Express Scripts Holding Company (ESRX) posted mixed fourth quarter earnings results and offered a tepid outlook for the current period.

Written by StockNews.com

The St. Louis-based pharmacy benefits manager reported adjusted Q4 EPS $1.88, which was $0.01 better than the Wall Street consensus estimate of $1.87. Revenues fell 5% from last year to $24.86 billion, however, missing analysts’ view of $26.29 billion.

Looking ahead, ESRX forecast weaker than expected first quarter earnings. The company sees adjusted Q1 EPS of $1.30 to $1.34, which would miss the current Wall Street estimate of $1.35.

For the full year 2017, Express Scripts maintained its prior guidance for adjusted EPS ranging between $6.82 and $7.02, which straddles the analyst consensus view of $6.95.

The company commented via press release:

“We delivered another year of successful performance, not only through financial results, but by providing innovative solutions to help our patients and clients drive healthier outcomes and lower drug trends,” said Tim Wentworth, CEO and President. “In a year when the focus on drug pricing has never been greater, Express Scripts has held the 2016 growth rate in drug unit costs to 2.5% and lowered the patients’ share of total drug costs per prescription. The fundamentals of our business remain strong as our clinical focus and unwavering alignment with clients enables us to lead the industry in developing innovative value-based solutions that our country needs.”

...Year-to-date, ESRX has gained 1.22%, versus a 4.53% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

ESRX currently has a StockNews.com POWR Rating of C (Neutral), and is ranked #35 of 65 stocks in the Medical – Services category.