WILMINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) today reported its results for the second quarter of 2021. For the quarter, revenue was $914.6 million, an increase of 34.0% from $682.6 million in the second quarter of 2020.
Acquisitions contributed 6.0% to consolidated second-quarter revenue growth. The impact of foreign currency translation benefited reported revenue growth by 3.9%. Excluding the effect of these items, organic revenue growth was 24.1%, driven by contributions from all three business segments. The comparison to last year’s COVID-19-related impact increased the reported and organic revenue growth rates in the second quarter of 2021 by 8.6% and 8.0%, respectively, with the greatest impact in the Research Models and Services segment.
On a GAAP basis, second-quarter net income attributable to common shareholders was $88.4 million, an increase of 31.2% from net income of $67.4 million for the same period in 2020. Second-quarter diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $1.72, an increase of 28.4% from $1.34 for the second quarter of 2020. The GAAP net income and earnings per share increases were primarily driven by higher revenue and operating margin improvement, partially offset by higher acquisition-related costs and a higher tax rate. In addition, the gain from the Company’s venture capital and other strategic investments totaled $0.14 per share in the second quarter of 2021, compared to a gain of $0.38 per share for the same period in 2020. The Company’s venture capital and other strategic investment performance has been excluded from non-GAAP results.
On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $133.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 68.1% from $79.6 million for the same period in 2020. Second‑quarter diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis were $2.61, an increase of 65.2% from $1.58 per share for the second quarter of 2020. The non-GAAP net income and earnings per share increases were primarily driven by higher revenue and operating margin improvement.
James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The strength of our leading, non-clinical contract research and manufacturing portfolio was clearly demonstrated in our second-quarter financial performance. Robust industry fundamentals continue to drive unprecedented client demand across most of our businesses, and we are extremely well positioned to succeed in this environment.”
“Due to the sustained demand, we are intensely focused on the execution of our strategy, including strengthening our portfolio and strategically adding staff and capacity to support our clients and provide exceptional service to them. We believe the success of this strategy will enable us to achieve our increased 2021 financial guidance, as well as our longer-term strategic and financial goals,” Mr. Foster concluded.
Second-Quarter Segment Results
Research Models and Services (RMS)
Revenue for the RMS segment was $176.7 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 51.6% from $116.5 million in the second quarter of 2020. The impact of foreign currency translation contributed 5.2%, and the acquisition of Cellero contributed 1.9% to second-quarter RMS revenue. Organic revenue growth of 44.5% was primarily driven by the year-over-year comparison to the COVID-19-related revenue impact in 2020, which contributed 35.0% on a reported basis and 33.4% on an organic basis to RMS revenue growth. Adjusted for the COVID-19 impact, RMS revenue growth was driven by robust demand for research models across all client segments and geographic regions, particularly in China, as well as higher revenue for research model services.
In the second quarter of 2021, the RMS segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 24.1% from 3.3% in the second quarter of 2020, and on a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin increased to 27.4% from 9.1%. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin increases were driven primarily by operating leverage from higher sales volume of research models, due in part to the favorable comparison to last year’s COVID-19 impact.
Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA)
Revenue for the DSA segment was $540.1 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 22.0% from $442.6 million in the second quarter of 2020. The impact of foreign currency translation contributed 3.0%, and the acquisitions of Distributed Bio and Retrogenix contributed 0.9% to DSA revenue growth. Organic revenue growth of 18.1% was driven by strong demand in both the Discovery Services and Safety Assessment businesses from biotechnology and global biopharmaceutical clients, as well as a small benefit from the comparison to last year’s COVID-19 impact.
In the second quarter of 2021, the DSA segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 19.4% from 16.3% in the second quarter of 2020, and on a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin increased to 23.5% from 23.2%. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin increases were driven primarily by operating leverage from higher revenue in both the Discovery Services and Safety Assessment businesses, partially offset by foreign currency translation. The impact of foreign currency translation reduced the DSA operating margin by approximately 150 basis points in the second quarter of 2021.
Manufacturing Solutions (Manufacturing)
Revenue for the Manufacturing segment was $197.8 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 60.2% from $123.5 million in the second quarter of 2020. The impact of foreign currency translation contributed 5.4%, and the acquisition of Cognate BioServices (Cognate) contributed 28.2% to second-quarter Manufacturing revenue. Organic revenue growth of 26.6%, was driven primarily by robust demand in the Biologics Testing Solutions and Microbial Solutions businesses.
In the second quarter of 2021, the Manufacturing segment’s GAAP operating margin decreased to 28.7% from 34.8% in the second quarter of 2020, and on a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin decreased to 33.2% from 37.4%. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin decreases were driven primarily by the addition of Cognate, as well as higher production costs in the Microbial Solutions business. In addition, the GAAP operating margin declined due to higher amortization costs associated with Cognate.
Increases 2021 Guidance
The Company is increasing its 2021 financial guidance, which was previously provided on May 4, 2021, primarily as a result of the stronger-than-expected second-quarter financial performance and an expectation that robust client demand trends will continue for the remainder of the year.
The Company’s increased guidance for revenue growth, earnings per share, and free cash flow is as follows:
|
2021 GUIDANCE |
CURRENT |
PRIOR |
|
Revenue growth, reported |
20.5% – 22.5% |
19% – 21% |
|
Less: Contribution from acquisitions (1) |
~(5.0%) |
(4.5%) – (5.0%) |
|
Unfavorable/(favorable) impact of foreign exchange |
~(2.5%) |
~(2.5%) |
|
Revenue growth, organic (2) |
13% – 15% |
12% – 14% |
|
GAAP EPS estimate |
$6.55 – $6.80 |
$5.95 – $6.20 |
|
Acquisition-related amortization (3) |
$1.90 – $2.00 |
$2.15 – $2.40 |
|
Acquisition and integration-related adjustments (4) |
$0.70 – $0.80 |
$0.75 – $0.80 |
|
Other items (5) |
$0.70 – $0.75 |
~$0.55 |
|
Venture capital and other strategic investment losses/(gains), net (6) |
$0.10 |
$0.25 |
|
Non-GAAP EPS estimate |
$10.10 – $10.35 |
$9.75 – $10.00 |
|
Free cash flow (7) |
~$500 million |
~$435 million |
Footnotes to Guidance Table:
(1) The contribution from acquisitions reflects only those acquisitions that have been completed.
(2) Organic revenue growth is defined as reported revenue growth adjusted for acquisitions and foreign currency translation.
(3) Acquisition-related amortization includes an estimate of $0.05-$0.10 for the impact of the Vigene acquisition because the preliminary purchase price allocation has not been completed.
(4) These adjustments are related to the evaluation and integration of acquisitions, and primarily include transaction, advisory, and certain third-party integration costs, as well as certain costs associated with acquisition-related efficiency initiatives.
(5) These items primarily relate to charges of a) approximately $0.30 associated with U.S. and international tax legislation, and b) approximately $0.40 associated with debt extinguishment costs and the write-off of deferred financing costs related to debt refinancing.
(6) Venture capital and other strategic investment performance only includes recognized gains or losses. The Company does not forecast the future performance of these investments.
(7) Reconciliation of the current 2021 free cash flow guidance is as follows: Cash flow from operating activities of approximately $720 million, less capital expenditures of approximately $220 million, equates to free cash flow of approximately $500 million.
About Charles River
Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Our dedicated employees are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, early-stage development and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.
