Full Press Release Details
QUEST DIAGNOSTICS REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2016 FINANCIAL RESULTS;
PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR FULL YEAR 2017
MADISON, N.J., JANUARY 26, 2017 - Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016.
"We grew revenues, operating income, margins and operating cash flow in the fourth quarter, capping a strong year in which we achieved our commitments and created value for shareholders," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, CEO and President. "We are laser focused on our two point strategy to accelerate growth and continue to drive operational excellence. Revenue growth in the quarter came from expanding relationships with hospital health systems and strength in several of our advanced diagnostic offerings. Our guidance for full year 2017 reflects expectations for continued acceleration of top-line growth and is consistent with the earnings outlook we provided at our Investor Day in November."
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | Change | 2016 | 2015 | Change | ||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Reported: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 1,861 | $ | 1,849 | 0.7 | % | $ | 7,515 | $ | 7,493 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||
| DIS revenues | $ | 1,773 | $ | 1,738 | 2.0 | % | $ | 7,138 | $ | 6,965 | 2.5 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue per requisition | 0.4 | % | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Requisition volume | 1.5 | % | 2.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (a) | $ | 276 | $ | 239 | 15.4 | % | $ | 1,277 | $ | 1,399 | (8.7 | )% | |||||||||
| Operating income as a percentage of net revenues (a) | 14.8 | % | 12.9 | % | 190 bps | 17.0 | % | 18.7 | % | (170) bps | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics (a) | $ | 155 | $ | 188 | (17.5 | )% | $ | 645 | $ | 709 | (9.1 | )% | |||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share (a) | $ | 1.09 | $ | 1.29 | (15.5 | )% | $ | 4.51 | $ | 4.87 | (7.4 | )% | |||||||||
| Cash provided by operations (b) | $ | 304 | $ | 272 | 11.8 | % | $ | 1,069 | $ | 821 | 30.2 | % | |||||||||
| Capital expenditures | $ | 128 | $ | 94 | 35.7 | % | $ | 293 | $ | 263 | 11.5 | % | |||||||||
| Adjusted: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues on an equivalent basis | $ | 1,861 | $ | 1,825 | 1.9 | % | $ | 7,515 | $ | 7,324 | 2.6 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 305 | $ | 288 | 6.1 | % | $ | 1,230 | $ | 1,203 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||
| Operating income as a percentage of net revenues | 16.4 | % | 15.5 | % | 90 bps | 16.4 | % | 16.1 | % | 30 bps | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics | $ | 173 | $ | 157 | 9.6 | % | $ | 682 | $ | 640 | 6.4 | % | |||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share excluding amortization | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.19 | 10.1 | % | $ | 5.15 | $ | 4.77 | 8.0 | % |
Share Repurchase Authority Increase
In the fourth quarter the company's Board of Directors increased by $1 billion the amount available under the company's existing share repurchase program. As of December 31, 2016, $1.4 billion remained available for repurchase under the program.
Outlook for Full Year 2017
The company estimates full year 2017 results as follows:
| Low | High | ||
| Revenues | $7.64 billion | $7.72 billion | |
| Revenue increase on a reported basis | 1.7% | 2.7% | |
| Revenue increase on an equivalent basis (c) | 2% | 3% | |
| Reported diluted EPS | $4.65 | 4.80 | |
| Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization | $5.37 | $5.52 | |
| Cash provided by operations | Approximately $1.1 billion | ||
| Capital expenditures | $250 million | $300 million |
Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
As used in this press release the term "reported" refers to measures under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The term "adjusted" refers to non-GAAP measures as follows: (i) for the purpose of income measures the term "adjusted" refers to operating performance measures that exclude special items such as the gain on sale of the Focus Diagnostics products business, gain on the contribution to the clinical trials joint venture, retirement of debt and related refinancing charges, restructuring and integration charges, recognition of certain income tax benefits and other items; (ii) the term "adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization" represents the company's diluted EPS before the impact of special items and amortization; (iii) reference to "revenues on an equivalent basis" when comparing 2016 results to 2015 represents 2015 reported revenues excluding all clinical trials testing and Celera products revenues and Focus Diagnostics products revenues subsequent to April 2015; and (iv) reference to "revenues on an equivalent basis" when comparing full year 2017 estimates to 2016 represents 2016 reported revenues excluding all Focus Diagnostics products revenues.
Non-GAAP "adjusted" measures are presented because management believes those measures are useful adjuncts to GAAP results. Non-GAAP "adjusted" measures should not be considered as an alternative to the corresponding measures determined under GAAP. Management may use these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts or for incentive compensation purposes. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and analysts to evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, as well as to analyze the underlying trends in our business and to assess our performance. The additional tables attached below include reconciliations of adjusted measures to GAAP measures.
Conference Call Information
Quest Diagnostics will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss financial results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. The conference call can also be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 773-681-5898, passcode 3214469. The company suggests participants dial in approximately 10 minutes before the call. A replay of the call may be accessed online at www.QuestDiagnostics.com/investor or by phone at 866-373-9234 for domestic callers or 203-369-0282 for international callers. Telephone replays will be available from 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on January 26, 2017 until midnight Eastern Time on February 9, 2017. Anyone listening to the call is encouraged to read the company's periodic reports, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion of risk factors and historical results of operations and financial condition in those reports.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 43,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, lawsuits or private actions, the competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers or strategic partners and other factors discussed in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any of the company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including those discussed in the "Business," "Risk Factors," "Cautionary Factors that May Affect Future Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of those reports.
This earnings release, including the attached financial tables, is available online in the Newsroom section at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
ADDITIONAL TABLES FOLLOW
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
(in millions, except per share data)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 1,861 | $ | 1,849 | $ | 7,515 | $ | 7,493 | |||||||
| Operating costs, expenses and other income: | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of services | 1,160 | 1,150 | 4,616 | 4,657 | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 400 | 429 | 1,681 | 1,679 | |||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 18 | 20 | 72 | 81 | |||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of business | - | - | (118 | ) | (334 | ) | |||||||||
| Other operating expense (income), net | 7 | 11 | (13 | ) | 11 | ||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses, net | 1,585 | 1,610 | 6,238 | 6,094 | |||||||||||
| Operating income | 276 | 239 | 1,277 | 1,399 | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (36 | ) | (36 | ) | (143 | ) | (153 | ) | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 2 | 3 | (48 | ) | (143 | ) | |||||||||
| Total non-operating expenses, net | (34 | ) | (33 | ) | (191 | ) | (296 | ) | |||||||
| Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees | 242 | 206 | 1,086 | 1,103 | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense | (84 | ) | (14 | ) | (429 | ) | (373 | ) | |||||||
| Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes | 9 | 8 | 39 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Net income | 167 | 200 | 696 | 753 | |||||||||||
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 12 | 12 | 51 | 44 | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics | $ | 155 | $ | 188 | $ | 645 | $ | 709 | |||||||
| Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.11 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 4.58 | $ | 4.92 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.09 | $ | 1.29 | $ | 4.51 | $ | 4.87 | |||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | 138 | 143 | 140 | 144 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | 141 | 144 | 142 | 145 |
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2016 and 2015
(in millions, except per share data)
| December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 359 | $ | 133 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 926 | 901 | |||||
| Inventories | 82 | 84 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 155 | 207 | |||||
| Assets held for sale | 9 | 176 | |||||
| Total current assets | 1,531 | 1,501 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,029 | 925 | |||||
| Goodwill | 6,000 | 5,905 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 949 | 984 | |||||
| Investment in equity method investees | 443 | 473 | |||||
| Other assets | 148 | 174 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 10,100 | $ | 9,962 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 975 | $ | 1,014 | |||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 6 | 159 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 981 | 1,173 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 3,728 | 3,492 | |||||
| Other liabilities | 654 | 514 | |||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 77 | 70 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity: | |||||||
| Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity: | |||||||
| Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 600 shares authorized at both December 31, 2016 and 2015; 216 shares issued at both December 31, 2016 and 2015 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 2,545 | 2,481 | |||||
| Retained earnings | 6,613 | 6,199 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (72 | ) | (38 | ) | |||
| Treasury stock, at cost; 79 shares and 73 shares at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively | (4,460 | ) | (3,960 | ) | |||
| Total Quest Diagnostics stockholders' equity | 4,628 | 4,684 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 32 | 29 | |||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 4,660 | 4,713 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 10,100 | $ | 9,962 |
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
| Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 696 | $ | 753 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 249 | 304 | |||||
| Provision for doubtful accounts | 308 | 297 | |||||
| Deferred income tax provision | 37 | 112 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 69 | 52 | |||||
| Gain on disposition of business | (118 | ) | (334 | ) | |||
| Other, net | (6 | ) | 6 | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts receivable | (343 | ) | (262 | ) | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 56 | (24 | ) | ||||
| Income taxes payable | 42 | (41 | ) | ||||
| Termination of interest rate swap agreements | 54 | - | |||||
| Other assets and liabilities, net | 25 | (42 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 1,069 | 821 | |||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
| Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (139 | ) | (67 | ) | |||
| Proceeds from sale of businesses | 270 | - | |||||
| Capital expenditures | (293 | ) | (263 | ) | |||
| Investment in equity method investee | - | (33 | ) | ||||
| Decrease in investments and other assets | 10 | 1 | |||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (152 | ) | (362 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | 1,869 | 2,453 | |||||
| Repayments of debt | (1,724 | ) | (2,537 | ) | |||
| Purchases of treasury stock | (590 | ) | (224 | ) | |||
| Exercise of stock options | 73 | 60 | |||||
| Employee payroll tax withholdings on stock issued under stock-based compensation plans | (10 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
| Dividends paid | (223 | ) | (212 | ) | |||
| Distributions to noncontrolling interests | (41 | ) | (42 | ) | |||
| Sale of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary | - | 63 | |||||
| Payment of deferred business acquisition consideration | - | (51 | ) | ||||
| Other financing activities, net | (45 | ) | (21 | ) | |||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (691 | ) | (518 | ) | |||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 226 | (59 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 133 | 192 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 359 | $ | 133 | |||
| Cash paid during the period for: | |||||||
| Interest | $ | 148 | $ | 172 | |||
| Income taxes | $ | 361 | $ | 319 |
Notes to Financial Tables
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders: | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics | $ | 155 | $ | 188 | $ | 645 | $ | 709 | |||||||
| Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities | - | - | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Earnings available to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic and diluted | $ | 155 | $ | 188 | $ | 642 | $ | 706 | |||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic | 138 | 143 | 140 | 144 | |||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive securities: | |||||||||||||||
| Stock options and performance share units | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted | 141 | 144 | 142 | 145 | |||||||||||
| Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.11 | $ | 1.31 | $ | 4.58 | $ | 4.92 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.09 | $ | 1.29 | $ | 4.51 | $ | 4.87 |
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted operating income: | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 276 | $ | 239 | $ | 1,277 | $ | 1,399 | |||||||
| Gain on disposition of business (a) | - | - | (118 | ) | (334 | ) | |||||||||
| Restructuring and integration charges (b) | 23 | 22 | 78 | 105 | |||||||||||
| Other (c) | 6 | 27 | (7 | ) | 33 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 305 | $ | 288 | $ | 1,230 | $ | 1,203 |
| Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues: | |||||||||||
| Operating income as a percentage of net revenues | 14.8 | % | 12.9 | % | 17.0 | % | 18.7 | % | |||
| Gain on disposition of business (a) | - | - | (1.5 | ) | (4.4 | ) | |||||
| Restructuring and integration charges (b) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | |||||||
| Other (c) | 0.4 | 1.4 | (0.1 | ) | 0.4 | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income as a percentage of net revenues | 16.4 | % | 15.5 | % | 16.4 | % | 16.1 | % |
| Adjusted net income: | |||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics | $ | 155 | $ | 188 | $ | 645 | $ | 709 | |||||||
| Gain on disposition of business (a) | - | - | (118 | ) | (334 | ) | |||||||||
| Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges (d) | - | - | 48 | 150 | |||||||||||
| Restructuring and integration charges (b) | 24 | 22 | 82 | 110 | |||||||||||
| Other (c) | 6 | 25 | - | 31 | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) associated with the special items (e) | (12 | ) | (78 | ) | 25 | (26 | ) | ||||||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 173 | $ | 157 | $ | 682 | $ | 640 |
| Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense: | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 1.09 | $ | 1.29 | $ | 4.51 | $ | 4.87 | |||||||
| Gain on disposition of business (a) (e) | - | - | (0.24 | ) | (1.30 | ) | |||||||||
| Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges (d) (e) | - | (0.01 | ) | 0.21 | 0.62 | ||||||||||
| Restructuring and integration charges (b) (e) | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.35 | 0.46 | |||||||||||
| Certain income tax benefits (e) | - | (0.40 | ) | - | (0.40 | ) | |||||||||
| Other (c) (e) | 0.03 | 0.11 | (0.06 | ) | 0.14 | ||||||||||
| Amortization expense (f) | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.38 | 0.38 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense | $ | 1.31 | $ | 1.19 | $ | 5.15 | $ | 4.77 |
| Revenue on an equivalent basis: | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 1,861 | $ | 1,849 | $ | 7,515 | $ | 7,493 | |||||||
| Excluded revenue (g) | - | (24 | ) | - | (169 | ) | |||||||||
| Revenue on an equivalent basis | $ | 1,861 | $ | 1,825 | $ | 7,515 | $ | 7,324 |
31, 2015, represents the gain associated with the contribution of our clinical trials testing business to Q2 Solutions, the clinical trials joint venture with Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc.
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of services | $ | 15 | $ | 12 | $ | 40 | $ | 63 | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 7 | 10 | 37 | 42 | |||||||||||
| Other operating expense, net | 1 | - | 1 | - | |||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 23 | $ | 22 | $ | 78 | $ | 105 | |||||||
| Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes | $ | 1 | $ | - | $ | 4 | $ | 5 |
For the three months ended December 31, 2015, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges and other costs associated with winding down subsidiaries as well as costs incurred related to certain legal matters. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, primarily represents non-cash asset impairment charges and other costs associated with Celera Products and the winding down of another subsidiary as well as costs incurred related to certain legal matters, partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $13 million associated with a decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our Summit Health, Inc. acquisition. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impact of these other items on the company's consolidated statement of operations:
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales | $ | - | $ | 2 | $ | - | $ | 2 | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | - | 14 | 6 | 21 | |||||||||||
| Other operating expense (income), net | 6 | 11 | (13 | ) | 10 | ||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 6 | $ | 27 | $ | (7 | ) | $ | 33 | ||||||
| Other non-operating (income) expense, net | $ | - | $ | (2 | ) | $ | 7 | $ | (2 | ) |
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 6 | |||||||
| Other non-operating expense, net | - | - | 48 | 144 | |||||||||||
| $ | - | $ | - | $ | 48 | $ | 150 |
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of business | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 84 | $ | 145 | |||||||
| Retirement of debt and related refinancing charges | - | (2 | ) | (18 | ) | (60 | ) | ||||||||
| Restructuring and integration charges | (9 | ) | (9 | ) | (32 | ) | (43 | ) | |||||||
| Certain income tax benefits | - | (58 | ) | - | (58 | ) | |||||||||
| Other | (3 | ) | (9 | ) | (9 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||
| $ | (12 | ) | $ | (78 | ) | $ | 25 | $ | (26 | ) |
For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, certain income tax benefits represent the recognition of a deferred income tax benefit associated with winding down a subsidiary.
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | $ | 18 | $ | 20 | $ | 72 | $ | 81 | |||||||
| Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes | 4 | 4 | 16 | 8 | |||||||||||
| $ | 22 | $ | 24 | $ | 88 | $ | 89 |
For the three months ended December 31, 2015, other operating expense (income), net principally includes non-cash asset impairment charges associated with winding down a subsidiary. Other operating expense (income), net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, principally includes non-cash asset impairment charges primarily associated with Celera products and the winding down of another subsidiary, partially offset by a gain of $13 million associated with a decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration accrual associated with our Summit Health, Inc. acquisition.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, net cash provided by operations included $146 million of pre-tax cash charges, or $89 million after the related cash tax benefit, related to the retirement of debt.
before the impact of special items and amortization expense. Further impacts to earnings related to special items may be incurred throughout 2017. The following table reconciles our 2017 outlook for adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense to the corresponding amount determined under GAAP:
| Low | High | ||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 4.65 | $ | 4.80 | |||
| Restructuring and integration charges (a) | 0.35 | 0.35 | |||||
| Amortization expense (b) | 0.37 | 0.37 | |||||
| Adjusted diluted EPS excluding amortization expense | $ | 5.37 | $ | 5.52 |
| Amortization of intangible assets | $ | 69 | ||
| Amortization expense included in equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes | 16 | |||
| Total pre-tax amortization expense | $ | 85 | ||
| Total amortization expense, net of an estimated tax benefit | $ | 53 |
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | September 30, 2016 | December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||
| (dollars in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 1,863 | $ | 1,906 | $ | 1,885 | $ | 1,861 | $ | 7,515 | |||||||||
| Excluded revenue (a) | (18 | ) | (8 | ) | - | - | (26 | ) | |||||||||||
| 2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis | $ | 1,845 | $ | 1,898 | $ | 1,885 | $ | 1,861 | $ | 7,489 | |||||||||
| 2017 Revenue outlook: | Low | High | |||||||||||||||||
| 2016 Revenue on an equivalent basis | $ | 7,489 | $ | 7,489 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 Equivalent revenue growth | 2 | % | 3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 Revenue outlook | $ | 7,640 | $ | 7,720 |