ICON reports third quarter 2021 financial results

• Record net business wins in the quarter of $2,374 million; a net book to bill of 1.27.
• Closing backlog of $18.6 billion, an increase of 3% on our Combined Company Backlog since the closing of the PRA acquisition on 1 July 2021, or an increase of 14% year over year on a Combined Company basis.
• Quarter 3 adjusted revenue of $1,870.4 million representing a year on year increase of 167%. 
• Adjusted EBITDA of $324.9 million or 17.4% of adjusted revenue, a year on year increase of 143%.
• Adjusted net income attributable to the Group was $209.8 million or $2.55 per diluted share.
• GAAP revenue for Quarter 3 was $1,866.4 million.  GAAP net loss attributable to the Group of $94.3 million. 
• Days sales outstanding reduced to 26 days from 64 days at September 30, 2020 on a comparable basis.
• Full year 2021 revenue guidance issued in the range of $5,430 - $5,530 million, representing a year over year increase of 94% - 98%.
• Full year 2021 adjusted earnings per share guidance issued in the range of $9.55 - $9.75.  Adjusted earnings per share to exclude amortization, stock compensation, foreign exchange and transaction-related / integration-related adjustments.

Dublin, Ireland, November 3rd, 2021 – ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

CEO Dr. Steve Cutler commented, “I’m delighted with new ICON’s strong start as a combined organisation as shown by record new business wins of $2,374 million resulting in a net book to bill of 1.27 and backlog growth over the initial three-month period since closing of 3% to $18.6 billion.  The response to the acquisition by our customers has been excellent and we are already engaging in a number of more strategic discussions which we expect will drive further growth over the long term.  With the strong performance in the third quarter, we are revising our full year 2021 guidance to revenue of $5,430 - $5,530 million, an increase of 96% at the midpoint of the range, and adjusted earnings per share of $9.55 - $9.75”.

Read the consolidated income statements and summary balance sheet data.

Third Quarter 2021 Results

Gross business wins in the third quarter were $2,720 million and cancellations were $346 million. This resulted in net business wins of $2,374 million and a book to bill of 1.27.

GAAP revenue for Quarter 3 was $1,866.4 million.  Adjusted revenue for Quarter 3 was $1,870.4 million. This represents a year on year increase of 167% or 165% on a constant currency basis.

GAAP net loss attributable to the Group was $94.3 million. Adjusted net income attributable to the Group for the quarter was $209.8 million resulting in an adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.55 compared to $1.92 per share for Quarter 3 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA for Quarter 3 was $324.9 million or 17.4% of revenue, a year on year increase of 143%.     

Cash generated from operating activities for the quarter was $299.0 million. During the quarter, $24.4 million was spent on capital expenditure. At September 30, 2021 the Group had cash and cash equivalents of $1,008.5 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $1,055.5 million at June 30, 2021 and $708.0 million at the end of September 2020.

Year to date 2021 Results

Gross business wins year to date were $5,330 million and cancellations were $750 million. This resulted in net business wins of $4,580 million and a book to bill of 1.27.

Year to date GAAP revenue was $3,595.7 million.  Year to date adjusted revenue was $3,599.7 million. This represents a year on year increase of 76.7% or 76.1% on a constant currency basis.

GAAP net income attributable to the Group year to date was $76.7 million. Adjusted net income attributable to the Group was $448.4 million resulting in an adjusted diluted earnings per share of $7.11 compared to $5.26 per share for the equivalent prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA year to date was $637.4 million or 17.7% of revenue, a year on year increase of 74.8%.

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 revenue, 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 Backlog information. This Combined Company information is not intended to represent pro forma financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP or Regulation S-X.

Adjusted earnings per share attributable to the Group (Non-GAAP) has been computed by dividing adjusted net income attributable to the Group by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  For the nine months ended 30 September 2020, 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 derecognised the non-controlling interest effective from March 2020.

ICON will hold a conference call tomorrow, November 4th, 2021 at 09:00 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.

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 37,960 employees in 159 locations in 53 countries as at September 30, 2021. 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.