Exhibit 99.1
LCA-Vision Reports Revenues Grew 59% in 2005’s First Quarter
Same-Store Revenue Growth Increases 47%
Company Raises Full-Year 2005 Earnings Guidance to $1.15 — $1.20
Cincinnati, April 27, 2005 — LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq: LCAV), a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlusbrand, announced today first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2005.
First Quarter 2005 Highlights
• | Revenues grew 59% to approximately $50.2 million from approximately $31.7 million in last year’s first quarter, marking the 7th consecutive quarter of revenue growth exceeding 50%. |
• | Same-store revenues grew 47% at vision centers open at least 12 months. Over the past seven quarters, same-store revenue growth has averaged over 40%. |
• | A record 37,578 procedures were performed during the quarter, a 55% increase from 24,270 procedures performed in last year’s first quarter. |
Net Income & Earnings Per Share
Net income was approximately $9.3 million and earnings per diluted share were $0.44 in 2005’s first quarter, compared with net income of approximately $12.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.62 in 2004’s first quarter. Included in 2004’s first quarter financial results is an income tax benefit of approximately $8.6 million related to federal and state net operating loss carryforwards generated in prior years. Excluding the income tax benefit, 2004 first quarter earnings per diluted share were $0.20. The company believes that excluding the income tax benefit is a meaningful disclosure as it allows for year-over-year comparisons of financial results on a consistent basis.
Revenue Growth Driven by Continued Strong Demand for Procedures
Revenues grew 59% to approximately $50.2 million in 2005’s first quarter from approximately $31.7 million in 2004’s first quarter. Procedure volume increased 55% in 2005’s first quarter to 37,578 from 24,270 procedures performed in 2004’s first quarter. Revenues per procedure increased 2% to $1,336 in the first quarter of 2005 from $1,304 in the first quarter of 2004. Operating income increased 127% to approximately $15.3 million in 2005’s first quarter from approximately $6.8 million in 2004’s first quarter, and the operating margin was 30.6% compared with 21.4%.
Balance Sheet Positioned to Support Long-Term Growth
Cash provided by operations in 2005’s first quarter grew to approximately $15.9 million as of March 31, 2005 from approximately $6.9 million as of March 31, 2004. Cash and cash equivalents increased to approximately $100.1 million as of March 31, 2005, from approximately $86.6 million as of December 31, 2004, and approximately $72.1 million as of March 31, 2004.
Stephen N. Joffe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LCA-Vision commented, “We are pleased to report solid first quarter earnings. Our impressive results are a testimony to our strong business model, the health of our operations, and the favorable growth trends in the laser vision correction industry. We reported across-the-board gains in the key financial and operational metrics we track. Revenues and procedure volume reached record levels during the quarter, and excluding the income tax benefit recorded in last year’s first quarter, earnings per diluted share increased nearly 120%.”
“We expect to realize strong revenue growth throughout 2005 as we continue to gain market share in existing markets and expand the LasikPlusbrand into new markets. During the quarter, we opened a LasikPlusvision center in Sacramento, and plans are underway to open additional vision centers throughout the year as we continue to expand the LasikPlusfootprint.”
“As a result of our strong first quarter earnings and the continued strong demand for laser vision correction procedures, we are again increasing our earnings guidance for the full-year of 2005. We now
project earnings to be in the range of $1.15 to $1.20 per diluted share, up from prior guidance of $1.00 to $1.05.”
Conference Call & Webcast
A conference call and webcast to discuss the contents of this news release will be held today, Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). To access the call, dial 866-322-1352 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-758-1564 (international callers). To access the replay, dial 800-642-1687 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-645-9291 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 538 06 59. To access the webcast, go to the “Investors” section of LCA-Vision’s website athttp://www.lca-vision.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of LCA-Vision that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including statements regarding our belief that revenues and earnings will exhibit healthy year-over-year growth for fiscal 2005, among others, are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, including, without limitation, those concerning global and local economic, political and sociological conditions; market acceptance of our services; the successful execution of marketing strategies; competition in the laser vision correction industry; an inability to attract new patients; the possibility of long-term side effects and adverse publicity regarding laser vision correction; adverse financial consequences in connection with the expensing of stock options or other equity-based compensation; regulatory action against us or others in the laser vision correction industry; and the relatively high fixed cost structure of our business. For a further discussion of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we assume no obligation to update the information included in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances, or otherwise.
About LCA-Vision Inc./LasikPlus
LCA-Vision Inc. is a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand. As of March 31, 2005, we owned and operated 41 LasikPlusfixed-site laser vision correction centers in the United States and a joint venture in Canada. LCA-Vision is one of the only publicly traded companies within the United States that focuses exclusively on laser vision correction services. We have performed over 450,000 laser vision correction procedures in our vision centers in the United States and Canada since 1991. LasikPluslaser vision correction centers are staffed with skilled ophthalmologists and optometrists and other healthcare professionals. Advanced diagnostic equipment and multiple laser brands are used to help correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. LasikPluslaser vision correction centers are generally located in major cities throughout the United States. Additional information is available at our corporate websites:
www.lca-vision.com andwww.lasikplus.com.It’s Not Just LASIK. It’s LasikPlus!
For Additional Information
Patricia Forsythe
V.P. Investor Relations
513-792-5629
pforsythe@lca.com
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Revenues — Laser refractive surgery | $ | 50,190 | $ | 31,650 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses | ||||||||
Medical professional and license fees | 9,520 | 6,465 | ||||||
Direct costs of services | 13,347 | 9,630 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses | 3,453 | 2,289 | ||||||
Marketing and advertising | 6,772 | 4,789 | ||||||
Depreciation | 1,750 | 1,716 | ||||||
Operating income | 15,348 | 6,761 | ||||||
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated businesses | 24 | 72 | ||||||
Minority equity interest | (173 | ) | (124 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | (13 | ) | — | |||||
Interest and dividend income | 530 | 367 | ||||||
Income before taxes on income | 15,716 | 7,076 | ||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 6,405 | (5,653 | ) | |||||
Net income | $ | 9,311 | $ | 12,729 | ||||
Income per common share | ||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.64 | ||||
Diluted | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.62 | ||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.08 | $ | — | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||
Basic | 20,236 | 19,980 | ||||||
Diluted | 21,200 | 20,627 |
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 100,140 | $ | 86,588 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,473 and $2,260 | 9,257 | 8,662 | ||||||
Receivables from vendors | 1,520 | 1,077 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 1,601 | 2,420 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets | 2,524 | 6,015 | ||||||
Total current assets | 115,042 | 104,762 | ||||||
Property and equipment | 51,921 | 50,374 | ||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (33,480 | ) | (31,743 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net | 18,441 | 18,631 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $710 and $605 | 1,393 | 1,171 | ||||||
Goodwill | 275 | 275 | ||||||
Deferred compensation plan assets | 1,347 | 1,187 | ||||||
Investment in unconsolidated businesses | 96 | 168 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets | 2,371 | 2,593 | ||||||
Other assets | 770 | 790 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 139,735 | $ | 129,577 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment | ||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 2,412 | $ | 4,964 | ||||
Accrued liabilities and other | 10,714 | 7,574 | ||||||
Debt maturing in one year | 714 | 542 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 13,840 | 13,080 | ||||||
Capital lease obligations | 321 | 376 | ||||||
Deferred compensation liability | 1,478 | 1,215 | ||||||
Insurance reserve | 3,262 | 2,568 | ||||||
Minority equity interest | 674 | 501 | ||||||
Stockholders’ investment | ||||||||
Common stock ($0.001 par value; 23,843,228 and 23,767,353 shares and | ||||||||
20,292,434 and 20,216,559 shares issued and outstanding, respectively) | 24 | 24 | ||||||
Contributed capital | 135,371 | 134,708 | ||||||
Common stock in treasury, at cost (3,550,794 shares and 3,550,794 shares) | (15,462 | ) | (15,462 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (42 | ) | (7,732 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 269 | 299 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ investment | 120,160 | 111,837 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment | $ | 139,735 | $ | 129,577 | ||||
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(Dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Cash flow from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 9,311 | $ | 12,729 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation | 1,750 | 1,716 | ||||||
Provision for loss on doubtful accounts | 318 | 288 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | 3,713 | (5,900 | ) | |||||
Deferred compensation | 264 | 140 | ||||||
Insurance reserve | 694 | 279 | ||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | (24 | ) | (72 | ) | ||||
Changes in working capital: | ||||||||
Accounts receivable | (1,135 | ) | (2,098 | ) | ||||
Receivables from vendors | (443 | ) | 89 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 819 | (432 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable | (2,552 | ) | (1,124 | ) | ||||
Accrued liabilities and other | 3,139 | 1,312 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operations | 15,854 | 6,927 | ||||||
Cash flow from investing activities: | ||||||||
Purchase of property and equipment | (1,354 | ) | (646 | ) | ||||
Deferred compensation plan | (161 | ) | (137 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 176 | 118 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (1,339 | ) | (665 | ) | ||||
Cash flow from financing activities: | ||||||||
Principal payments of long-term notes, debt and capital lease obligations | (100 | ) | — | |||||
Dividends paid to stockholders | (1,621 | ) | — | |||||
Exercise of stock options | 663 | 836 | ||||||
Distribution from minority equity investees | 95 | 50 | ||||||
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities | (963 | ) | 886 | |||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 13,552 | 7,148 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 86,588 | 64,908 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 100,140 | $ | 72,056 | ||||