog, net new business awards and book-to-bill ratio are not necessarily indicative of future financial results and are subject to change due to cancellations, changes in project scope or delays.

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par value)
(unaudited)

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

1. Represents the amortization of intangible assets associated with acquired backlog, customer relationships, trade names and trademarks, intellectual property, patient communities, and acquired technologies.
   
   
2. Restructuring and other costs consist primarily of severance costs associated with a reduction/optimization of our workforce in line with our expectations of future business operations and termination costs in connection with abandonment and closure of redundant facilities and other lease-related charges.
   
   
3. Represents fees associated with acquisitions, stock repurchases and secondary stock offerings, debt placement and refinancings, and other corporate costs that management believes are not representative of our operating performance, including implementation costs associated with a new enterprise resource planning system and incremental costs resulting from the war in Ukraine.
   
   
4. Represents non-cash share-based compensation expense related to awards granted under equity incentive plans.
   
   
5. Other income, net is comprised primarily of foreign currency exchange gains and losses, other gains and losses related to investments, and contingent consideration related to divested businesses.
   
   
6. Loss on extinguishment of debt is associated with debt prepayments and refinancing activities.
   
   
7. Represents the income tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments made to arrive at adjusted net income using an estimated effective tax rate of approximately 23.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, and 24.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. These rates have been adjusted to exclude tax impacts related to valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets.

Syneos Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP
Full Year 2022 Guidance
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)

1. Amounts are estimates with an estimated range of +/- 5% and are presented gross without the benefit of associated income tax deduction.
2. Income tax expense is calculated and the adjustments are tax-affected at an approximate effective rate of 23.5%, which represents the Company's estimated full year non-GAAP effective tax rate.
3. Guidance for Adjusted Diluted EPS is based on an expectation of a fully diluted weighted average share count for the year ending December 31, 2022 of approximately 103.5 million shares, which will vary by quarter.