Medco Delivers Record Third-Quarter 2009 GAAP Diluted EPS of $0.69; Diluted EPS Excluding Amortization of Intangible Asset...( Selling general and administrative (S...),Health

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses of $369 million increased $21.8 million over third-quarter 2008, reflecting higher performance-related compensation expense for 2009 and increased depreciation expense associated with investments across the business.

Earnings Before Interest Income/Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) reached a record $719.3 million, an increase of 16.7 percent, or $103.1 million, over the same quarter last year. EBITDA per adjusted prescription increased to a record $3.27 from $3.19 in the third quarter of 2008. (Please refer to Table 6 for a reconciliation of EBITDA to reported net income.)

Total interest and other (income) expense, net, of $39.9 million in third-quarter 2009 decreased by 31.4 percent, or $18.3 million, compared to the same period in 2008, largely attributable to lower interest rates on debt and higher cash balances.

Income before the provision for income taxes of $552.7 million increased 23.3 percent over third-quarter 2008.

The third-quarter 2009 effective tax rate was 39.3 percent, compared to 34.0 percent in the third quarter of 2008. The third-quarter 2008 effective tax rate included a state income tax benefit that improved the third-quarter 2008 rate by over 5 percentage points.

Record net income of $335.6 million increased 13.5 percent over the same quarter last year.

Medco cash flows from operations for year-to-date September 2009 increased more than three-fold to $2.5 billion from $797 million for the same period in 2008. The company closed the third quarter of 2009 with $2.0 billion of cash on its balance sheet, after paying down $400 million of short-term debt.

"Our GAAP diluted EPS growth of 19.0 percent over third-quarter 2008 is even more impressive considering that the third-quarter 2008 EPS included a $0.05 state income tax benefit," said Richard J. Rubino, Chief Financial Officer.