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Chemed Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue flat, EPS down: Consolidated revenue was $639.3 million, essentially flat with the fourth quarter of 2024. GAAP diluted EPS was $5.48, down 9.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $6.42, down 6.0%. Source
  • Roto-Rooter revenue fell 3.7%: Roto-Rooter revenue was $220.6 million, down 3.7%. VITAS net patient revenue rose 1.9% to $418.8 million, on higher days of care and Medicare rates. Source
  • Admissions up 6.0%: Admissions rose 6.0% to 17,419 and average daily census rose 1.3% to 22,462. Average length of stay was 115.1 days, against 105.5 days a year earlier. Source
  • VITAS margin down 79 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA excluding Medicare Cap was $91.6 million, down 1.7%. The margin on that basis was 21.7%, down 79 basis points. Source
  • Roto-Rooter margin down 477 basis points: Roto-Rooter adjusted EBITDA was $47.5 million, down 21.1%. The margin was 21.5%, and net income excluding discrete items was $33.8 million, down 20.6%. Source
  • Q4 buybacks of $174.6 million: The company repurchased 400,000 shares for $174.6 million at $436.39 per share. Remaining authorization was about $127.3 million, against $301.8 million at September 30. Source
  • First-half expense step-up: Roto-Rooter expects elevated expenses in the first half of 2026 to fund revenue growth and long-term margin improvement projects now underway. Source

“We believe VITAS has successfully mitigated its Florida Medicare Cap issue.”

Chemed Corp., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
VITAS revenue, prior to Medicare Cap Source20265.5% to 6.5%New
VITAS average daily census (ADC) growth Source20263.5% to 4.0%New
VITAS full-year EBITDA margin, prior to Medicare Cap Source202617.5% to 18.0%New
VITAS Medicare Cap billing limitations Sourcecalendar 2026$9.5 millionNew
Roto-Rooter revenue growth Sourcefull year 20263.0% to 3.5%New
Roto-Rooter adjusted EBITDA margin Source202622.5% to 23.0%New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$23.25 to $24.25New
Effective corporate tax rate on adjusted earnings Source202624.5%New
Diluted share count Source202613.9 million sharesNew
Share of consolidated adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA in second half Source202655%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was issued for VITAS and Roto-Rooter, including adjusted diluted EPS. The prior release gave only 2025 EPS guidance. Source
  • New: Management said it believes VITAS has successfully mitigated the Florida Medicare Cap issue, after a $4.6 million Florida accrual in the third quarter. Source
  • New: Roto-Rooter projects elevated expenses in the first half of 2026 for revenue growth and margin improvement projects. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue flat, EPS down: Consolidated revenue was $639.3 million, essentially flat with the fourth quarter of 2024. GAAP diluted EPS was $5.48, down 9.0%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $6.42, down 6.0%. Source
  • Roto-Rooter revenue fell 3.7%: Roto-Rooter revenue was $220.6 million, down 3.7%. VITAS net patient revenue rose 1.9% to $418.8 million, on higher days of care and Medicare rates. Source
  • Full-year 2025 adjusted EPS reported: For full-year 2025 the company reported adjusted diluted EPS of $21.55 and GAAP diluted EPS of $18.34, against $23.13 and $19.89 for 2024. Source

VITAS segment performance

  • Admissions up 6.0%: Admissions rose 6.0% to 17,419 and average daily census rose 1.3% to 22,462. Average length of stay was 115.1 days, against 105.5 days a year earlier. Source
  • Acuity mix cut VITAS growth: Acuity mix shift reduced VITAS revenue growth by 143 basis points. Medicare Cap and other contra revenue changes reduced growth by 20 basis points. Source
  • VITAS margin down 79 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA excluding Medicare Cap was $91.6 million, down 1.7%. The margin on that basis was 21.7%, down 79 basis points. Source
  • No Florida Medicare Cap accrual in quarter: VITAS accrued $2.4 million of Medicare Cap billing limitation, essentially flat year over year. No Florida combined program accrual was recorded, against $4.6 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Provider cushion profile: Of 33 Medicare provider numbers, 22 have a projected full-year cushion of 10% or greater, six sit between 0% and 10%, and five carry a projected limitation. Source

“The 2026 earnings trajectory is weighted towards the second half of the year.”

Chemed Corp., press release

Roto-Rooter segment performance

  • Roto-Rooter margin down 477 basis points: Roto-Rooter adjusted EBITDA was $47.5 million, down 21.1%. The margin was 21.5%, and net income excluding discrete items was $33.8 million, down 20.6%. Source
  • Gross margin and SG&A moved: Gross margin was 49.8% against 51.3% a year earlier. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 10.5% to $63.2 million. Source
  • Commercial revenue up 1.6%: Branch commercial revenue was $55.2 million, up 1.6%. Excavation rose 10.9% and drain cleaning 2.0%, plumbing was flat, and water restoration fell 20.0%. Source
  • Residential revenue down 3.1%: Branch residential revenue was $155.6 million, down 3.1%. Plumbing rose 6.3%, while water restoration fell 10.3% and drain cleaning fell 3.2%. Source
  • Independent contractor revenue declined: Revenue from independent contractors was $16.7 million, down 2.8% from the same period of 2024. Source

VITAS pricing and patient mix

  • Revenue per patient day rose: Average revenue per patient per day was $208.01, 86 basis points above the prior-year period. Routine home care averaged $187.19 and high acuity care $1,153.55. Source
  • High acuity share of days fell: High acuity days were 2.2% of total days of care, down 32 basis points from the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Gross margin excluding Medicare Cap down: VITAS gross margin excluding Medicare Cap was 27.3%, down 150 basis points. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $23.8 million, against $25.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Patient mix impact lags admissions: Management said the financial effect of admitting more potentially longer-stay patients arrives roughly a fiscal quarter after admission. Source

Cash, capital and share buybacks

  • Cash fell, no debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $74.5 million at December 31, 2025, down from $178.4 million a year earlier. The company reported no current or long-term debt. Source
  • Q4 buybacks of $174.6 million: The company repurchased 400,000 shares for $174.6 million at $436.39 per share. Remaining authorization was about $127.3 million, against $301.8 million at September 30. Source
  • Full-year cash flow and uses: For 2025, operating cash flow was $388.3 million, capital expenditures $62.8 million, treasury stock purchases $431.5 million and dividends paid $31.7 million. Source
  • Undrawn credit capacity: About $404.5 million remained undrawn under the Credit Agreement after excluding $45.5 million for letters of credit. Source

2026 timing and Florida mitigation

  • Momentum built through the year: Management said momentum is expected to build sequentially, quarter to quarter, throughout 2026. Source
  • Florida Medicare Cap described as mitigated: Management said it believes VITAS has successfully mitigated its Florida Medicare Cap issue. Source

First-half cost step-up at Roto-Rooter

  • First-half expense step-up: Roto-Rooter expects elevated expenses in the first half of 2026 to fund revenue growth and long-term margin improvement projects now underway. Source
  • First quarter of 2025 was peak: Roto-Rooter’s first quarter of 2025 was its highest revenue and EBITDA margin quarter of that year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average daily census (ADC) Source22,462, up 1.3%
Admissions (patient volumes) Source17,419, up 6.0%
Days of care growth (utilization) Source1.3% increase
High acuity share of total days of care (utilization) Source2.2%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Five VITAS provider numbers have a projected Medicare Cap billing limitation for the 2026 Medicare Cap year. Source
  • Operational: Acuity mix shift reduced VITAS revenue growth by 143 basis points, and high acuity days fell to 2.2% of total days. Source
  • Demand: Water restoration revenue declined in both residential and commercial branches, down 10.3% and 20.0% respectively. Source
  • Financial: Roto-Rooter SG&A rose 10.5%, and elevated first-half 2026 expenses are projected for growth and margin projects. Source
  • Financial: The financial effect of admitting more potentially longer-stay patients comes roughly a fiscal quarter after admission. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third-quarter release reiterated 2025 guidance of $22.00 to $22.30 per share, excluding listed items. The fourth-quarter release reports full-year 2025 adjusted diluted EPS of $21.55.
  • Not stated: Prior guidance assumed no Medicare Cap for the Florida combined program in government fiscal 2026. The fourth-quarter release says management believes the issue is mitigated.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.