ICON reports first quarter 2022 results

• Record net business wins in the quarter of $2,426 million; a net book to bill of 1.28.
• Closing backlog of $19.6 billion, an increase of 2.7% on Q4 2021 or an increase of 9.8% year over year on a Combined Company basis.
• Quarter 1 revenue of $1,902 million representing a year on year increase of 121.6%. On a Combined Company basis, Quarter 1 revenue increased 6.1% year over year and 7.8% on a constant dollar basis.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $340.6 million or 17.9% of revenue, a year on year increase of 124.5%.
• Adjusted net income attributable to the Group was $228.0 million or $2.76 per diluted share.
• GAAP net income attributable to the Group for Quarter 1 of $112.0 million. 
• Days sales outstanding reduced to 35 days from 49 days at March 31, 2021 on a comparable basis.
• $300 million early repayment made on Term Loan B debt.  Net debt balance of $4.58 billion with Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA of 3.3x.  
• $100 million worth of stock repurchased at an average price of $237.76.
• Full year 2022 revenue guidance reaffirmed in the range of $7,770 - $8,050 million, representing a year over year increase of 41.8% to 46.9%. Full year 2022 adjusted earnings per share guidance reaffirmed in the range of $11.55 - $11.95.  Adjusted earnings per share to exclude amortization, stock compensation, foreign exchange and transaction-related / integration-related adjustments.

Dublin, Ireland, April 27, 2022 – ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

CEO Dr. Steve Cutler commented, “ICON had a strong start to the year in the first quarter.  We saw solid demand across customer segments, resulting in another quarter of record net business wins, and a book to bill of 1.28x.  Financial performance was driven by constant currency revenue growth of 8% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 19% year over year on a combined company basis, resulting in an impressive 27% growth in earnings per share from quarter one 2021.  In addition, further progress was made on our debt pay down with a $300 million early repayment on the Term Loan B facility, bringing our Net Debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio down further to 3.3x.”

Dr. Cutler added, “Given the positive demand environment in clinical development and backlog growth realized in quarter one, we are reaffirming our revenue guidance of $7,770 - $8,050 million, and adjusted earnings per share guidance of $11.55 – $11.95 for the full year 2022.” 

Read the consolidated income statements and summary balance sheet data.

First Quarter 2022 Results

Gross business wins in the first quarter were $2,783 million and cancellations were $357 million. This resulted in net business wins of $2,426 million and a book to bill of 1.28.

Revenue for Quarter 1 was $1,901.8 million. This represents a year on year increase of 121.6% or 125.0% on a constant currency basis.

GAAP net income attributable to the Group was $112.0 million. Adjusted net income attributable to the Group for the quarter was $228.0 million resulting in an adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.76 compared to $2.17 per share for Quarter 1 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA for Quarter 1 was $340.6 million or 17.9% of revenue, a year on year increase of 124.5%.    

Cash generated from operating activities for the quarter was $226.9 million. During the quarter, $19.6 million was spent on capital expenditure. At March 31, 2022, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of  $559.1 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $752.2 million at December 31, 2021 and $942.5 million at March 31, 2021. During the quarter, a $300 million Term Loan B payment was made resulting in a net indebtedness balance of $4.58 billion at year end.  Additionally, during the quarter $100 million worth of stock repurchased at an average price of $237.76.

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 adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income attributable to the Group and adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to the Group. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share exclude amortization, stock compensation, foreign exchange gains and losses and transaction-related / integration-related adjustments.  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.

To assist investors and analysts with year-over-year comparability for the merged business, we have included Combined Company information. These measures include financial information that combines the stand-alone ICON plc and PRA Health Sciences, Inc. information for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, and other metrics as if the merger had taken place on January 1, 2020, with conforming adjustments to the current year presentation. Specifically, these financials represent the simple addition of the historical adjusted financials of each company. These combined financials are not intended to represent pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or Regulation S-X.

ICON will hold a conference call tomorrow, April 28th, 2022 at 08:00 EDT [13:00 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, F-3 and certain other reports, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.

Our full-year 2022 guidance measures (other than revenue) are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because the company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Such items include, but are not limited to, transaction-related / integration-related expenses, restructuring and related expenses, and other items not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.

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 39,300 employees in 138 locations in 53 countries as at March 31, 2022. For further information about ICON, visit: www.iconplc.com.

Source: ICON plc

Contact: Investor Relations +1888 381 7923 or

Brendan Brennan Chief Financial Officer +353 1 291 2000

Kate Haven Vice President Investor Relations +1888 381 7923

All at ICON.