Charles River Laboratories Announces Second-Quarter 2022 Results

WILMINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) today reported its results for the second quarter of 2022. For the quarter, revenue was $973.1 million, an increase of 6.4% from $914.6 million in the second quarter of 2021.

Acquisitions contributed 2.3% to consolidated second-quarter revenue growth. The divestitures of the Research Models and Services operations in Japan (RMS Japan) and CDMO site in Sweden (CDMO Sweden) in October 2021 reduced reported revenue growth by 2.0%. The impact of foreign currency translation reduced reported revenue growth by 3.4%. Excluding the effect of these items, organic revenue growth of 9.5% was driven primarily by the Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA) and Research Models and Services (RMS) business segments.

On a GAAP basis, second-quarter net income attributable to common shareholders was $109.3 million, an increase of 23.6% from net income of $88.4 million for the same period in 2021. Second-quarter diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $2.13, an increase of 23.8% from $1.72 for the second quarter of 2021. The increases in GAAP net income and earnings per share were primarily driven by higher revenue and acquisition-related adjustments. In addition, GAAP net income and earnings per share included a loss from the Company’s venture capital and other strategic investments of $0.14 per share in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a gain of $0.14 per share for the same period in 2021. 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 $141.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 6.0% from $133.8 million for the same period in 2021. Second‑quarter diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis were $2.77, an increase of 6.1% from $2.61 per share for the second quarter of 2021. The non-GAAP net income and earnings per share increases were driven primarily by higher revenue and operating margin improvement, partially offset by higher interest expense and tax rate.

James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our second-quarter financial results reflect the sustained trends that continue to support our business, particularly our DSA and RMS business segments for which demand continues to be strong and the performance remains consistent with our initial outlook for the year. Safety Assessment continues to benefit from a growing backlog that is well above the prior-year level and solid booking activity, which support the anticipated DSA growth acceleration in the second half of the year.”

“However, these robust trends were offset by headwinds from our CDMO business, as well as unfavorable changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, which have significantly intensified over the past two months. We have revised our financial outlook for 2022 to account for these escalating headwinds, resulting in lower revenue growth and earnings per share guidance for the year,” Mr. Foster concluded.

Second-Quarter Segment Results

Research Models and Services (RMS)

Revenue for the RMS segment was $186.4 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 5.5% from $176.7 million in the second quarter of 2021. Organic revenue growth of 8.5% was primarily driven by research model services, particularly the Insourcing Solutions (IS) and Genetically Engineered Models and Services (GEMS) business. Revenue growth for research models in North America and China also contributed. Revenue in China increased in the second quarter, but was negatively impacted by COVID-related restrictions that affected client order activity.

In the second quarter of 2022, the RMS segment’s GAAP operating margin decreased to 21.2% from 24.1% in the second quarter of 2021, and on a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin decreased to 24.9% from 27.4%. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin decreases were driven primarily by the COVID-related revenue impact in China.

Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA)

Revenue for the DSA segment was $591.9 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 9.6% from $540.1 million in the second quarter of 2021. Organic revenue growth of 12.9% was driven by strong demand and price increases in the Safety Assessment and Discovery Services businesses.

In the second quarter of 2022, the DSA segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 21.8% from 19.4% in the second quarter of 2021, and on a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin increased to 25.3% from 23.5%. 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.

Manufacturing Solutions (Manufacturing)

Revenue for the Manufacturing segment was $194.8 million in the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 1.5% from $197.8 million in the second quarter of 2021. Organic revenue growth of 1.0% reflected higher revenue in the Biologics Testing and Microbial Solutions businesses, which was effectively offset by a revenue decline in the CDMO business.

In the second quarter of 2022, the Manufacturing segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 32.1% from 28.7% in the second quarter of 2021. The GAAP operating margin in the second quarter benefitted from acquisition-related adjustments associated with last year’s Cognate and Vigene CDMO transactions. On a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin decreased to 28.6% from 33.2% in the second quarter of 2021, primarily as a result of the CDMO business.

Reduces 2022 Guidance

The Company is reducing its 2022 financial guidance, due primarily to headwinds associated with the CDMO business, foreign exchange due to the strengthening U.S. dollar, and interest expense due to the rising interest rate environment.

Reported revenue growth guidance is being reduced by 450 basis points to reflect unfavorable movements in foreign currency translation, as well as a lower revenue growth rate in the Manufacturing segment, driven principally by the CDMO business.

Organic revenue growth guidance for 2022 is being reduced by 250 basis points, also driven largely by the CDMO business. The Company continues to expect the organic revenue growth rates for the DSA and RMS segments will be in line with the initial outlooks for the year.

The Company is also reducing GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share guidance primarily to reflect the headwinds from the CDMO business and foreign exchange, as well as higher interest expense. These factors will be partially offset by discretionary cost controls.

The Company’s updated guidance for revenue growth, earnings per share, and cash flow is as follows:

2022 GUIDANCE

CURRENT

PRIOR

Revenue growth, reported

9.0% – 11.0%

13.5% – 15.5%

Less: Contribution from acquisitions/divestitures, net

~(1.0%)

~(1.0%)

Less: Impact of 53rd week in 2022

~(1.5)%

~(1.5)%

Unfavorable/(favorable) impact of foreign exchange

~3.5%

~1.5%

Revenue growth, organic (1)

10.0% – 12.0%

12.5% – 14.5%

GAAP EPS

$7.90 – $8.15

$8.70 – $8.95

Acquisition-related amortization

~$2.20

$2.15 – $2.25

Acquisition and integration-related adjustments (2)

~$0.25

Venture capital and other strategic investment losses/(gains), net (3)

$0.35

$0.20

Other items (4)

~$0.25

~$0.15

Non-GAAP EPS

$10.70 – $10.95

$11.50 – $11.75

Cash flow from operating activities

~$700 million

~$810 million

Capital expenditures

~$340 million

~$360 million

Free cash flow

~$360 million

~$450 million

Footnotes to Guidance Table:

(1) Organic revenue growth is defined as reported revenue growth adjusted for completed acquisitions and divestitures, the 53rd week in 2022, and foreign currency translation.
(2) These adjustments are related to the evaluation and integration of acquisitions and divestitures, and primarily include transaction, advisory, certain third-party integration costs, and certain costs associated with acquisition-related efficiency initiatives, offset by adjustments related to contingent consideration and certain indirect tax liabilities.
(3) Venture capital and other strategic investment performance only includes recognized gains or losses. The Company does not forecast the future performance of these investments.
(4) These items primarily relate to charges associated with U.S. and international tax legislation that necessitated changes to the Company’s international financing structure; certain third-party legal costs related to (a) environmental litigation related to the Microbial Solutions business and (b) responses to a U.S. government industry-wide supply chain management inquiry applicable to our Safety Assessment business; and severance and other costs related to the Company’s efficiency initiatives.

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.