LapCorp Q3 Earnings Reflect Growth from Increased COVID-19 Testing

10/27/20

By Meredith Dockery, NC Biz News

LabCorp, the clinical testing and laboratory services company, reported a 33 percent increase in third-quarter revenue from a year ago, driven by significant progress in the fight against COVID-19.

For the quarter ending Sept. 30, LabCorp posted adjusted earnings per share of $8.41, topping forecasts of $5.25.

The quarter’s revenue came in at $3.90 billion, up from the $2.39 billion in the third quarter of 2019. Revenue also beat Wall Street’s expectations of $3.63 billion.

“LabCorp remains committed to fighting the pandemic through innovations in testing and clinical trials aimed at discovering treatments and vaccines. This combined with the dedication from our employees, advances our goal of improving health and improving lives. We delivered strong results in the quarter, with growth across both our Diagnostics and Drug Development businesses,” LabCorp CEO Adam Schechter said in the release.

The company plans to return all money from the CARES Act Provider Relief Funds as a result of improved current and expected future performance it announced in the release.

The company also noted that “given the continued unpredictability pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic” and the “wide-range of potential financial outcomes” it could not provide 2020 guidance.

On a call with analysts, Schecter said that the company had done 22 million COVID-19 tests to date, including 19 million PCR tests and 3 million antibody tests. The CEO added that the company now averages 120,000 PCR tests per day, with average results in one day. The company can expand capacity if needed, according to Schecter.

Shares of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH) rose 2.43 percent, or $4.90, trading near $206.86 Tuesday morning.

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