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The Ensign Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results; Raises Annual Earnings and Revenue Guidance

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Ensign Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENSG), the parent company of the Ensign(TM) group of companies, which provide post-acute healthcare services and invest in the long-term healthcare industry, primarily in skilled nursing and senior living facilities, announced operating results for the third quarter of 2024, reporting GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.34 and adjusted earnings per share(1) of $1.39, both for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Highlights Include:

Operating Results

“Our local leaders continue to consistently drive outstanding clinical and financial performance and we are happy to report another record quarter,” said Barry Port, Ensign’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are particularly impressed with these results when we’ve added 53 new operations across several markets in our recently acquired bucket. Our model leans heavily on local clusters and existing operations to support our newly acquired operations, and yet these local clusters have shown their strength by simultaneously integrating the new operations into their clusters while achieving outstanding results in existing operations. More specifically, during the quarter we saw same store occupancies grow to 81.7%, a 2.8% increase over the prior year quarter, establishing new high-water mark for same store occupancy, which is especially noteworthy during a quarter where we historically have experienced seasonally softer occupancies. We also saw skilled mix days increase for both our same store and transitioning operations by 3.3% and 14.1%, respectively, over the prior year quarter. The growth was not due to any one relationship or market but instead, the improvement was across all payors. In addition, our managed care census grew by 9.1% and 23.2% for our same store and transitioning operations, respectively, over the prior year quarter, which is a very important and growing part of our business and points to the trust our leaders are continuing to gain by achieving high quality outcomes,” Port added.

“As we look ahead, we couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity we have to unlock the enormous upside we see in our existing portfolio. One of the keys to our success over time has been to have several paths to achieving consistent results that do not depend on new acquisitions. Our local CEOs and COOs are relentlessly working to improve and adapt to the needs of their markets, and in doing so, they continue to pull various levers to increase skilled mix and drive occupancies towards the levels of dozens of our most mature same store operations, many of which are much higher than our same store average. At the same time, and as we demonstrated this quarter, we are prepared for, and will continue to acquire lower occupancy operations at very attractive prices, which provides a significant long-term ramp with years of upside,” Port said.

Port added, “Due to our solid skilled mix and occupancy growth during the quarter, as well as continued strength from our recent acquisitions, we are raising and narrowing our annual 2024 earnings guidance to between $5.46 to $5.52 per diluted share, up from $5.38 to $5.50 per diluted share. The new midpoint of our 2024 earnings guidance represents an increase of more than 15.1% of our 2023 results and is 32.6% higher than our 2022 results. We are also increasing our annual revenue guidance to between $4.25 billion to $4.26 billion, up from our previous guidance of $4.20 billion to $4.22 billion to account for our current quarter growth and acquisitions we anticipate closing by the end of the year. We are excited about finishing out 2024 and look forward to 2025 with confidence that our partners will continue to manage and innovate while balancing the addition of newly acquired operations.”

Speaking to the Company’s growth, Chad Keetch, Ensign’s Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President said, “As we expected, we continued to add to our growing portfolio and are very excited about the twelve new operations, including three real estate assets, we added during the quarter and since, bringing the number of operations acquired during the year to 27. We continue to see a very healthy pipeline of new acquisition opportunities and are making progress on several additions that we expect to close in the fourth quarter and into next year. We remain committed, especially in times when there are lots of opportunities in front of us, to rely on a proven set of deal criteria that ensure we remain disciplined and grow in a healthy way. We have and will continue to grow when we see deals that will be accretive to shareholders in both the near- and long-term. We are also excited to build clusters in new states or in markets where we have significant room to add more density and expect additional growth in some of our newer markets in the next several months.”

Suzanne Snapper, Ensign’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer reported that the Company’s liquidity remains strong with approximately $532.1 million of cash on hand and $572.1 million of available capacity under its line-of-credit. Ms. Snapper also indicated that, “Management’s annual guidance is based on diluted weighted average common shares outstanding of approximately 58.5 million and a 25.0% tax rate. In addition, the guidance assumes, among other things, normalized health insurance costs and management’s current expectations regarding reimbursement rates. It also excludes certain charges that arise outside of the business, acquisition related costs and share-based compensation.”

A discussion of the Company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures is set forth below. A reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBT, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR, adjusted EBITDA and FFO for Standard Bearer, as well as a reconciliation of GAAP earnings per share, net income to adjusted net income and adjusted net earnings per share appear in the financial data portion of this release. More complete information is contained in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, which is expected to be filed with the SEC today and can be viewed on the Company’s website at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Growth and Real Estate Highlights

Mr. Keetch added additional commentary on the Company’s continued acquisition activity. “We were very happy to complete several new acquisitions during the quarter and since across four of our 14 states. We continue to prioritize growth in our established geographies as it allows our clusters to work together with their acute care partners to provide a comprehensive solution to their healthcare needs. In particular, we are very excited to grow in Colorado where we have deep and long-standing relationships with the healthcare community.”

The recent acquisitions include the following leased operations:

Standard Bearer also announced the following real estate acquisitions, all of which are operated by an Ensign-affiliate effective as of the acquisition date:

Ensign’s growing portfolio consists of 323 healthcare operations, 30 of which also include senior living operations, across 14 states. Ensign now owns 122 real estate assets, 92 of which it operates. Keetch noted that Ensign’s overall strategy will continue to include both leasing and acquiring the real estate and that the Company is actively looking for performing and underperforming operations in several states.

The Company continues to provide additional disclosure on Standard Bearer, which is comprised of 117 owned properties. Of these assets, 88 are leased to an Ensign-affiliated operator and 30 are leased to third-party operators. Keetch noted that each of these properties are subject to triple-net, long-term leases and generated rental revenue of $24.4 million for the quarter, of which $20.2 million was derived from Ensign affiliated operations. For the quarter, Ensign reported $14.8 million in FFO.

The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of Ensign common stock. Ms. Snapper noted that the Company’s liquidity remains strong and that the Company plans to continue its long history of paying dividends into the future, noting that in December of 2023, the Company increased the annual dividend for the 21st consecutive year.

Conference Call

A live webcast will be held Friday, October 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time (1:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss Ensign’s third quarter financial results. To listen to the webcast, or to view any financial or statistical information required by SEC Regulation G, please visit the Investors Relations section of Ensign’s website at http://investor.ensigngroup.net. The webcast will be recorded and will be available for replay via the website until 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, November 29, 2024.

About Ensign

The Ensign Group, Inc.’s independent subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 323 healthcare facilities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. As part of its investment strategy, the Company will also acquire, lease and own healthcare real estate to service the post-acute care continuum through acquisition and investment opportunities in healthcare properties. Ensign’s new business venture operating subsidiaries also offer several other post-acute-related services, including mobile x-ray, emergency and non-emergency transportation services, long-term care pharmacy and other consulting services also across several states. Each of these operations is operated by a separate, independent subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. References herein to the consolidated “Company” and “its” assets and activities, as well as the use of the terms “we,” “us,” “its” and similar verbiage, are not meant to imply that The Ensign Group, Inc. has direct operating assets, employees or revenue, or that any of the facilities, the Service Center, Standard Bearer or the captive insurance subsidiary are operated by the same entity. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains, and the related conference call and webcast will include forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs about its business, financial performance, operating results, the industry in which it operates and other future events. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding growth prospects, future operating and financial performance, and acquisition activities. They are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

These risks and uncertainties relate to the Company’s business, its industry and its common stock and include: reduced prices and reimbursement rates for its services; its ability to acquire, develop, manage or improve operations, its ability to manage its increasing borrowing costs as it incurs additional indebtedness to fund the acquisition and development of operations; its ability to access capital on a cost-effective basis to continue to successfully implement its growth strategy; its operating margins and profitability could suffer if it is unable to grow and manage effectively its increasing number of operations; competition from other companies in the acquisition, development and operation of facilities; its ability to defend claims and lawsuits, including professional liability claims alleging that our services resulted in personal injury, and other regulatory-related claims; and the application of existing or proposed government regulations, or the adoption of new laws and regulations, that could limit its business operations, require it to incur significant expenditures or limit its ability to relocate its operations if necessary. Additionally, our business and operations continue to be impacted by the unprecedented nature of the changes in the regulations and environment, as such, we are unable to predict the full extent and duration of the financial impact of these changes on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q and 10-K, for a more complete discussion of the risks and other factors that could affect Ensign’s business, prospects and any forward-looking statements. Except as required by the federal securities laws, Ensign does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changing circumstances or any other reason after the date of this press release.

Contact Information
Investor/Media Relations, The Ensign Group, Inc., (949) 487-9500, ir@ensigngroup.net.

SOURCE: The Ensign Group, Inc.

 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
               
  (In thousands, except per share data)
REVENUE              
Service revenue $ 1,076,092     $ 935,324     $ 3,111,151     $ 2,733,343  
Rental revenue   5,684       5,467       17,082       15,634  
TOTAL REVENUE $ 1,081,776     $ 940,791     $ 3,128,233     $ 2,748,977  
Expense:              
Cost of services   859,992       741,069       2,479,615       2,160,080  
Rent—cost of services   54,792       50,357       159,940       146,754  
General and administrative expense   56,180       51,127       169,532       156,448  
Depreciation and amortization   21,474       18,446       61,619       53,154  
TOTAL EXPENSES $ 992,438     $ 860,999     $ 2,870,706     $ 2,516,436  
Income from operations   89,338       79,792       257,527       232,541  
Other income (expense):              
Interest expense   (2,024 )     (2,024 )     (6,028 )     (6,083 )
Interest income   7,607       5,259       21,151       12,785  
Other income (expense)   3,753       (982 )     7,686       2,237  
Other income, net $ 9,336     $ 2,253     $ 22,809     $ 8,939  
Income before provision for income taxes   98,674       82,045       280,336       241,480  
Provision for income taxes   20,107       18,077       61,628       53,453  
NET INCOME $ 78,567     $ 63,968     $ 218,708     $ 188,027  
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   123       105       422       319  
Net income attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc. $ 78,444     $ 63,863     $ 218,286     $ 187,708  
               
NET INCOME PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ENSIGN GROUP INC.              
Basic $ 1.38     $ 1.14     $ 3.86     $ 3.38  
Diluted $ 1.34     $ 1.11     $ 3.76     $ 3.28  
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING              
Basic   56,776       55,829       56,553       55,582  
Diluted   58,444       57,337       58,125       57,245  
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
 
  September 30, 2024   December 31, 2023
       
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 532,066   $ 509,626
Accounts receivable—less allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,822 and $9,348 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively   554,091     485,039
Investments—current   38,969     17,229
Prepaid income taxes   25,960     3,830
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   45,844     31,206
Total current assets $ 1,196,930   $ 1,046,930
Property and equipment, net   1,217,689     1,090,771
Right-of-use assets   1,904,181     1,756,430
Insurance subsidiary deposits and investments   115,496     92,687
Deferred tax assets   65,193     67,124
Restricted and other assets   45,753     40,205
Intangible assets, net   6,676     6,525
Goodwill   77,241     76,869
TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,629,159   $ 4,177,541
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 90,274   $ 92,811
Accrued wages and related liabilities   353,563     332,568
Lease liabilities—current   93,868     82,526
Accrued self-insurance liabilities—current   57,989     54,664
Other accrued liabilities   169,195     168,228
Current maturities of long-term debt   4,051     3,950
Total current liabilities $ 768,940   $ 734,747
Long-term debt—less current maturities   142,577     145,497
Long-term lease liabilities—less current portion   1,777,566     1,639,326
Accrued self-insurance liabilities—less current portion   126,037     111,246
Other long-term liabilities   63,092     49,408
Total equity   1,750,947     1,497,317
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 4,629,159   $ 4,177,541
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
The following table presents selected data from our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods presented:
 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023  
       
NET CASH PROVIDED BY/(USED IN):  
Operating activities $ 246,730     $ 291,397  
Investing activities   (223,465 )     (137,754 )
Financing activities   (825 )     (2,043 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $ 22,440     $ 151,600  
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period   509,626       316,270  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 532,066     $ 467,870  
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME
 
The following table reconciles GAAP net income to Non-GAAP net income for the periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
Net income attributable to The Ensign Group, Inc. $ 78,444     $ 63,863     $ 218,286     $ 187,708  
Non-GAAP adjustments              
Stock-based compensation expense(a)   9,183       7,237       26,406       22,691  
Litigation(b)   (555 )     2,783       (1,425 )     1,965  
Cost of services – loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries   486       (259 )     2,335       (1,009 )
Cost of services – acquisition related costs(c)   239       150       518       722  
General and administrative – costs incurred related to system implementations   89             2,522       875  
Depreciation and amortization – patient base(d)   236       135       449       182  
Provision for income taxes on Non-GAAP adjustments(e)   (6,981 )     (4,946 )     (16,157 )     (13,274 )
Non-GAAP Net Income $ 81,141     $ 68,963     $ 232,934     $ 199,860  
               
Average number of diluted shares outstanding   58,444       57,337       58,125       57,245  
               
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 1.34     $ 1.11     $ 3.76     $ 3.28  
               
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 1.39     $ 1.20     $ 4.01     $ 3.49  
               
Footnotes:              
(a) Represents stock-based compensation expense incurred.        
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
Cost of services $ 6,007     $ 5,053     $ 17,326     $ 15,271  
General and administrative   3,176       2,184       9,080       7,420  
Total Non-GAAP adjustment $ 9,183     $ 7,237     $ 26,406     $ 22,691  
               
(b) Represents specific proceedings and adjustments arising outside of the ordinary course of business.
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
Cost of services $     $     $ (1,634 )   $ (818 )
General and administrative   (555 )     2,783       209       2,783  
Total Non-GAAP adjustment $ (555 )   $ 2,783     $ (1,425 )   $ 1,965  
               
(c) Represents costs incurred to acquire operations that are not capitalizable.
(d) Represents amortization expenses related to patient base intangible assets at newly acquired skilled nursing and senior living facilities.
(e) Represents an adjustment to the provision for income tax to our historical year to date effective tax rate of 25.0%.
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands)
 
The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR for the periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:              
Net income $ 78,567     $ 63,968     $ 218,708     $ 188,027  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   123       105       422       319  
Interest income   7,607       5,259       21,151       12,785  
Add: Provision for income taxes   20,107       18,077       61,628       53,453  
Depreciation and amortization   21,474       18,446       61,619       53,154  
Interest expense   2,024       2,024       6,028       6,083  
EBITDA $ 114,442     $ 97,151     $ 326,410     $ 287,613  
Adjustments to EBITDA:              
Stock-based compensation expense   9,183       7,237       26,406       22,691  
Litigation(a)   (555 )     2,783       (1,425 )     1,965  
Loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries   486       (259 )     2,335       (1,009 )
Acquisition related costs(b)   239       150       518       722  
Costs incurred related to system implementations   89             2,522       875  
ADJUSTED EBITDA $ 123,884     $ 107,062     $ 356,766     $ 312,857  
Rent—cost of services   54,792       50,357       159,940       146,754  
ADJUSTED EBITDAR $ 178,676         $ 516,706      
               
(a) Litigation relates to specific proceedings and adjustments arising outside of the ordinary course of business.
(b) Costs incurred to acquire operations that are not capitalizable.
The table below reconciles income before provision for income taxes to Adjusted EBT for the periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024       2023       2024       2023  
               
Consolidated statements of income data: (In thousands)
Income before provision for income taxes $ 98,674     $ 82,045     $ 280,336     $ 241,480  
Stock-based compensation expense   9,183       7,237       26,406       22,691  
Litigation(a)   (555 )     2,783       (1,425 )     1,965  
Loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries   486       (259 )     2,335       (1,009 )
Acquisition related costs(b)   239       150       518       722  
Costs incurred related to system implementations   89             2,522       875  
Depreciation and amortization – patient base(c)   236       135       449       182  
ADJUSTED EBT $ 108,352     $ 92,091     $ 311,141     $ 266,906  
 
(a) Litigation relates to specific proceedings and adjustments arising outside of the ordinary course of business.
(b) Costs incurred to acquire operations that are not capitalizable.
(c) Included in depreciation and amortization are amortization expenses related to patient base intangible assets at newly acquired skilled nursing and senior living facilities.
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED SELECT PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
 
The following tables summarize our selected performance indicators for our skilled services segment along with other statistics, for each of the dates or periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
TOTAL FACILITY RESULTS: (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 1,033,113     $ 902,967     $ 130,146     14.4 %
Number of facilities at period end   282       258       24     9.3 %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   29       26       3     11.5 %
Actual patient days   2,407,709       2,190,540       217,169     9.9 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   80.9 %     78.9 %     2.0 %   2.5 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   29.7 %     29.1 %     0.6 %   2.1 %
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   48.5 %     48.4 %     0.1 %   0.2 %
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
SAME FACILITY RESULTS:(2) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 756,424     $ 705,059     $ 51,365     7.3 %
Number of facilities at period end   193       193           %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   25       25           %
Actual patient days   1,743,823       1,696,360       47,463     2.8 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   81.7 %     79.5 %     2.2 %   2.8 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   31.6 %     30.6 %     1.0 %   3.3 %
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   50.2 %     49.6 %     0.6 %   1.2 %
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
TRANSITIONING FACILITY RESULTS:(3) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 127,869     $ 118,904     $ 8,965     7.5 %
Number of facilities at period end   40       40           %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   1       1           %
Actual patient days   337,906       330,468       7,438     2.3 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   76.9 %     73.4 %     3.5 %   4.8 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   21.8 %     19.1 %     2.7 %   14.1 %
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   38.9 %     35.3 %     3.6 %   10.2 %
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
RECENTLY ACQUIRED FACILITY RESULTS:(4) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 148,820     $ 77,978     $ 70,842   NM
Number of facilities at period end   49       24       25   NM
Number of campuses at period end(1)   3             3   NM
Actual patient days   325,980       159,694       166,286   NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   81.3 %     84.3 %   NM   NM
Skilled mix by nursing days   28.0 %     35.3 %   NM   NM
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   47.8 %     57.2 %   NM   NM
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
FACILITY CLOSED RESULTS:(5) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $     $ 1,026     $ (1,026 )   NM
Actual patient days         4,018       (4,018 )   NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   %     82.8 %   NM   NM
                       
(1) Campus represents a facility that offers both skilled nursing and senior living services. Revenue and expenses related to skilled nursing and senior living services have been allocated and recorded in the respective operating segment.
(2) Same Facility results represent all facilities purchased prior to January 1, 2021.
(3) Transitioning Facility results represent all facilities purchased from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
(4) Recently Acquired Facility (Acquisitions) results represent all facilities purchased on or subsequent to January 1, 2023.
(5) Facility Closed results represent one closed operation during 2024 due to the transitioning of an intermediate care facility program to group home setting, which is included in All Other category. The operation revenue was excluded from Same Facilities results for the three months ended September 30, 2023 for comparison purposes.
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
TOTAL FACILITY RESULTS: (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 2,994,000     $ 2,638,090     $ 355,910     13.5 %
Number of facilities at period end   282       258       24     9.3 %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   29       26       3     11.5 %
Actual patient days   6,962,308       6,363,107       599,201     9.4 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   80.4 %     78.3 %     2.1 %   2.7 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   30.2 %     30.7 %   (0.5)%   (1.6)%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   48.8 %     50.6 %   (1.8)%   (3.6)%
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
SAME FACILITY RESULTS:(2) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 2,244,572     $ 2,096,752     $ 147,820     7.0 %
Number of facilities at period end   193       193           %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   25       25           %
Actual patient days   5,157,784       5,000,020       157,764     3.2 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   81.2 %     79.0 %     2.2 %   2.8 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   31.8 %     32.1 %   (0.3)%   (0.9)%
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   50.2 %     51.6 %   (1.4)%   (2.7)%
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
TRANSITIONING FACILITY RESULTS:(3) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 374,989     $ 350,048     $ 24,941     7.1 %
Number of facilities at period end   40       40           %
Number of campuses at period end(1)   1       1           %
Actual patient days   995,438       969,585       25,853     2.7 %
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   75.5 %     72.6 %     2.9 %   4.0 %
Skilled mix by nursing days   21.7 %     20.9 %     0.8 %   3.8 %
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   38.4 %     38.7 %   (0.3)%   (0.8)%
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
RECENTLY ACQUIRED FACILITY RESULTS:(4) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 373,865     $ 188,216     $ 185,649   NM
Number of facilities at period end   49       24       25   NM
Number of campuses at period end(1)   3             3   NM
Actual patient days   807,004       379,708       427,296   NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   82.0 %     85.2 %   NM   NM
Skilled mix by nursing days   30.3 %     38.3 %   NM   NM
Skilled mix by nursing revenue   51.0 %     61.2 %   NM   NM
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023     Change   % Change
               
FACILITY CLOSED RESULTS:(5) (Dollars in thousands)
Skilled services revenue $ 574     $ 3,074     $ (2,500 )   NM
Actual patient days   2,082       13,794       (11,712 )   NM
Occupancy percentage — Operational beds   52.6 %     90.7 %   NM   NM
                       
(1) Campus represents a facility that offers both skilled nursing and senior living services. Revenue and expenses related to skilled nursing and senior living services have been allocated and recorded in the respective operating segment.
(2) Same Facility results represent all facilities purchased prior to January 1, 2021.
(3) Transitioning Facility results represent all facilities purchased from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
(4) Recently Acquired Facility (Acquisitions) results represent all facilities purchased on or subsequent to January 1, 2023.
(5) Facility Closed results represent a closed operation during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 due to the transitioning of an intermediate care facility program to group home setting, which is included in All Other category. The operation revenue was excluded from Same Facilities results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 for comparison purposes.
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
SKILLED NURSING AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE RATES AND
PERCENT OF SKILLED NURSING REVENUE AND DAYS BY PAYOR
(Unaudited)
 
The following tables reflect the change in skilled nursing average daily revenue rates by payor source, excluding services that are not covered by the daily rate(1):
 
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
    2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023
                               
SKILLED NURSING AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE RATES
Medicare $ 751.70   $ 719.45   $ 703.43   $ 682.72   $ 836.11   $ 861.36   $ 761.27   $ 735.66
Managed care   553.94     543.40     525.98     529.60     582.80     626.63     553.85     546.36
Other skilled   631.53     581.59     566.54     484.78     618.15     424.56     625.47     562.61
Total skilled revenue   635.52     612.95     609.64     586.49     724.79     746.45     644.15     622.12
Medicaid   292.95     277.34     272.74     256.72     305.33     297.45     291.49     275.09
Private and other payors   280.39     262.53     240.69     237.31     328.69     348.46     280.84     262.97
Total skilled nursing revenue $ 399.86   $ 378.34   $ 342.49   $ 317.22   $ 425.50   $ 460.15   $ 395.24   $ 374.85
(1) The rates are based on contractually agreed-upon amounts or rates, excluding the estimates of variable consideration under the revenue recognition standard, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606 and state relief funding during the three months ended September 30, 2023.
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
    2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023
                               
SKILLED NURSING AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE RATES
Medicare $ 748.98   $ 713.73   $ 698.74   $ 670.68   $ 846.75   $ 859.42   $ 759.90   $ 724.85
Managed care   550.36     529.39     524.39     518.66     585.08     613.87     550.73     532.41
Other skilled   623.28     592.05     516.66     494.20     610.19     480.91     613.37     576.60
Total skilled revenue   632.93     610.20     599.35     588.55     736.74     751.07     641.47     618.43
Medicaid   295.40     272.75     270.47     248.33     303.66     286.80     292.35     269.05
Private and other payors   280.71     262.31     249.88     237.21     331.04     347.78     281.39     261.99
Total skilled nursing revenue $ 401.33   $ 380.01   $ 339.45   $ 318.15   $ 437.60   $ 469.52   $ 396.61   $ 375.58
(1) The rates are based on contractually agreed-upon amounts or rates, excluding the estimates of variable consideration under the revenue recognition standard, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606 and state relief funding during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

The following tables set forth our percentage of skilled nursing patient revenue and days by payor source for the periods presented:

  Three Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
  2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                               
PERCENTAGE OF SKILLED NURSING REVENUE
Medicare 20.1 %   20.7 %   19.9 %   17.3 %   29.9 %   40.9 %   21.5 %   22.0 %
Managed care 20.7     20.2     14.5     13.1     12.7     12.1     18.8     18.6  
Other skilled 9.4     8.7     4.5     4.9     5.2     4.2     8.2     7.8  
Skilled mix 50.2 %   49.6 %   38.9 %   35.3 %   47.8 %   57.2 %   48.5 %   48.4 %
Private and other payors 7.4     7.9     8.3     9.4     8.4     6.5     7.6     8.0  
Medicaid 42.4     42.5     52.8     55.3     43.8     36.3     43.9     43.6  
TOTAL SKILLED NURSING 100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
  2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                               
PERCENTAGE OF SKILLED NURSING DAYS
Medicare 10.7 %   10.9 %   9.7 %   8.0 %   15.2 %   21.9 %   11.2 %   11.2 %
Managed care 14.9     14.1     9.4     7.8     9.2     8.9     13.4     12.7  
Other skilled 6.0     5.6     2.7     3.3     3.6     4.5     5.1     5.2  
Skilled mix 31.6 %   30.6 %   21.8 %   19.1 %   28.0 %   35.3 %   29.7 %   29.1 %
Private and other payors 10.5     11.5     11.9     12.5     11.0     8.5     10.8     11.5  
Medicaid 57.9     57.9     66.3     68.4     61.0     56.2     59.5     59.4  
TOTAL SKILLED NURSING 100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
  2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                               
PERCENTAGE OF SKILLED NURSING REVENUE
Medicare 20.7 %   22.9 %   19.5 %   21.4 %   33.4 %   43.4 %   22.1 %   24.2 %
Managed care 20.4     20.1     14.2     12.1     13.1     13.4     18.7     18.5  
Other skilled 9.1     8.6     4.7     5.2     4.5     4.4     8.0     7.9  
Skilled mix 50.2 %   51.6 %   38.4 %   38.7 %   51.0 %   61.2 %   48.8 %   50.6 %
Private and other payors 7.2     7.5     8.7     8.8     7.8     6.2     7.5     7.6  
Medicaid 42.6     40.9     52.9     52.5     41.2     32.6     43.7     41.8  
TOTAL SKILLED NURSING 100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  Same Facility   Transitioning   Acquisitions   Total
  2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023     2024     2023  
                               
PERCENTAGE OF SKILLED NURSING DAYS
Medicare 11.1 %   12.2 %   9.5 %   10.2 %   17.2 %   23.7 %   11.6 %   12.6 %
Managed care 14.9     14.4     9.2     7.4     9.8     10.2     13.5     13.1  
Other skilled 5.8     5.5     3.0     3.3     3.3     4.4     5.1     5.0  
Skilled mix 31.8 %   32.1 %   21.7 %   20.9 %   30.3 %   38.3 %   30.2 %   30.7 %
Private and other payors 10.4     11.0     12.0     11.8     10.3     8.3     10.6     10.9  
Medicaid 57.8     56.9     66.3     67.3     59.4     53.4     59.2     58.4  
TOTAL SKILLED NURSING 100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED REVENUE BY PAYOR SOURCE
 
The following tables set forth our service revenue by payor source and as a percentage of total service revenue for the periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023  
  Revenue   % of Revenue   Revenue   % of Revenue
Medicaid(1)(2) $ 425,642   39.6 %   $ 374,838   40.1 %
Medicare   263,594   24.5       237,531   25.4  
Medicaid — skilled   65,907   6.1       62,452   6.6  
Total Medicaid and Medicare $ 755,143   70.2 %   $ 674,821   72.1 %
Managed care   202,528   18.8       170,747   18.3  
Private and other(3)   118,421   11.0       89,756   9.6  
SERVICE REVENUE $ 1,076,092   100.0 %   $ 935,324   100.0 %
(1) Medicaid payor includes revenue for senior living operations.
(2) Medicaid payor includes revenue related to state relief funding during the three months ended September 30, 2023.
(3) Private and other also includes revenue from senior living operations and all revenue generated in other ancillary services.
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2024       2023  
  Revenue   % of Revenue   Revenue   % of Revenue
Medicaid(1) $ 1,227,565   39.5 %   $ 1,074,883   39.3 %
Medicare   788,046   25.3       733,335   26.8  
Medicaid — skilled   192,185   6.2       182,394   6.7  
Total Medicaid and Medicare $ 2,207,796   71.0 %   $ 1,990,612   72.8 %
Managed care   581,654   18.7       488,511   17.9  
Private and other(2)   321,701   10.3       254,220   9.3  
SERVICE REVENUE $ 3,111,151   100.0 %   $ 2,733,343   100.0 %
(1) Medicaid payor includes revenue for senior living operations.
(2) Medicaid payor includes revenue related to state relief funding during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
(3) Private and other also includes revenue from senior living operations and all revenue generated in other ancillary services.
 
THE ENSIGN GROUP, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(In thousands)
 
Skilled Services
 
The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the skilled services reportable segment for the periods presented:
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024     2023       2024     2023  
Statements of Income Data:              
Segment income(a) $ 128,489   $ 117,816     $ 377,483   $ 348,169  
Depreciation and amortization   11,541     9,936       32,988     28,417  
EBITDA $ 140,030   $ 127,752     $ 410,471   $ 376,586  
Adjustments to EBITDA:              
Stock-based compensation expense   5,783     4,879       16,690     14,740  
Litigation(b)             2,100      
Gain on business interruption recoveries       (259 )         (1,009 )
ADJUSTED EBITDA $ 145,813   $ 132,372     $ 429,261   $ 390,317  
               
(a) Segment income reflects profit or loss from operations before provision for income taxes and impairment charges from operations. General and administrative expenses are not allocated to the skilled services segment for purposes of determining segment profit or loss.
(b) Litigation relates to specific proceedings arising outside of the ordinary course of business.

Standard Bearer

The following table sets forth details of operating results for our revenue and earnings, and their respective components, by Standard Bearer for the periods presented:

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    2024     2023     2024     2023
               
Rental revenue generated from third-party tenants $ 4,195   $ 4,004   $ 12,588   $ 11,576
Rental revenue generated from Ensign’s independent subsidiaries   20,234     16,976     57,396     49,035
TOTAL RENTAL REVENUE $ 24,429   $ 20,980   $ 69,984   $ 60,611
Segment income(a)   7,274     7,165     21,892     21,517
Depreciation and amortization   7,484     6,429     21,479     18,528
FFO(b) $ 14,758   $ 13,594   $ 43,371   $ 40,045
               
(a) Segment income reflects profit or loss from operations before provision for income taxes, excluding gain or loss from sale of real estate, insurance recoveries and impairment of long-lived assets. Included in Standard Bearer expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 is the management fee of $1.5 million and $4.2 million, respectively, and interest of $5.5 million and $14.8 million, respectively, from intercompany agreements between Standard Bearer and the Company and its independent subsidiaries, including the Service Center. Included in Standard Bearer expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 is the management fee of $1.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and interest of $3.4 million and $9.1 million, respectively, from intercompany agreements between Standard Bearer and the Company and its independent subsidiaries, including the Service Center.

(b) FFO, in accordance with the definition used by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, means net income attributable to common stockholders, computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP, excluding gains or losses from sale of real estate, insurance recoveries related to real estate and impairment of long-lived assets, while including depreciation and amortization related to real estate to earnings.

Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA consists of net income before (a) interest income, (b) provision for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization and (d) interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA consists of net income before (a) interest income, (b) provision for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization, (d) interest expense, (e) stock-based compensation expense, (f) acquisition related costs, (g) costs incurred related to system implementations, (h) litigation arising outside of the ordinary course of business and (i) loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries. Adjusted EBITDAR consists of net income before (a) interest income, (b) provision for income taxes, (c) depreciation and amortization, (d) interest expense, (e) rent-cost of services, (f) stock-based compensation expense, (g) acquisition related costs, (h) costs incurred related to system implementations, (i) litigation arising outside of the ordinary course of business and (j) loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries. Adjusted EBT consists of net income before (a) provision for income taxes, (b) stock-based compensation expense, (c) acquisition related costs, (d) costs incurred related to system implementations, (e) litigation arising outside of the ordinary course of business, (f) loss on long-lived assets and gain on business interruption recoveries and (g) depreciation and amortization of patient base intangible assets. Funds from Operations (FFO) for our Standard Bearer segment consists of segment income, excluding depreciation and amortization related to real estate, gains or losses from the sale of real estate, insurance recoveries related to real estate and impairment of long-lived assets. The Company believes that the presentation of adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBT and FFO provides important supplemental information to management and investors to evaluate the Company’s operating performance. Adjusted EBITDAR is a financial valuation measure that is not specified in GAAP. This measure is not displayed as a performance measure as it excludes rent expense, which is a normal and recurring operating expense. The Company believes disclosure of adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDAR, adjusted EBT and FFO has substance because the excluded revenues and expenses are infrequent in nature and are variable in nature, or do not represent current revenues or cash expenditures. A material limitation associated with the use of these measures as compared to the GAAP measures of net income and diluted earnings per share is that they may not be comparable with the calculation of net income and diluted earnings per share for other companies in the Company’s industry. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. For further information regarding why the Company believes that this non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company’s periodic filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or under the “Financials” link of the Investor Relations section on Ensign’s website at http://www.ensigngroup.net.


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