Q1 2026 Addus HomeCare Corp Earnings Call

May 5, 2026

Operator 3: Good morning, welcome to the Addus HomeCare's Q1 2026 earnings call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please note this event is being recorded. I'd now like to turn the conference over to Dru Anderson. Please go ahead.

Operator: Good morning, welcome to the Addus HomeCare's Q1 2026 Earnings Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal the conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star Please note this event is being recorded. I'd now like to turn the conference over to Dru Anderson. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touch-tone phone.

Speaker #2: To withdraw your question, please press star then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I've now liked to turn the conference over to Drew Anderson.

Speaker #2: Please go ahead. Thank you. Good morning and welcome to the Addus Home Care Corporation first quarter 2026 earnings conference call. Today's call is being recorded.

Dru Anderson: Thank you. Good morning, welcome to the Addus HomeCare Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Today's call is being recorded. To the extent any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed in today's call, you will find a reconciliation of that measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated according to GAAP by going to the company's website and reviewing yesterday's news release. This conference call may also contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements, among others, regarding Addus' expected quarterly and annual financial performance for 2026 or beyond. For this purpose, any statements made during this call that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, discussions of forecasts, estimates, targets, plans, beliefs, expectations, and the like are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: To the extent any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed in today's call, you will find a reconciliation of that measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated according to GAAP by going to the company's website and reviewing yesterday's news release.

Speaker #2: This conference call may also contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements, among others, regarding Addus' expected quarterly and annual financial performance for 2026 or beyond.

Speaker #2: For this purpose, any statements made during this call that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, discussions of forecasts, estimates, targets, plans, beliefs, expectations, and the like are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: You are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by important factors, among others, set forth in Addus filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its first quarter 2026 news release.

Dru Anderson: You are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by important factors, among others, set forth in Addus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its Q1 2026 news release. Consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. I would now like to turn the call over to the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dirk Allison. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker #2: Consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Speaker #2: I would now like to turn the call over to the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Dirk Allison. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Drew. Good morning and welcome to our 2026 first quarter earnings call. With me today are Brian Poff, our chief financial officer, and Heather Dixon, our president and chief operating officer.

Dirk Allison: Thank you, Dru Anderson. Good morning, welcome to our Q1 2026 earnings call. With me today are Brian Poff, our Chief Financial Officer, and Heather Dixon, our President and Chief Operating Officer. As we do on each of our quarterly earnings calls, I will begin with a few overall comments, then Brian will discuss the Q1 results in more detail. Following our comments, the three of us would be happy to respond to any questions. As we announced yesterday afternoon, our total revenue for Q1 2026 was $363.6 million, an increase of 7.7% as compared to $337.7 million for Q1 2025.

Speaker #3: As we do on each of our quarterly earnings calls, I will begin with a few overall comments and then Brian will discuss the first quarter results in more detail.

Speaker #3: Following our comments, the three of us would be happy to respond to any questions. As we announced yesterday afternoon, our total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was $363.6 million, an increase of 7.7% as compared to $337.7 million for the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: This revenue growth resulted in an adjusted earnings per share of $1.62 as compared to adjusted earnings per share for the first quarter of '25 of $1.42, an increase of 14.1%.

Dirk Allison: This revenue growth resulted in an adjusted earnings per share of $1.62, as compared to adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2025 of $1.42, an increase of 14.1%. Our adjusted EBITDA was $44.5 million, compared to $40.6 million for Q1 2025, an increase of 9.7%. For Q1 2026, cash flow from operation was $52.4 million, as compared to $18.9 million for the same period in 2025. As of 31 March 2026, we had cash on hand of approximately $103 million.

Speaker #3: Our adjusted EBITDA was $44.5 million compared to $40.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 9.7%. For the first quarter of 2026, cash flow from operation was $52.4 million, as compared to $18.9 million for the same period in 2025.

Speaker #3: As of March 31, 2026, we had cash on hand of approximately $103 million. With our strong cash flow in the first quarter, we reduced our bank debt to $94.3 million, leaving us with a financial flexibility to consider larger acquisitions as we continue to pursue expansion of our market reach and creating geographic density.

Dirk Allison: With our strong cash flow in the first quarter, we've reduced our bank debt to $94.3 million, leaving us with the financial flexibility to consider larger acquisitions as we continue to pursue expansion of our market reach and creating geographic density. During the first quarter, we saw an impact on revenue due to the widespread weather event that occurred towards the end of January. Our team did a good job of rescheduling affected personal care visits where possible. We could not make up for every weather-impacted missed visit. While the amount of the revenue was immaterial to our company overall, we did see a loss of revenue of approximately $1.5 million as a result of these storms. February and March returned to our normalized revenue expectations.

Speaker #3: During the first quarter, we saw an impact on revenue due to the widespread weather event that occurred towards the end of January. Our team did a good job of rescheduling affected personal care visits where possible.

Speaker #3: However, we could not make up for every weather-impacted missed visit. While the amount of the revenue was immaterial to our company overall, we did see a loss of revenue of approximately $1.5 million as a result of these storms.

Speaker #3: However, February and March returned to our normalized revenue expectations. As we announced on May 1, we closed on the acquisition of the personal care operations of Homecourt Home Care, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Dirk Allison: As we announced on 1 May, we closed on the acquisition of the personal care operations of HomeCourt Home Care based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This acquisition marks our entry into an attractive state which is adjacent to our largest personal care market of Illinois. We have been interested in Indiana for some time, as over the past 3 years, they increased rates and worked to eliminate client wait lists. I'm excited to welcome all of our new team members from HomeCourt Home Care. We have also entered into a definitive purchase agreement for an additional personal care operation in Indiana, which will complement HomeCourt Home Care. We anticipate that this additional Indiana acquisition should close in the coming months, subject to customary regulatory approvals. These two acquisitions continue our strategy of entering new markets with scale and where we have the ability to expand our services.

Speaker #3: This acquisition marks our entry into an attractive state which is adjacent to our largest personal care market of Illinois. We have been interested in Indiana for some time as over the past three years, they increased rates and worked to eliminate client waitlists.

Speaker #3: I'm excited to welcome all of our new team members from Homecourt Home Care. We have also entered into a definitive purchase agreement for an additional personal care operation in Indiana, which will complement Homecourt Home Care.

Speaker #3: We anticipate that this additional Indiana acquisition should close in the coming months, subject to customary regulatory approvals. These two acquisitions continue our strategy of entering new markets with scale and where we have the ability to expand our services.

Speaker #3: As we mentioned on our last earnings call, the state of Illinois increased our rates in personal care service effective on January 1st, 2026, adding approximately $17.5 million in annualized revenues.

Dirk Allison: As we mentioned on our last earnings call, the State of Illinois increased our rates in personal care service effective on 1 January 2026, adding approximately $17.5 million in annualized revenues. This most recent rate increase continues to show the important support we are receiving from our state partners as we continue to provide these much-needed services to our elderly and disabled clients. We also understand the New Mexico legislature included increased funding of $10 million for home and community-based services in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We are waiting for communications from the New Mexico Human Services Department regarding how and to which programs the funding will be expended. As we have stated before, we continue to believe that the 80/20 provision of the CMS Medicaid Access Rule will be eliminated in the near future.

Speaker #3: This most recent rate increase continues to show the importance of work we are receiving from our state much-needed services to our elderly and disabled clients.

Speaker #3: We also understand the New Mexico legislature included increased funding of $10 million for home and community-based services in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Speaker #3: We are waiting for communications from the New Mexico Medicaid Department regarding how and to which programs the funding will be expended. As we have stated before, we continue to believe that the 80/20 provision of the CMS Medicaid Access Rule will be eliminated in the near future.

Speaker #3: While implementation is still several years away and has no current impact on our business or financial performance, we believe this outcome would be an encouraging development for both our industry and our company.

Dirk Allison: While implementation is still several years away and has no current impact on our business or financial performance, we believe this outcome would be an encouraging development for both our industry and our company. All our recent communications indicate that this part of the Medicaid Access Rule is expected to be eliminated this year. During Q1 2026, we continued to experience positive hiring trends in our personal care segment. Our number of hires per business day in Q1 2026 was 108, up sequentially from 103 hires per day in Q4 last year and consistent with Q1 2025. We achieved this number in spite of the impact of the weather event I mentioned earlier.

Speaker #3: All our recent communications indicate that this part of the Medicaid Access Rule is expected to be eliminated this year. During the first quarter of 2026, we continued to experience positive hiring trends in our personal care segment.

Speaker #3: Our number of hires for business day in the first quarter of 2026 was 108, up sequentially from 103 hires per day in the fourth quarter of last year and consistent with the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: We achieved this number in spite of the impact of the weather event I mentioned earlier. As we have mentioned in the last few quarters, our clinical hiring remains consistent and has been mostly stable, outside of a few of our urban markets.

Dirk Allison: As we have mentioned in the last few quarters, our clinical hiring remains consistent and has been mostly stable outside of a few of our urban markets. However, even in those markets, we have been able to staff our operations appropriately. Now let me discuss our same-store revenue growth for Q1 2026. For our personal care segment, our same-store revenue growth was 6.5% compared to Q1 2025. During Q1 2026, we saw personal care same-store hours increase by 2.2% compared to the same period in 2025, while our percentage of authorized hours served in Q1 remained consistent with what we experienced in Q4 2025. On a sequential basis, personal care same-store census was down slightly, partially due to the weather we mentioned before.

Speaker #3: However, even in those markets, we have been able to staff our operations appropriately. Now let me discuss our same-store revenue growth for the first quarter of 2026.

Speaker #3: For our personal care segment, our same-store revenue growth was 6.5% compared to the first quarter of 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, we saw personal care same-store hours increase by 2.2% compared to the same period in 2025, while our percentage of authorized hours served in the first quarter remained consistent with what we experienced in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: On a sequential basis, personal care same-store census was down slightly partially due to the weather we mentioned before. However, during the first quarter, we saw growth in clients served in Illinois, our largest market, which is something we had anticipated for a while.

Dirk Allison: However, during Q1, we saw growth in clients served in Illinois, our largest market, which is something we had anticipated for a while. This is important as we look to achieve year-over-year census growth during 2026. Turning to our clinical operations, our hospice same-store revenue increased 7.7% compared to Q1 2025. Our average daily census increased to 3,804 for Q1, up from 3,515 for the same period last year, an increase of 8.2%. For Q1 2026, our hospice medium length of stay was 23 days, as compared to 25 days for Q4 2025 and 19 days for Q1 2025.

Speaker #3: This is important as we look to achieve year-over-year census growth during 2026. Turning to our clinical operations, our hospice same-store revenue increased $7.7% compared to the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: Our average daily census increased to $3,804 for the first quarter, up from $3,515 for the same period last year and increase of 8.2%. For the first quarter of 2026, our hospice medium length of stay was 23 days, as compared to 25 days for the fourth quarter of 2025 and 19 days for the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: We are very pleased by the continued growth in our hospice segment over the past several quarters. While our home health same-store revenue decreased, when compared to the same quarter of 2025, our home health operating income improved over last year's first quarter and sequentially versus the fourth quarter of 2025.

Dirk Allison: We are very pleased by the continued growth in our hospice segment over the past several quarters. While our home health same-store revenue decreased when compared to the same quarter of 2025, our home health operating income improved over last year's Q1 and sequentially versus the Q4 of 2025. It is also important to understand that over 25% of our hospice admissions in New Mexico and now Tennessee are coming from our own Addus Home Health operations, which overlap in these two markets as we continue to focus on our bridge program. We are pleased to see more patients receiving the benefit of the full continuum of post-acute home-based care and anticipate seeing similar clinical teamwork develop in Illinois, where we also have both home health and hospice operations.

Speaker #3: It is also important to understand that over 25% of our hospice admissions in New Mexico and now Tennessee are coming from our own Addis Home Health operations which overlap in these two markets, as we continue to focus on our bridge program.

Speaker #3: We are pleased to see more patients receiving the benefit of the full continuum of post-acute home-based care and anticipate seeing similar clinical teamwork develop in Illinois where we also have both home health and hospice operations.

Speaker #3: We continue to believe that size and scale are important to healthcare services and have been the focus of our strategy for the past 10 years.

Dirk Allison: We continue to believe that size and scale are important to healthcare services and have been the focus of our strategy for the past 10 years. We continue to evaluate opportunities which would increase both density and geographic coverage, as well as seek to further strengthen our relationships with states and managed care organizations. Recently, we have begun to see an increasing number of personal care opportunities. Due to our focus on maintaining a conservative balance sheet, we have the ability to actively pursue these transactions. Recently, there appears to be more optimism around home health care due to the final Home Health Rule for 2026 being more favorable than was originally proposed. While there is still some uncertainty about the future rate increases, there does seem to be more potential activity in home health care.

Speaker #3: We continue to evaluate opportunities which would increase both density and geographic coverage as well as seek to further strengthen our relationships with states and managed care organizations.

Speaker #3: Recently, we have begun to see an increasing number of personal care opportunities. Due to our focus on maintaining a conservative balance sheet, we have the ability to actively pursue these transactions.

Speaker #3: Recently, there appears to be more optimism around home healthcare due to the final Home Health rule for 2026 being more favorable than was originally proposed.

Speaker #3: While there is still some uncertainty about the future rate increases, there does seem to be more potential activity in home healthcare. While we will be open to home health opportunities, we will continue to be diligent as we evaluate possible transactions to further our strategy.

Dirk Allison: While we will be open to home health opportunities, we will continue to be diligent as we evaluate possible transactions to further our strategy. Before I turn the call over to Brian, it is important that I thank the Addus team for the care they are providing to our elderly and disabled consumers and patients. We all have come to understand that the majority of this population prefers to receive care at home, which not only remains one of the safest, but also the most cost-effective places to receive this care. We believe the heightened awareness of the value of home-based care is favorable for our industry and will continue to be a growth opportunity for our company.

Speaker #3: Before I turn the call over to Brian, it is important that I thank the Addus team for the care they are providing to our elderly and disabled consumers and patients.

Speaker #3: We all have come to understand that the majority of this population prefers to receive care at home which not only remains one of the safest but also the most cost-effective places to receive this care.

Speaker #3: We believe the heightened awareness of the value of home-based care is favorable for our industry and will continue to be a growth opportunity for our company.

Speaker #3: We understand and appreciate that our operations and growth are dependent on both our dedicated caregivers and other employees who work so incredibly hard providing outstanding care and support to our clients, patients, and their families.

Dirk Allison: We understand and appreciate that our operations and growth are dependent on both our dedicated caregivers and other employees who work so incredibly hard providing outstanding care and support to our clients, patients, and their families. With that, let me turn the call over to Brian.

Speaker #3: With that, let me turn the call over to Brian.

Speaker #4: Thank you, Dirk, and good morning, everyone. The first quarter of 2026 marked a solid start to a new year for Addis. The results for the quarter reflect our continued ability to execute our strategy and deliver consistent growth.

Brian Poff: Thank you, Dirk. Good morning, everyone. The Q1 of 2026 marked a solid start to a new year for Addus. The results for the quarter reflect our continued ability to execute our strategy and deliver consistent growth. Results were highlighted by a 7.7% increase in top-line revenue to $363.6 million, and a 9.7% increase in adjusted EBITDA to $44.5 million when compared with the Q1 of 2025. Our personal care services segment, which accounted for 77.3% of our revenues, was a key driver of our business. Revenues for the segment grew to $281.1 million, an increase of 8.8% overall and an increase of 6.5% on a same store basis compared to the same quarter last year.

Speaker #4: Results were highlighted by a 7.7% increase in top-line revenue to $363.6 million and a 9.7% increase in adjusted EBITDA to $44.5 million, when compared with the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #4: Our personal care services segment, which accounted for 77.3% of our revenues, was a key driver of our business. Revenues for this segment grew to $281.1 million, an increase of 8.8% overall and an increase of 6.5% on a same-store basis compared to the same quarter last year.

Speaker #4: We are continuing to see contributions from our acquisition of Gentiva's personal care operations in late 2024 and the acquisitions of Helping Hands Home Care Services and Del Cielo Home Care both of which were acquired in the back half of 2025.

Brian Poff: We are continuing to see contributions from our acquisition of Gentiva's personal care operations in late 2024 and the acquisitions of Helping Hands Home Care Services and Del Cielo Home Care, both of which were acquired in the back half of 2025. The revenues of Gentiva's personal care operations are included in our same store numbers for the first time this quarter. In addition to higher volumes, we are continuing to benefit from rate support in some of our key state markets, including our two largest in Illinois and Texas. Our first quarter results included the impact of the 3.9% rate increase in Illinois, which became effective on 1 January 2026, as well as the 9.9% rate increase in Texas that became effective on 1 September 2025.

Speaker #4: The revenues of Gentiva's personal care operations are included in our same-store numbers for the first time this quarter. In addition to higher volumes, we are continuing to benefit from rate support in some of our key state markets, including our two largest in Illinois and Texas.

Speaker #4: Our first quarter results included the impact of the $3.9% rate increase in Illinois, which became effective on January 1, 2026, as well as the $9.9% rate increase in Texas that became effective on September 1, 2025.

Speaker #4: Our hospice care business continued to perform well and accounted for 18.1% of revenues for the first quarter. Our hospice revenues were $65.8 million, with the same-store increase of 7.7% over the same period last year and year-over-year improvement in average daily census.

Brian Poff: Our hospice care business continued to perform well and accounted for 18.1% of revenues for Q1. Our hospice revenues were $65.8 million with a same store increase of 7.7% over the same period last year and year-over-year improvement in average daily census. For the period, home health services, our smallest segment, accounted for 4.6% of Q1 revenue at $16.7 million. We continue to look for ways to support and expand our home health service line, including through acquisitions, as we believe important synergies can be realized by offering multiple levels of home-based care in the markets we serve.

Speaker #4: Over the period, home health services, our smallest segment, accounted for 4.6% of first-quarter revenue at $16.7 million. We continue to look for ways to support and expand our home health service line, including through acquisitions, as we believe important synergies can be realized by offering multiple levels of home-based care in the markets we serve.

Speaker #4: Yesterday, we announced two transactions in Indiana. Homecourt Home Care, based in Fort Wayne, which closed on May 1, and the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire additional operations of a similar size in the state.

Brian Poff: Yesterday, we announced 2 transactions in Indiana, HomeCourt Home Care based in Fort Wayne, which closed on May first, and the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire additional operations of a similar size in the state. Currently, HomeCourt serves approximately 240 clients with annual revenues of approximately $9.7 million. We anticipate our second acquisition in the state will close later this year. We believe our announced expansion into Indiana, a new market for Addus, is aligned with our strategy of broadening our geographic coverage with density and scale. Our team looks forward to welcoming the clients and caregivers to the Addus family. We intend to provide additional details on the second acquisition when regulatory considerations permit. Strategic opportunities will continue to play a role in our long-term growth planning.

Speaker #4: Currently, Homecourt serves approximately 240 clients with annual revenues of approximately $9.7 million. We anticipate our second acquisition in the state will close later this year.

Speaker #4: We believe our announced expansion into Indiana—a new market for Addis—is aligned with our strategy of broadening our geographic coverage with density and scale. Our team looks forward to welcoming the clients and caregivers to the Addis family.

Speaker #4: We intend to provide additional details on the second acquisition when regulatory considerations permit. Strategic opportunities will continue to play a role in our long-term growth planning.

Speaker #4: Our primary focus will be on identifying opportunities where we can leverage geographic coverage and density, providing us with a competitive advantage. We will also seek opportunities to add services to meet our ultimate objective of offering multiple levels of care in the markets we serve.

Brian Poff: Our primary focus will be on identifying opportunities where we can leverage geographic coverage and density, providing us with a competitive advantage. We will also seek opportunities to add services to meet our ultimate objective of offering multiple levels of care in the markets we serve. With our size and expanding scale and the support of a strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned to execute our strategy. As Dirk noted, total net service revenues for Q1 were $363.6 million. The revenue breakdown is as follows: Personal care revenues were $281.1 million, or 77.3% of revenue. Hospice care revenues were $65.8 million, or 18.1% of revenue. Home health revenues were $16.7 million, or 4.6% of revenue.

Speaker #4: With our size and expanding scale, and the support of a strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to execute our strategy. As Dirk noted, total net service revenues for the first quarter were $363.6 million.

Speaker #4: The revenue breakdown is as follows. Personal care revenues were $281.1 million, or $77.3% of revenue. Hospice care revenues were $65.8 million, or 18.1% of revenue.

Speaker #4: And home health revenues were $16.7 million, or 4.6% of revenue. Other financial results for the first quarter of 2026 include the following: our gross margin percentage was 31.9%, consistent with the first quarter of 2025.

Brian Poff: Other financial results for Q1 2026 include the following: Our gross margin percentage was 31.9%, consistent with Q1 2025. As usual, our gross margin was affected in Q1 by our annual merit increases and the annual reset of payroll taxes. Looking forward, we anticipate our gross margin percentage will remain relatively stable and consistent with our historical annual pattern. G&A expense was 21.4% of revenue, compared with 21.7% of revenue for Q1 a year ago. Adjusted G&A expense for Q1 was 19.6%, compared with 19.9% a year ago as we continue to generate leverage from our growing revenue base.

Speaker #4: As usual, our gross margin was affected in the first quarter by our annual merit increases and the annual reset of payroll taxes. Looking forward, we anticipate our gross margin percentage will remain relatively stable and consistent with our historical annual pattern.

Speaker #4: G&A expense was 21.4% of revenue, compared with 21.7% of revenue for the first quarter a year ago. Adjusted G&A expense for the first quarter was 19.6%, compared with 19.9% a year ago, as we continue to generate leverage from our growing revenue base.

Speaker #4: The company's adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2026 was $44.5 million, compared with $40.6 million a year ago, an increase of 9.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.2%, compared with 12% for the first quarter of 2025.

Brian Poff: The company's adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2026 was $44.5 million, compared with $40.6 million a year ago, an increase of 9.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.2%, compared with 12% for Q1 2025. Consistent with 2025, we anticipate our adjusted EBITDA margin percentage for the full year will remain above 12%. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $1.62, compared with $1.42 for Q1 2025. The adjusted per share results for Q1 2026 exclude the following: Acquisition expenses of $0.06 and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.20, including the impact of accelerated vesting for the previously announced retirement of our former President and COO.

Speaker #4: Consistent with 2025, we anticipate our adjusted EBITDA margin percentage for the full year will remain above 12%. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $1.62, compared with $1.42 for the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #4: The adjusted per-share results for the first quarter of 2026 exclude the following: acquisition expenses of $0.06, and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.20, including the impact of accelerated vesting for the previously announced retirement of our former President and COO.

Speaker #4: The adjusted per-share results for the first quarter of 2025 exclude the following: acquisition expenses of $0.13, and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.13. Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2026 was 22.7%, benefiting from the excess tax benefit related to our stock compensation.

Brian Poff: The adjusted per share results for Q1 2025 exclude the following: Acquisition expenses of $0.13 and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.13. Our effective tax rate for Q1 2026 was 22.7%, benefiting from the excess tax benefit related to our stock compensation. For the full year 2026, we expect our tax rate to be in the mid 20% range. DSOs were 36.3 days at the end of Q1 2026, compared with 38.2 days at the end of Q4 2025, with DSOs for the Illinois Department on Aging at 47.4 days, compared with 54.7 days at the end of Q4 2025.

Speaker #4: For the full year 2026, we expect our tax rate to be in the mid-20% range. DSOs were 36.3 days at the end of the first quarter of 2026, compared with 38.2 days at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, with DSOs for the Illinois Department of Aging at 47.4 days compared with 54.7 days at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.

Speaker #4: As expected, we saw resolution in some of the normal timing differences in payment cycles we experienced around year-end. Our net cash flow from operations was $52.4 million, for the first quarter of 2026, a strong start to the year.

Brian Poff: As expected, we saw resolution in some of the normal timing differences in payment cycles we experienced around year-end. Our net cash flow from operations was $52.4 million for Q1 2026, a strong start to the year. As of 31 March 2026, the company had cash of $103.1 million, with capacity and availability under our revolving credit facility of $650 million and $547.8 million, respectively. Total bank debt was $94.3 million at the end of the quarter, a reduction of $30 million from the end of Q4 2025. We have continued to reduce our revolver balance in Q2 2026, with $10 million paid to date.

Speaker #4: As of March 31, 2026, the company had cash of $103.1 million, with capacity and availability under our revolving credit facility of $650 million and $547.8 million respectively.

Speaker #4: Total bank debt was $94.3 million, at the end of the quarter, a reduction of $30 million from the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.

Speaker #4: We have continued to reduce our revolver balance in the second quarter of 2026, with $10 million paid to date. We have a capital structure that supports continued pursuit of our strategic initiatives.

Brian Poff: We have a capital structure that supports continued pursuit of our strategic initiatives. Looking ahead, we expect to maintain our disciplined capital allocation strategy and continue to diligently manage our net leverage ratio while also focusing on enhancing shareholder value. This concludes our prepared comments this morning, and thank you for being with us. I'll now ask the operator to please open the line for your questions.

Speaker #4: Looking ahead, we expect to maintain our disciplined capital allocation strategy and continue to diligently manage our net leverage ratio while also focusing on enhancing shareholder value.

Speaker #4: This concludes our prepared comments this morning, and thank you for being with us. I'll now ask the operator to please open the line for your questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you. We'll now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press *1 on your touchstone phone. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys.

Operator 3: Thank you. We'll now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press Star then One on your touch-tone phone. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your question, please press Star then Two. In the interest of time, please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. At this time, we'll pause momentarily to assemble our roster. Our first question comes from Brian Tanquilut from Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Operator: Thank you. We'll now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press Star then One on your touch-tone phone. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. To withdraw your question, please press Star then Two. In the interest of time, please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. At this time, we'll pause momentarily to assemble our roster. Our first question comes from Brian Tanquilut from Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: To withdraw your question, please press *2. In the interest of time, please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. At this time, we'll pause momentarily to assemble our roster.

Speaker #1: And our first question comes from Brian Tankwaloot from Jefferies. Please go ahead.

Speaker #5: Hey, good morning, guys. Maybe I'll start, Dirk. When we think about the caregiver app rollout, I know that's something that you're working on in Texas.

Brian Tanquilut: Hey, good morning, guys. Maybe I'll start, Dirk, when we think about the caregiver app rollout, I know that's something that you're working on in Texas. How do we think about the progress there and what it will take to get it to where you want it to be as quickly as possible? Then what are the expected benefits from that? I mean, how do we think about the P&L translation of this app rollout and why it's so important?

Speaker #5: How do we think about the progress there and what it will take to get it to where you want it to be, as quickly as possible, and then what are the expected benefits from that?

Speaker #5: I mean, how do we think about the P&L translation of this app rollout, and why it's so important?

Speaker #6: Hi, Brian. Good morning. I'll start, and then Dirk can add to anything that I say. So I'll start with just the progress that we're seeing with that caregiver app.

Heather Dixon: Hi, Brian. Good morning. I'll start, and then Dirk can add to anything that I say. I'll start with just, you know, the progress that we're seeing. With that caregiver app, we now have deployed it in all three of our three largest states. Illinois, as you know, has been deployed for a while, and we're continuing to see really good utilization and uptick of that utilization throughout the state. In New Mexico, we have deployed it for a portion of our branches. We have some special nuances associated with the state's EVV system there, so we're gonna roll it out in two tranches. We have deployed it, and we expect to be deploying to the rest of the branches soon in the coming quarters.

Speaker #6: We now have deployed it in all three of our three largest states. Illinois, as you know, has been deployed for a while, and we're continuing to see really good utilization and uptick of that utilization throughout the state.

Speaker #6: In New Mexico, we have deployed it for a portion of our branches. We have some special nuances associated with the state EVV system there.

Speaker #6: So we're going to roll it out in two tranches, but we have deployed it, and we expect to be deploying to the rest of the branches soon in the coming quarters.

Speaker #6: And then finally, in Texas, we rolled it out during Q1, and we're seeing some really positive momentum in the utilization of that and caregivers actually downloading that app.

Heather Dixon: Finally in Texas, we rolled it out during Q1, and we're seeing some really positive momentum in the utilization of that and caregivers actually downloading that app. We saw, even in the first, you know, few days to a week, we saw up over 10% of our caregivers had already adopted that app. We're seeing really good momentum. As we think about where we go from here, you know, there are a couple of things. 1, you know, continue to roll it out to other locations, and that's really gonna enable our caregivers and help us focus on increasing our service percentage. 2, we can use that to really drive communication and really create a good engagement, positive engagement with our caregivers.

Speaker #6: We saw even in the first few days to a week, we saw up over 10% of our caregivers had already adopted that app. So we're seeing really good momentum.

Speaker #6: And as we think about where we go from here, there are a couple of things. One, continue to roll it out to other locations, and that's really going to enable our caregivers and help us focus on increasing our service percentage.

Speaker #6: And then two, we can use that to really drive communication and really create a good engagement, positive engagement with our caregivers.

Speaker #5: Yeah, Brian. And I think what Heather just mentioned there, the two aspects that we really focus on and why we invested in the caregiver app.

Dirk Allison: Yeah, Brian, I think what Heather just mentioned, they're the two aspects that we really focus on and why we invested in the caregiver app. You know, you've seen positive momentum in Illinois for the % of hours served, that we believe a large part of that is directly attributed to the fact that there's that caregiver app out there which allows the particular caregiver to see how many hours are left on the authorization and make sure that we're serving to an appropriate amount. Also, we think it can allow us to be a little more sticky, as Heather said, with our caregivers.

Speaker #5: You've seen positive momentum in Illinois for the percent of hours served. We believe a large part of that is directly attributed to the fact that there's that caregiver app out there, which allows the particular caregiver to see how many hours are left on the authorization and make sure that we're serving to an appropriate amount.

Speaker #5: Also, we think it can allow us to be a little more sticky as Heather said. With our caregivers, make it easier for them to know what their paycheck's going to be, to know their hours served, and know also the ability for them if they want to pick up additional hours, we have this app out there that allows them to be able to do that in an effective manner.

Dirk Allison: Make it easier for them to know what their paycheck's going to be, to know their hours served, and know also the ability for them, if they wanna pick up additional hours, we have this app out there that allows them to be able to do that in an effective manner. Those are really the benefits that we're looking for from this app.

Speaker #5: So those are really the benefits that we're looking for from this app.

Speaker #7: That makes sense. And then maybe my follow-up, Heather, for you, or maybe for Brian, as I think about the length of stay on the hospice side, you've just gotten questions on cap risk and how you're thinking about that.

Brian Tanquilut: That makes sense. Maybe my follow-up, Heather, for you or maybe for Brian, as I think about the length of stay on the hospice side, you just gotten questions on cap risk and how you're thinking about that. Just anything you can share with us, just on the hospice cap concern. Thank you.

Speaker #7: So just anything you can share with us, just on the hospice cap concern. Thank you.

Speaker #8: Yeah, Brian. Right now, we don't really have any cap consideration. We actually are managing, I think, our referral mix and our patient base pretty well.

Brian Poff: Yeah, Brian, right now we don't really have any cap consideration. We actually are managing, I think, our referral mix and our patient base pretty well. Again, those are just a factor of the people that actually discharged during the quarter and probably not indicative of how you would think about cap. Our median length of stay, as Dirk mentioned, was 23 days, which actually is probably a little bit low for us. I think we've got a really good mix, no cap concerns for us at the moment.

Speaker #8: Discharge length of stay was a little higher this quarter, but again, those are just a factor of the people that actually discharge during the quarter and probably not indicative of how you would think about cap.

Speaker #8: Our median length of stay, as Dirk mentioned, was 23 days, which actually is probably a little bit low for us, but I think we've got a really good mix.

Speaker #8: So no cap concerns for us at the moment.

Speaker #5: Thank you.

Brian Tanquilut: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Raj Kumar from Stevens. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: Our next question comes from Raj Kumar from Stephens. Please go ahead.

Operator: Our next question comes from Raj Kumar from Stephens. Please go ahead.

Speaker #9: Hi. Good morning. Maybe just an update on the kind of budget from each of your states. And curious on kind of Indiana, more specifically.

Raj Kumar: Hi, good morning. Maybe just a update on the kind of the budget from each of your states. I'm curious on kind of Indiana more specifically. I know when you guys went into Texas with Gentiva, that was kind of on the front of, you know, the state passing or kind of in the process of passing a rate update. Curious on the kind of Indiana rate backdrop, and any commentary there.

Speaker #9: I know when you guys went into Texas with Gentiva, that was kind of on the front of the state passing or kind of in the process of passing a rate update.

Speaker #9: So, curious on the kind of Indiana rate backdrop and any commentary there.

Speaker #8: Yeah. I think in Indiana, specifically, I mean, you talk about some other states as well, Raj, Indiana as Dirk mentioned, we've seen some nice rate support for them over the past several years.

Brian Poff: Yeah. I think in Indiana, specifically, I mean, you talk about some other states as well, Raj. You know, Indiana, as Dirk mentioned, we've seen some nice rate support from them over the past several years. I think if you went back, you know, about 5 years ago or so, I'm not sure it would have been probably quite as attractive for us. We've seen nice support for them, a nice margin in that state, pretty consistent with where we are on a consolidated basis. I think the ability for us to do 2 acquisitions simultaneously or in close proximity gives us really good coverage. I think we've always wanted to have a pretty good footprint when we go into a new market.

Speaker #8: I think if we went back about five years ago or so, I'm not sure it would have been probably quite as attractive for us, but we've seen nice support for them.

Speaker #8: A nice margin in that state, pretty consistent with where we are on a consolidated basis I think the ability for us to do two acquisitions simultaneously or in close proximity gives us really good coverage.

Speaker #8: I think we've always wanted to have a pretty good footprint when we go into a new market. I think if we were to do one without the other, it probably wouldn't have been quite as attractive, but I think doing both gives us a nice place to start in Indiana.

Brian Poff: I think if we were to do, you know, one without the other, it probably wouldn't have been quite as attractive. I think doing both gives us a nice place to start in Indiana and the ability to continue to add either additional services or more density there. One more place on the map where we have opportunities. I think just thinking about it from a budgetary standpoint, obviously Texas is every other year, so, you know, they're not gonna meet this year, so nothing to really report on that end. Dirk kind of referenced New Mexico, which has finalized their budget. There are dollars allocated for home and community-based services. We're just trying to determine and get the information on the logistics of how that will pass down to providers.

Speaker #8: And the ability to continue to add either additional services or more density there. So one more place on the map where we have opportunities.

Speaker #8: I think just thinking about it from a budgetary standpoint, obviously, Texas is every other year. So they're not going to meet this year. So nothing to really report on that end.

Speaker #8: Dirk kind of referenced New Mexico, which is finalized their budget. There are dollars allocated for home and community-based services. We're just trying to determine and get the information on the logistics of how that will pass down to providers.

Speaker #8: Indiana, I mean, I'm sorry, Illinois is our largest market, is still in session, has not been finalized their budget this year. Our understanding is there's conversations from the union, as we would expect every year, about our services and rates, but nothing to report.

Brian Poff: I mean, I'm sorry, Illinois is our largest market. It's still in session. It's not been finalized their budget this year. Our understanding is there's conversations, you know, from the union, as we would expect every year, about our services and rates, but nothing to report. We would expect them to probably finalize their budget over the next few weeks. We'll know more then. Those are probably the three largest, obviously, that we keep our eye on.

Speaker #8: We would expect them to probably finalize their budget over the next few weeks. So we'll know more then. But those are probably the three largest, obviously, that we keep our eye on.

Speaker #9: Got it. And then maybe looking at home health, I guess there was a shift in the payer mix trend. I think higher Medicaid, year over year.

Raj Kumar: Got it. Then maybe looking at home health. I guess, you know, there was a shift in the payer mix trend, I think higher Medicaid year over year. I guess maybe anything to call out on that front, I guess more intentional or just kind of how it played out. I guess, you know, has it been paying better than MA if it is intentional? I'm just kinda curious on the payer mix trend for home health in the quarter.

Speaker #9: I guess maybe anything to call out on that front, I guess more intentional or just kind of how it played out. And I guess has it been paying better than MA?

Speaker #9: If it is intentional, I'm just kind of curious on the payer mix trend for home health in the quarter.

Speaker #8: Yeah. I think in the quarter, probably a little bit of anomaly. We had some rate updates, some positive rate updates in one of our programs that kind of falls into that other bucket that you saw on our press release yesterday.

Brian Poff: Yeah, I think in the quarter, probably a little bit of an anomaly. We had some rate updates and positive rate updates in one of our programs that kind of falls into that other bucket that you saw in our press release yesterday. We saw that in the quarter, but probably revert back to more historical norms next quarter. Nothing intentional. I think obviously we're focused on making sure we try to get the best rate possible in the business that we take in home health, trying to make sure that it's profitable. Our guys on the payer side are having conversations consistently with folks on trying to get as many episodic rates as we can, and looking at taking cases that make sense for us from a profitability perspective.

Speaker #8: So we saw that in the quarter, but it will probably revert back to more historical norms next quarter. Nothing intentional. I think, obviously, we're focused on making sure we try to get the best rate possible in the business that we take in home health.

Speaker #8: Trying to make sure that it's profitable. Our guys on the payer side are having conversations consistently with folks on trying to get as many episodic rates as we can.

Speaker #8: And looking at taking cases that make sense for us from a profitability perspective.

Speaker #9: Great. Thank you.

Raj Kumar: Great. Thank you.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Matthew Gilmore from KeyBank. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Matthew Gillmor from KeyBanc. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Matthew Gillmor from KeyBanc. Please go ahead.

Speaker #10: Hey, good morning. Thanks for the question. Maybe following up on some of the census comments for personal care. I think I saw the census was down a little sequentially.

Matthew Gillmor: Hey, good morning. Thanks for the question. Maybe following up on some of the census comments for personal care. I think I, you know, saw the census was down a little sequentially. You mentioned Illinois was up, which is encouraging. I just wanted to confirm I heard that correctly. Maybe more broadly, I know census for personal care oftentimes is lower in the first quarter. If Illinois was stronger, does that imply there was weakness elsewhere, or would you just sort of categorize it as sort of normal seasonal trends? Just wanted to see if there was any other details to share on this topic.

Speaker #10: You mentioned Illinois was up, which is encouraging. I just wanted to confirm I heard that correctly. And then maybe more broadly, I know census for personal care oftentimes is lower in the first quarter.

Speaker #10: And if Illinois was stronger, does that imply there was weakness elsewhere? Or would you just sort of categorize it as sort of normal seasonal trends?

Speaker #10: Just wanted to see if there was any other details to share on this topic. Sure. Sure. I'll take that. Hi, Matt. Good morning. So as Dirk mentioned, we did have some weather impact in the beginning of the quarter.

Heather Dixon: Sure. Sure. I'll take that. Hi, Matt. Good morning. As Dirk mentioned, we did have some weather impact in the beginning of the quarter, that impacted our sequential census growth. That's what you saw as a slight sequential decline. You did hear correctly. We had census improvements throughout the quarter, we saw gains as we exited the quarter. I think very importantly, March census exceeded both January and February census. We're focused on those sequential gains, going forward, that should lead to year-over-year gains as we move through the next couple of quarters. Specifically in Illinois, we were very pleased to see that start the care exceeded discharges throughout the quarter, that led to sequential monthly improvement there as well.

Speaker #10: And that impacted our sequential census growth. That's what you saw as a slight sequential decline. But you did hear correctly. We had census improvements throughout the quarter.

Speaker #10: And we saw gains as we exited the quarter. And I think very importantly, March census exceeded both January and February census. So we're focused on those sequential gains and going forward, that should lead to year-over-year gains as we move through the next couple of quarters.

Speaker #10: And then specifically, in Illinois, we were very pleased to see that starts of care exceeded discharges throughout the quarter. And that led to sequential monthly improvement there as well.

Speaker #10: And so as we exited the quarter for Illinois, we saw a nice trajectory. And frankly, overall, with census and then we saw that trajectory really continued as we moved into the second quarter as well.

Heather Dixon: As we exited the quarter for Illinois, we saw a nice trajectory and frankly overall with census. We saw that trajectory really continue as we moved into Q2 as well. There is nothing to point to. It's not that Illinois is masking anything else. It's just as our largest state and one that we're very focused on, we wanted to be sure that we shared, you know, the positive improvement that we've seen there.

Speaker #10: There is nothing to point to. It's not that Illinois is masking anything else. It's just as our largest state and one that we're very focused on, we wanted to be sure that we shared the positive improvement that we've seen there.

Speaker #10: That's great. Appreciate it. And then maybe following up on some regulatory topics, CMS has made some comments that have been skeptical of the self-directed care model within personal care and sort of home and community-based services.

Matthew Gillmor: That's great. Appreciate it. Maybe following up on some regulatory topics. You know, CMS has made some comments that have been skeptical of the self-directed care model within personal care and sort of home and community-based services broadly, you know, especially with some key states like New York, which I know you don't have exposure to. I was curious if the skepticism on the self-directed care model created opportunities for Addus more broadly, given, you know, your focus on the agency-directed model.

Speaker #10: Broadly, especially with some key states like New York, which I know you don't have exposure to, I was curious if the skepticism on the self-directed care model created opportunities for Addus more broadly, given your focus on the agency-directed model.

Speaker #9: Yeah. Self-directed care does have an issue. You don't have anybody in between the patient and the caregiver. The caregiver and the patient to make sure that the surface is actually being performed.

Brian Poff: Yeah, you know, self-directed care does have an issue. You don't have anybody in between the patient and the caregiver, the caregiver and the patient to make sure that the service is actually being performed. The state has a little more responsibility on themselves to do that. We saw in New York that it was a program that was probably in our mind gonna have issues and not really sustainable. It's why we left New York. There's also issues out in California. There's a large issue out there because it's self-directed care. We don't participate

Dirk Allison: Yeah, you know, self-directed care does have an issue. You don't have anybody in between the patient and the caregiver, the caregiver and the patient to make sure that the service is actually being performed. The state has a little more responsibility on themselves to do that. We saw in New York that it was a program that was probably in our mind gonna have issues and not really sustainable. It's why we left New York. There's also issues out in California. There's a large issue out there because it's self-directed care. We don't participate

Speaker #9: So the state has a little more responsibility on themselves to do that. So we saw in New York that it was a program that was probably, in our mind, going to have issues and not really sustainable.

Speaker #9: It's why we left New York. There are also issues out in California. There's a large issue out there because it's self-directed care. We don't participate in Medi-Cal out there.

Dirk Allison: Medi-Cal out there, most of the business we have is VA and private pay. As you look at it, we've been saying for years, personal care is a great service and much needed and saves the states a lot of money, but it needs to be done in the right way. One of the things that is an advantage to having the companies like Addus and others sit out there hiring the caregiver and matching them with the patient, is that we have responsibilities to do a lot of extra things to make sure that service is being provided. Whether that's supervisory visits, actually in-person calls on the telephone. We have EVV. We have to make sure that the client shows up.

Speaker #9: Most of the business we have is VA and private pay. But as you look at it, we've been saying for years personal care is a great service.

Speaker #9: And much needed, and saves the state a lot of money. But it needs to be done in the right way. And one of the things that is an advantage to having the companies like Addus and others sit out there hiring the caregiver and matching them with the patient is that we have responsibilities to do a lot of extra things to make sure that service is being provided, whether that's supervisory visits, actual in-person calls, on the telephone, we have EVV, we have to make sure that the client shows up.

Speaker #9: I mean, the caregiver shows up and stays the amount of time. When they leave so that we're billing a proper number of hours. So there's a lot of compliance issues that are placed on companies like Addus as opposed to the self-directed care where there's very little, if any, of those.

Dirk Allison: I mean, the caregiver shows up and stays the amount of time, when they leave so that we're billing a proper number of hours. There's a lot of compliance issues that are placed on companies like Addus, as opposed to the self-directed care, where there's very little, if any, of those. We think it's a real encouragement to our industry. From our standpoint, we agree with the fact that there needs to be a look and make sure that when you're paid for services, those services are being rendered. We think that will benefit a company like Addus.

Speaker #9: So we think it's a real encouragement to our industry from our standpoint. We agree with the fact that there needs to be a look and make sure that when you're paid for services, those services are being rendered.

Speaker #9: We think that will benefit a company like Addus.

Speaker #10: Great. Thank you.

Matthew Gillmor: Great. Thank you.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Sean Dodge from BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Sean Dodge from BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Sean Dodge from BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker #11: Great. Thanks for taking our questions. It's Chris Charlton on for Sean here. Maybe back on personal care, you've again driven strong growth in same-store available hours, even amid a declining census.

Chris Charlton: Great. Thanks for taking our questions. It's Chris Charlton on for Sean here. Maybe back on personal care. You've again driven strong growth and same-store billable hours even amid a declining census. Can you just share some more detail on some of the dynamics behind the strength here and continuing to fill a strong percentage of the authorized hours and kinda how you anticipate that evolving throughout the year as you expect to return to some census growth?

Speaker #11: Can you just share some more detail on some of the dynamics behind the strength here and continuing to fill a strong percentage of the authorized hours and kind of how you anticipate that evolving throughout the year as you expect to return to some census growth?

Speaker #10: Sure. Sure. I'll take that. Hi, Chris. I'll start with talking about billable hours and sort of what we're doing that really fuels that growth in billable hours.

Heather Dixon: Sure. Sure, I'll take that. Hi, Chris. I'll start with talking about billable hours and sort of what we're doing that really fuels that growth in billable hours. Couple of things. Specifically, one, you know, we're working on refining our operational processes, you know, from the support center and also from the branch perspective, and that's particularly with scheduling and utilization of our authorized hours. As we talked about just a couple of minutes ago, we've been focused on creating tools and deploying them that will help our providers, actually the caregivers, have access to those hours as well, and that's in the form of the app. What we have seen is improvement in that service percentage or fill rate. The hours that we are posting are really a higher utilization of the authorized hours.

Speaker #10: A couple of things. Specifically, one, we're working on refining our operational processes from the support center and then also from the branch perspective. And that's particularly with scheduling.

Speaker #10: And utilization of our authorized hours. And then as we talked about just a couple of minutes ago, we've been focused on creating tools and deploying them that will help our providers actually, the caregivers, have access to those hours as well.

Speaker #10: And that's in the form of the app. What we have seen is improvement in that service percentage or fill rate. So the hours that we are posting are really a higher utilization of the authorized hours.

Speaker #10: We're seeing that in most of our states. And we're seeing that specifically where we have deployed the app and we've had some really good usage.

Heather Dixon: We're seeing that, you know, in most of our states, we're seeing that specifically where we have deployed the app, and we've had some really good usage. We would expect for that opportunity to improve the service percentage to improve as we move throughout the year, particularly as we deploy the app in Texas, one of our largest states. If you think about from Q4 to Q1, you know, your question about even though census is down just a bit sequentially, billable hours are up, I think that's just a function of the weather that we saw earlier in the quarter and nothing else really to point to there.

Speaker #10: And we would expect for that opportunity to improve the service percentage to increase. As we move throughout the year, particularly as we deploy the app in Texas, one of our largest states.

Speaker #10: If you think about from Q4 to Q1, your question about even though census is down just a bit sequentially, billable hours are up. I think that's just a function of the weather that we saw earlier in the quarter and nothing else really to point to there.

Speaker #10: I think let me jump in on census because I know everybody's focused on that number. And it is an important number. It's not one that we get paid on billable hours.

Dirk Allison: Let me jump in on census because I know, you know, everybody's focused on that number, and it's, it is an important number. It's not one that, you know, we get paid on billable hours, so we really focus on making sure we get the proper amount of hours per census as opposed to just census per se. You gotta get the right census. You gotta get the right hours from that patient coming on board to make sure that it's something we can serve appropriately and profitably. That being said, we do understand that people are looking at that, and I think the important thing this quarter that's very exciting to us is Illinois made the turn. Illinois is one we've really worked on the last 4 quarters to get it back into a growth mode.

Speaker #10: So we really focus on making sure we get the proper amount of hours per census as opposed to just census per se. Because you've got to get the right census.

Speaker #10: You've got to get the right hours. From that patient coming on board to make sure that it's something we can serve appropriately and profitably.

Speaker #10: That being said, we do understand that people are looking at that. And I think the important thing this quarter, which is very exciting to us, is Illinois made the turn.

Speaker #10: And Illinois is one we’ve really worked on the last four quarters to get it back into a growth mode. It just so happens my Texas was a little soft.

Dirk Allison: It just so happens this month, Texas was a little soft coming out, in January, really. We saw a little bit of effect in Texas, for the census for the quarter. By the end of the quarter, Texas was back, Illinois was continuing to grow. The important thing is we believe most of our states now are in the situation where starts of care are exceeding discharges. Sometimes you're gonna have a little bit of issue in a state maybe during a quarter. The general trend is we think we've seen that change, and now we think all three of our big states are in that particular situation where we should grow census.

Speaker #10: Coming out in January, really. And so we saw a little bit of effect in Texas. For the census, for the quarter. But by the end of the quarter, Texas was back, Illinois was continuing to grow.

Speaker #10: So the important thing is we believe most of our states now are in the situation where starts of care are exceeding discharges. Sometimes you're going to have a little bit of issue in a state maybe during a quarter.

Speaker #10: But the general trend is we think we've seen that change. And now we think all three of our big states are in that particular situation where we should grow census.

Speaker #11: Okay, that's helpful. And then on home health, obviously there were some encouraging adjustments to the final rate from CMS there last year. As you kind of come up on their initial proposal for 2027 rates in the coming months, maybe just qualitatively, can you share some thoughts on the backdrop and what you would like to see initially? Just to kind of give everyone some clarity that the environment might be starting to stabilize and might be looking to be a more favorable backdrop for some opportunities there?

Chris Charlton: Okay, that's helpful. On home health, obviously, there were some encouraging adjustments to the final rate from CMS there last year. As you kinda come up on their initial proposal for 2027 rates in the coming months, maybe just qualitatively, can you just share some thoughts on the backdrop and kind of what you would like to see initially, just to kinda give everyone some clarity that the environment might be starting to stabilize and might be looking just to be a more favorable backdrop for some opportunities there?

Speaker #10: Yeah, I think I can take that one. And Dirk can add some color as well. I think in Dirk's comments, you obviously saw some positivity in the final rule last year.

Brian Poff: I think I can take that one, and Dirk can add some color as well. I think, you know, in Dirk's comments, you know, I think obviously you saw some positivity in the final rule last year. I think we're interested to see what the rule will look like this year. It feels like maybe there's more, you know, appreciation coming out of CMS for, you know, what the industry has gone through the last few years, I think, and kind of focusing on some of the areas where there might have been, you know, some issues that might have impacted, you know, the way that they've looked at reimbursement the last few years.

Speaker #10: I think we're interested to see what the rule will look like this year. It feels like maybe there's more appreciation coming out of CMS for what the industry has gone through the last few years.

Speaker #10: I think in kind of focusing on some of the areas where there might have been some issues that might have impacted the way that they've looked at reimbursement the last few years and the industry, I think, has been lobbying for some time for them to see that.

Brian Poff: The industry, I think, has been lobbying for some time for them to see that, and the way that some of the things in the fraud, waste, and abuse area, potentially have been used in the calculation. With those kind of maybe out of the mix and maybe identified, I think we're hopeful that that means maybe there'll be more positivity in the rate that we'll see coming up this year. You know, a small segment for us. We think there's a lot of synergies of having multiple lines of care. Something that we'll watch closely, but things that we're still interested in looking at.

Speaker #10: And the way that some of the things in the fraud, waste, and abuse area potentially have been used in the calculation and what those kind of maybe out-of-the-mix and maybe identified.

Speaker #10: I think we're hopeful that that means maybe there'll be more positivity in the rate that we'll see coming up this year. So small segment for us.

Speaker #10: We think there's a lot of synergies of having multiple lines of care. So something that we'll watch closely. But things that we're still interested in looking at.

Speaker #11: Great. Thanks again.

Chris Charlton: Great. Thanks again.

Speaker #12: The next question comes from Andrew Mock from Barclays. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Andrew Mok from Barclays. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Andrew Mok from Barclays. Please go ahead.

Speaker #13: Hi. Good morning. This is Jeffrey on for Andrew. So I appreciate all the color around the personal care segment. But maybe I just wanted to better understand Attus's exposure to self-directed personal care and the impact that's had on recent personal care segment results.

Jeffrey: Hi, good morning. This is Jeffrey on for Andrew. I appreciate all the color around the personal care segment, but maybe I just wanted to better understand Addus' exposure to self-directed personal care and the impact that's had on recent personal care segment results.

[Analyst] (Barclays): Hi, good morning. This is Jeffrey on for Andrew. I appreciate all the color around the personal care segment, but maybe I just wanted to better understand Addus' exposure to self-directed personal care and the impact that's had on recent personal care segment results.

Speaker #10: Yeah. We don't really see an impact from self-directed care. Most of our states, as we mentioned, there was some issues in New York. We left that state.

Dirk Allison: Yeah. You know, we don't really see an impact from self-directed care in most of our states. As we mentioned, there was some issues in New York. We left that state. California, if you go back 10, 15 years ago, we did business in California, and California really decided to go self-directed care, and it wasn't something that we provided. We focused on states that really understand the difference between self-directed care and agency care. That really goes back to what I said a few minutes ago, which was what you get with agency care is a compliance program. You get companies like Addus that are making sure that that caregiver, who may or may not, just because it's called, you know, family caregiver, it may not actually be a family caregiver or family member.

Speaker #10: California, we used to—if you go back 10, 15 years ago—we did business in California. And California really decided to go self-directed care.

Speaker #10: And it wasn't something that we provided. So we focused on states that really understand the difference between self-directed care and agency care. And that really goes back to what I said a few minutes ago, which was what you get with agency care is a compliance program.

Speaker #10: You get companies like Attus that are making sure that that caregiver, who may or may not, just because it's called family caregiver, it may not actually be a family caregiver or family member.

Speaker #10: It may be somebody that knew the patient and is willing to serve in that market. So for that aspect, we still do all the things.

Dirk Allison: It may be somebody that knew the patient and is willing to serve in that market. For that aspect, we still do all the things. We do all the training. We make sure that EVV is in place. We go through our complete compliance program to make sure that we are being paid appropriately and that we're providing the appropriate care that per the plan of care. Really from us, the self-directed care does not have a direct impact, but we are glad to see that they're looking at self-directed care to make sure that it is following the rules just like agency care.

Speaker #10: We do all the training. We make sure that EBV is in place. We go through our complete compliance program to make sure that we are being paid appropriately and that we're providing the appropriate care that per the plan of care.

Speaker #10: So really from us, the self-directed care does not have a direct impact but we are glad to see that they're looking at self-directed care to make sure that it is following the rules just like agency care.

Speaker #12: Okay. Thanks. And maybe on the hospice side, I think revenue per patient day growth was negative for the first time in a while. Could you help us better understand the dynamics there including any trade-off with average length of stay?

Jeffrey: Okay, thanks. Maybe on the hospice side, I think revenue per patient day growth was negative for the first time in a while. Could you help us better understand the dynamics there, including any trade-off with average length of stay? Thanks.

[Analyst] (Barclays): Okay, thanks. Maybe on the hospice side, I think revenue per patient day growth was negative for the first time in a while. Could you help us better understand the dynamics there, including any trade-off with average length of stay? Thanks.

Speaker #12: Thanks.

Speaker #10: Yeah. I think there's two elements to that this quarter. I think primarily we talked last year that we had some positive impact from the implicit price concession or revenue adjustment, whichever term you want to use.

Brian Poff: Yeah. I think there's two elements to that this quarter. I think primarily, you know, we talked last year that we had some positive impact from the implicit price concession or revenue adjustment, whichever term you want to use. I think we had indicated we expected that to revert back to kind of historical norms, and I think that's where we were this quarter. That definitely was part of the consideration between last year and even Q4 right into Q1. I think there's a little bit of probably impact from just mix as well, nothing really material there. Those are really the two factors.

Speaker #10: And I think we had indicated we expected that to revert back to kind of historical norms. And I think that's where we were this quarter.

Speaker #10: So that definitely was part of the consideration between last year and even Q4 rated into Q1. I think there's a little bit of probably impact from just mix as well.

Speaker #10: But nothing really material there. But those are really the two factors.

Speaker #12: Okay. Thanks.

Jeffrey: Okay, thanks.

[Analyst] (Barclays): Okay, thanks.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Constantine Davidies from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Constantine Davides from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Constantine Davides from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Speaker #10: Thanks. Dirk, you highlighted your balance sheet strengths and ongoing debt reduction both in the quarter and post the quarter. And I guess can you just comment a little bit on the size of the opportunities in the M&A pipeline whether that's starting to skew up a little bit more in recent months?

Constantine Davides: Thanks. Dirk, you highlighted your balance sheet strengths and ongoing debt reduction both in the quarter and post the quarter. I guess, can you just comment a little bit on the size of the opportunities in the M&A pipeline, whether that's starting to skew up a little bit more in recent months?

Speaker #11: Yes. What we're starting to see this year and there's already two or three opportunities out there that are upsize that we're looking at. I think it's really something that changed probably in the last three months or so where we're seeing processes begin.

Dirk Allison: Yes. You know, what we're starting to see this year, and there's already, 2 or 3 opportunities out there, that are of size that we're looking at. I think it's, it's really something that changed probably in the last 3 months or so, where we're seeing processes begin on these larger opportunities. That's one of the reasons I think, Constantine, that we've worked very hard to keep our balance sheet clean. It's the reason we were able to do Gentiva very quickly and bring it on board. We're looking at some of these bigger opportunities that because of our balance sheet, we could do and bring on fairly rapidly without having to stress our balance sheet. Again, they are out there. They're in a process, and we're more looking at them.

Speaker #11: On these larger opportunities. And that's one of the reasons I think Constantine that we've worked very hard to keep our balance sheet clean. It's a reason we were able to do Gentiva very quickly and bring it on board.

Speaker #11: So we're looking at some of these bigger opportunities that because of our balance sheet, we could do and bring on fairly rapidly without having to stress our balance sheet.

Speaker #11: So again, they are out there. They're in a process. And we're looking at them.

Speaker #10: And when you say upsize, something along the size of or scale of a Gentiva?

Constantine Davides: When you say of size, something along the size of a or scale of a Gentiva?

Speaker #11: Yes. They're similar in size to Gentiva. That's correct.

Dirk Allison: Yes. They're similar in size to Gentiva. That's correct.

Speaker #10: Great. And then a quick follow-up on Indiana. You talked about that state being attractive and having good rate momentum. I guess, in recent periods, where do rates compare to either other states you're in or your blended average?

Constantine Davides: Great. A quick follow-up on Indiana. You talked about that being, that state being attractive and good rate momentum, I guess, in recent periods. Where do rates kinda compare to either other states you're in or your blended average?

Speaker #11: The rates are a little higher than some of the Midwestern states. I mean, obviously, Illinois is going to be our highest market. But Indiana, if you look around the other states around there, the rates now are very—they are nice rates.

Dirk Allison: The rates are a little higher than some of the Midwestern states. I mean, obviously, Illinois is gonna be our highest market. Indiana, if you look around the other states around there, the rates now are very, they are nice rates. They're rates that we can operate in very effectively. There seems to be a little less competition in Indiana, in the number of providers of our care. It's a state that we've been looking at. With the, you know, I think it was in 2023 timeframe is when they really raised their rates to make them more competitive.

Speaker #11: They're rates that we can operate in very effectively. Also, there seems to be a little less competition in Indiana. And the number of providers of our care.

Speaker #11: So it's a state that we've been looking at. And with I think it was in the 2023 timeframe is when they really raised their rates to make a more competitive ever since then.

Dirk Allison: Ever since then, we've been looking for opportunities to get into a state, and that's what, you know, HomeCourt Home Care brought to us and the other acquisition that we announced. Allow us to get into that state and start looking for other opportunities to grow.

Speaker #11: We've been looking for opportunities to get into a state and that's what home court home care brought to us and the other acquisition that we announced.

Speaker #11: Allow us to get into that state and start looking for other opportunities to grow.

Speaker #10: Thank you.

Constantine Davides: Thank you.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Ryan Langston from TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Ryan Langston from TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Ryan Langston from TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Speaker #11: Hi. Maybe just a dovetailing off Indiana. Obviously, strategy to enter states with size and scale. Do you know if you combine the two assets where that would put you in terms of market share in the state?

Ryan Langston: Hi. Maybe just dovetailing off Indiana, you know, obviously strategy to enter states of size and scale, do you know if you combine the two assets, where that would put you in terms of market share in the state? I just caught your comments on decent rates and competition dynamics, but anything else in particular that made Indiana attractive?

Speaker #11: And I just caught your comments on decent rates and competition dynamics. But anything else in particular that made Indiana attractive?

Speaker #10: Yeah. I can start and then Dirk could add some Colorado. I don't know that we have enough detail to know exactly where we'd stand.

Brian Poff: Yeah, I can start and then Dirk can add some color, right? I don't know that we have enough detail to know exactly where we'd stand. I think it's going to be a good footprint for us from just a coverage standpoint. You know, all in, the other acquisition is going to be similar size, so we're going to be, you know, just under $20 million in revenue, which is a pretty good start for us in this state. I think one of the things that made it attractive for us, in addition to what Dirk had kind of referenced, is the managed Medicaid component. Obviously a lot of the larger players there, think United and those folks, we have good relationships with all of those guys, as everyone knows, kind of nationally. I think it is a good fit for us as well.

Speaker #10: I think it's going to be a good footprint for us from just a coverage standpoint. All in the other acquisition is going to be similar size.

Speaker #10: So we're going to be just under $20 million in revenue, which is a pretty good start for us in the state. I think one of the things that made it attractive for us, in addition to what Dirk had kind of referenced, is the managed Medicaid component.

Speaker #10: Obviously, a lot of the larger players there think United and those folks. We have good relationships with all of those guys as everyone knows kind of nationally.

Speaker #10: So I think it is a good fit for us as well. That's always been something that's been part of the profile that we like.

Brian Poff: That's always been something that's been part of the profile that we like, is to get into states that have managed Medicaid where we can have those relationships in place. I'm excited about that.

Speaker #10: It's getting to states that have managed Medicaid where we can have those relationships in place. So I'm excited about that.

Speaker #11: Okay. And then I appreciate the commentary and response to Matt's question. But maybe just more broadly, obviously, this administration is really focused on fraud, waste, and abuse and have made some statements to that quite a bit over the past several months to a year plus.

Ryan Langston: Okay. Appreciate the commentary and response to Matt's question, maybe just more broadly. Obviously, this administration is really focused on fraud, waste, and abuse and have made some, you know, statements to that, you know, quite a bit over the past, you know, several months to 1 year plus. Like, I guess, just in general, what do you think any of that could mean for Addus? Is that a potential benefit because you're so large and so, you know, sophisticated maybe versus some of your smaller, you know, competitors in your markets? Just maybe more broadly, what do you think this administration sort of stance on FWA, you know, and how that could affect Addus? Thanks.

Speaker #11: I guess just in general, what do you think any of that could mean for Addison? Is that a potential benefit because you're so large and sophisticated maybe versus some of your smaller competitors in your market?

Speaker #11: Just maybe more broadly, what do you think this administration's sort of stance on FWA is, and how that could affect Addus? Thanks. Yeah. One of the things that Addus did—we participated with the alliance in talking to the current administration about the fact that fraud and abuse is out there.

Dirk Allison: Yeah. You know, one of the things that Addus did, we participated with the alliance in talking to the current administration about the fact that fraud and abuse is out there, and it causes companies that are legitimate providers, it causes issues with various things you can talk about. From the standpoint of Addus, we're glad to see the administration focus on fraud and abuse. We spend a lot of money on compliance. We have for the last 10 years. We wanna make sure that when we operate in a state, that we're following the rules and we're doing what's proper. You know, at times that you find that maybe something was billed improperly, we pay it back very quickly to stay in compliance with the state.

Speaker #11: And it causes companies that are legitimate providers, it causes issues with various things you can talk about. And so from the standpoint of Addison, we're glad to see the administration focus on fraud and abuse.

Speaker #11: We spend a lot of money on compliance. We have for the last 10 years. We want to make sure that when we operate in a state, that we're following the rules and we're doing what's proper.

Speaker #11: And you know, at times that you find that maybe something was billed improperly, we pay it back very quickly to stay in compliance with the state.

Speaker #11: So the fact that we are large, we spend millions of dollars into the compliance aspect, we think bodes very well for what the administration is trying to do.

Dirk Allison: The fact that we are large, we spend millions of dollars into the compliance aspect, we think bodes very well for what the administration is trying to do. That is take out the players, mostly smaller players, but take out the players that aren't doing the right thing. They're just billing and not following through with what they need to do to make sure that the rules are being followed. More importantly, the most important thing is that the care is being given to the patient. There's a reason that patient has a plan of care that the state approved, and that is they need that care.

Speaker #11: And that is take out the players mostly smaller players. But take out the players that aren't doing the right thing. They're just billing and not following through with what they need to do to make sure that the rules are being followed and more importantly, the most important thing is that the care is being given to the patient.

Speaker #11: There's a reason that patient has a plan of care that the state approved. And that is they need that care. And so for us, calling out personal care, we'd rather them just call out home care and talk about the fact that there's a lot of fraud and abuse in home health.

Dirk Allison: For us, you know, calling out personal care, you know, we'd rather them just call out home care and talk about the fact that there's a lot of fraud and abuse in home health. There seems to be a lot in hospice. From a personal care standpoint, we believe that we're a leader in the industry, and part of that being a leader is to lead the compliance effort. We're pleased with the fact they're focused on that, and we believe long-term it'll be a benefit to our company.

Speaker #11: There seems to be a lot in hospice. From a personal care standpoint, we believe that we're a leader in the industry. And part of that, being a leader, is to lead the compliance effort.

Speaker #11: And so we're pleased with the fact they're focused on that. And we believe, long term, it'll be a benefit to our company.

Speaker #10: Great. Thank you.

Ryan Langston: Great. Thank you.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Jared Haas from William Blair. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Jared Haase from William Blair. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Jared Haase from William Blair. Please go ahead.

Speaker #10: Hey, guys. Good morning. Maybe you just one for the model. Appreciate all the detail. You guys have given us as far as hiring and some of the initiatives you have going on, like the caregiver application, that hours per census per month metric has been above 70 for a couple of quarters now.

Jared Haase: Hey, guys. Good morning. Maybe just one for the model. Appreciate all the detail, you guys have given as far as hiring and some of the initiatives you have going on, like the caregiver application. You know, that hours per census per month metric has been above 70 for 2 quarters now. I guess, is there anything structurally that would cause that to decline? I think the typical seasonality would have that, you know, sort of continue to grow sequentially over the rest of the year. Just wanna try to make sure that's sort of the right expectation to level set how we're thinking about things for the model, just given the moving parts, as it relates to sort of census and volume trends.

Speaker #10: I guess, is there anything structurally that would cause that to decline? I think the typical seasonality would have that sort of continue to grow sequentially over the rest of the year.

Speaker #10: But just want to kind of make sure that's sort of the right expectation to level set how we're thinking about things for the model, just given the moving parts as it relates to sort of census and volume trends.

Speaker #10: Yeah, Jared. I wouldn't expect to see that. There's nothing structurally that's going to cause that to decline. I think you're always going to have a little bit of ebb and flow and mix in the states.

Brian Poff: Yeah, Jared, I wouldn't expect to see that. There's nothing structurally that's gonna cause that to decline. I think you're always gonna have a little bit of ebb and flow and mix in the States. With the efforts that we're using in the caregiver app and that rollout and thinking about our fill rate, we would actually probably expect that longer term to actually continue to grow. 'Cause we think there are hours that are available for clients under their care plan that we are currently not serving. No, I wouldn't expect from a modeling perspective, I would not expect to see that decline for any structural reason.

Speaker #10: But with efforts that we're using in the caregiver app and that rollout and thinking about our full rate, we would actually probably expect that longer term to actually continue to grow.

Speaker #10: Because we think there are hours that are available for clients under their care plan that we are currently not serving. So no, I wouldn't expect for a while in pursuit.

Speaker #10: I would not expect to see that decline for any structural reason. Okay. Got it. That's helpful. And then maybe just another one on Indiana as a new market for you guys.

Jared Haase: Okay. Got it. That's helpful. Then, maybe just another one on Indiana as a new market for you guys. You know, I'm just curious, do you get any sort of regional leverage in a market like Indiana, just given obviously the proximity to your largest market, Illinois? I don't know if there's any sort of infrastructure that you're able to leverage that would help you scale up, and extract synergies a little bit more quickly than normal?

Speaker #10: I'm just curious, do you get any sort of regional leverage in a market like Indiana just given obviously the proximity to your largest market, Illinois?

Speaker #10: I don't know if there's any sort of infrastructure that you're able to leverage that would help you scale up and extract synergies a little bit more quickly than normal.

Speaker #10: Yeah, I think if you look at it from where we have markets around Indiana, obviously, we're very large in Illinois. We're in Michigan. We're in Ohio.

Brian Poff: Yeah, I think if you look at even where we have markets around Indiana. Obviously, we're very large in Illinois, we're in Michigan, we're Ohio, so Indiana is kinda right in the middle of that geographically. If you think about from a, just a regional or leadership perspective, there's not gonna be a need for us to add any additional layers there. They should be able to just tuck under kinda what exists for us on the infrastructure today. Obviously, you'll have people, you know, in those branch locations, but really, that should be the limit of it. From a, just from a leverage perspective on G&A, that definitely should slide right into the operations that we have that kinda surround the state.

Speaker #10: So Indiana is kind of right in the middle of that geographically. So, if you think about it from just a regional or leadership perspective, there's not going to be a need for us to add any additional layers there.

Speaker #10: They should be able to just tuck under kind of what exists for us on the infrastructure today. Obviously, you'll have people in those branch locations.

Speaker #10: But really, that should be the limit of it. So from just from a leverage perspective on GNA, that definitely should slide right into the operations that we have that kind of surround the state.

Speaker #10: Okay. Thank you.

Jared Haase: Okay. Thank you.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Clark Murphy from Truist. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Clarke Murphy from Truist. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Clarke Murphy from Truist. Please go ahead.

Speaker #11: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my question. I had a follow-up on labor. I appreciate all the commentary that you guys gave around the caregiver app and hiring trends.

Clarke Murphy: Hey, good morning, guys. Thanks for taking my question. I had a follow-up on labor. I appreciate all the commentary that you guys gave around the Caregiver app and hiring trends. Wanted to see if you guys are seeing perhaps any benefit on labor availability, given some of the macro concerns that seem to have amplified over the last couple of months and the impacts that that's had on kind of the broader consumer environment.

Speaker #11: But wanted to see if you guys are seeing perhaps any benefit on labor availability given some of the macro concerns that seem to have amplified over the last couple of months and the impacts that that's had on kind of the broader consumer environment.

Heather Dixon: Yeah. Hi, good morning, Clarke. I'll take that. You know, the short answer is that we're seeing, you know, positive hiring trends, and we are seeing, you know, some of the leading indicators, you know, in terms of wage inflation and availability of candidates all trend in the right direction. Frankly, with wage inflation, we're back to sort of that normal roughly 3% base. You know, some are a little higher, some are a little lower. In terms of candidates, we're seeing really good candidate flow across our markets. You know, as Dirk Allison mentioned, we're always gonna have small pockets where it's a little bit more difficult to staff, but that is really limited to mostly rural locations and frankly, just a couple of skilled categories in those rural locations.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Hi. Good morning, Clark. I'll take that. The short answer is that we're seeing positive hiring trends. And we are seeing some of the leading indicators, in terms of wage inflation and availability of candidates, all trend in the right direction.

Speaker #5: And frankly, with wage inflation, we're back to sort of that normal, roughly 3% base—some are a little higher, some are a little lower.

Speaker #5: But in terms of candidates, we're seeing really good candidate flow across our markets. As Dirk mentioned, we're always going to have small pockets where it's a little bit more difficult to staff.

Speaker #5: But that is really limited to mostly rural locations, and frankly, just a couple of skilled categories in those rural locations. But we continue to work through those so that we can make sure we're hiring the right staff to drive growth and to serve our patients and clients.

Heather Dixon: We continue to work through those so that we can make sure we're hiring the right staff to drive growth and to serve our patients and clients. You know, seeing some good trajectory there. Whether it's attributable to the macro environmental issues, you know, that's really hard to say, of course, but I can tell you that we are seeing positive trends.

Speaker #5: So, really, really seeing some good trajectory there. Now, whether it's attributable to the macroenvironmental issues, that's really hard to say, of course. But I can tell you that we are seeing positive trends.

Speaker #11: Got it. Thanks. And then just switching gears to capital deployment. The other question I had was just if I think about your current pace of debt pay down relative to your debt balance, suggests absent M&A, you'd be kind of largely paid off by the end of the year.

Clarke Murphy: Got it. Thanks. Just switching gears to capital deployment. The other question I had was just if, you know, if I think about your current pace of debt paydown relative to your debt balance suggests, you know, absent M&A, you'd be kind of largely paid off by the end of the year. Just wanted to see, you know, absent any large scale M&A, how that would potentially impact your capital deployment priorities going forward.

Speaker #11: Just wanted to see absent any large-scale M&A, how that would potentially impact your capital deployment priorities going forward.

Speaker #10: We spend a lot of time talking about this at our board meeting. As you would expect, with a company in our position, I think the thing we see that maybe is not as apparent to outsiders is the number of deals that are now starting to come on board.

Dirk Allison: You know, we spent a lot of time talking about this at our board meeting, as you would expect, with the company in our position. I think the thing we see that maybe is, is not as apparent to outsiders is the number of deals that are now starting to come on board. We're starting to see some larger transactions, as we mentioned. Remember, with those larger transactions, there still are a number of smaller transactions that we just announced that are out there that we consider, in most cases, backfill. In, in this case, it was entering into a new market. You know, we believe that before our debt is paid off, we will put to work a great deal of our capital in these opportunities that are out there.

Speaker #10: We're starting to see some larger transactions as we mentioned. And remember, with those larger transactions, there still are a number of smaller transactions that we just announced that are out there that we consider in most cases backfill.

Speaker #10: In this case, it was entering into a new market. So, we believe that before our debt is paid off, we will put to work a great deal of our capital in these opportunities that are out there.

Speaker #10: So it led us to decide that that's really what we understand we're going to use our capital for today. Now, if that didn't happen over the next year, you would see us maybe come up with a different decision on how we used our capital but we believe right now that with the opportunities that are there for us, we'll be able to use our debt and our cash and debt to grow the company.

Dirk Allison: It led us to decide that that's really what we understand we're gonna use our capital for today. Now, if that didn't happen over the next year, you would see us maybe come up with a different decision on how we used our capital. We believe right now that with the opportunities that are there for us, we'll be able to use our debt and and our cash and debt to grow the company.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Ben Hendrix from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Ben Hendrix from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Ben Hendricks from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker #11: Hi, this is Michael Marie Antre, Ben. Thanks for taking my question. You saw some pretty good leverage on adjusted SG&A, even with the weather headwinds.

Michael Murray: Hi, this is Michael Murray on for Ben. Thanks for taking my question. You saw some pretty good leverage on adjusted SG&A, even with the weather headwinds. Are there specific cost initiatives driving this improvement? Do you think the Caregiver app is helping there? How should we think about SG&A ratio as we move through the year?

Speaker #11: Are there specific cost initiatives driving this improvement? Do you think the caregiver app is helping there? And how should we think about SG&A ratio as we move through the year?

Speaker #10: Yeah. I would say first, the caregiver app probably isn't going to really have an impact on GNA. I think when we continue to see is kind of ongoing leverage particularly on our corporate GNA as we grow our revenue base as we would expect.

Brian Poff: Yeah, I would say first, the Caregiver app, you know, probably isn't gonna really have an impact on G&A. I think what we continue to see is kinda ongoing leverage, particularly on our corporate G&A as we grow our revenue base, as, you know, we would expect. We're not having to obviously add incremental costs there. I think, you know, on the labor side, you know, as we kinda mentioned earlier, you know, this year in this cycle, we're back to kinda a, you know, 3-ish% kinda default rate there, so kinda back to norm.

Speaker #10: So we're not having to obviously add incremental costs there. I think on the labor side, as we kind of mentioned earlier, this year in this cycle, we're back to kind of a 3-ish percent kind of default rate there.

Speaker #10: So kind of back to norm. I think kind of going forward, we do give our merits on March 1. So if you think sequentially into Q2, there's going to be a little bit of additional dollars in GNA in Q2 as those kind of flow through for the full quarter.

Brian Poff: I think, you know, kinda going forward, we do give our merits on March 1, so if you think sequentially into Q2, there's gonna be, you know, a little bit of additional dollars in G&A in Q2 as those kind of flow through for the full quarter. Nothing else really from a seasonal perspective. I think we would expect it to maintain, you know, pretty stable percentage of revenue and continue to see additional leverage as we grow.

Speaker #10: But nothing else really from a seasonal perspective. So I think we would expect it to maintain pretty stable percentage of revenue and continue to see additional leverage as we grow.

Speaker #13: Okay. And then just shifting gears to home health, organic revenue declined 6.6. I think you previously indicated a return to growth in the second half of this year.

Michael Murray: Okay. Just shifting gears to home health. Organic revenue declined 6.6. I think you previously indicated a return to growth in H2 this year, against some easier comps. Just wanted to get an update on admission trends, the impact of your new leadership, and your confidence in achieving that timeline.

Speaker #13: Again, some easier comps. So I just wanted to get an update on admission trends, the impact of your new leadership, and your confidence in achieving that timeline.

Speaker #5: Sure. Hi, Michael. I'll take that one and talk about home health. I'd just start by reminding everybody it's less than 5% of our business.

Heather Dixon: Sure. Hi, Michael. I'll take that one and talk about home health. Just start by reminding everybody it's less than 5% of our business. You know, that said, we've made changes from a leadership perspective and then also from a sales perspective on how we go to market for that business recently. In Q1, we saw our margins really where we want them to be, our focus is now on volume. We did see some positive trends in Q1. In fact, in Q1 2026, new admissions, total volume, and total visits all improved sequentially versus Q4 2025. That is the trend that we would like to see.

Speaker #5: But that said, we've made changes from a leadership perspective and then also from a sales perspective. And how we go to market for that business recently.

Speaker #5: In Q1, we saw our margins really where we want them to be. And so our focus is now on volume. We did see some positive trends in Q1.

Speaker #5: In fact, in Q1 2026, new admissions total volume and total visits all improved sequentially versus Q4 2025. So that is the trend that we would like to see.

Speaker #5: That's part of what we're focused on seeing, and we continue to think that we'll see that certainly later this year and feel good about that statement.

Heather Dixon: That's part of what we're focused on seeing, and we continue to think that we'll see that, you know, certainly later this year and feel good about that statement. Just to step back a little bit at a higher level, picking up on, you know, something that Dirk said earlier. The real value in our home health business is the interconnecting care that we provide and the correlation that we see in markets where we have multiple lines of service there and different levels of care between those lines of service. For example, I think it bears repeating, in New Mexico and also Tennessee, where we have what we call the bridge program in place, and we really focus on creating referrals and admissions from home health into hospice for patients where that's appropriate.

Speaker #5: Just to step back a little bit at a higher level, picking up on something that Dirk said earlier, the real value in our home health business is the interconnecting care that we provide.

Speaker #5: And the correlation that we see in markets where we have multiple lines of service there in different levels of care between those lines of service.

Speaker #5: So for example, I think it bears repeating in New Mexico and also Tennessee where we have what we call the bridge program in place.

Speaker #5: And we really focus on creating referrals and admissions from home health into hospice for patients where that's appropriate. We've seen those rates exceed 25%.

Heather Dixon: We've seen those rates exceed 25%, and we've also now begun that program in Illinois. Obviously Illinois Home Health is a little bit earlier for us, but there is great opportunity there and opportunity to continue that pattern.

Speaker #5: And we've also now begun that program in Illinois obviously, Illinois home health is a little bit earlier for us. But there is great opportunity there and opportunity to continue that pattern.

Speaker #13: All right. Thank you. Again, if you have a question, please press star, then one. And our next question comes from AJ Rice from UBS.

Operator 3: All right. Thank you. Again, if you have a question, please press star then one. Our next question comes from A.J. Rice from UBS. Please go ahead.

Operator: All right. Thank you. Again, if you have a question, please press star then one. Our next question comes from A.J. Rice from UBS. Please go ahead.

Speaker #13: Please go ahead.

Speaker #10: Okay. Hi, everybody. First, I think at one point you were had said that you thought in the second quarter, you'd still see above-average growth in personal care and hospice.

A.J. Rice: Hi, everybody. First, I think at one point you were had said that you thought in Q2 you'd still see above average growth in personal care and hospice and then it would moderate in H2. Just wanted to give you a chance if there's any update, excuse me, to your thinking about seasonality, what that might be, or if there's any comments on it, thinking about the seasonal layout of business for the rest of the year.

Speaker #10: And then it would moderate in the second half. Just wanted to give you a chance if there's any update - excuse me - to your thinking about seasonality.

Speaker #10: What that might be. Or if there's any comments on it thinking about the seasonal layout of the business for the rest of the year.

Speaker #10: Yeah, AJ. This is Brian. I think maybe not so much seasonal, but I think you start thinking about comps over prior year and some of the rate impact, particularly in personal care.

Brian Poff: Yeah, A.J., this is Brian. I think, maybe not so much seasonal, but I think you start thinking about comps over prior year and some of the rate impact, particularly in personal care. I think our prior comments that we expected to be probably at toward the high end of our kind of normal three to five range, if not above. Starting this year, obviously at 6.5% on a same-store basis. You know, we would still expect that to be the case for the remainder of this year. I think once we kind of get confirmation on New Mexico and that flowing through as well, that will obviously benefit the H2 of the year.

Speaker #10: I think our prior comments that we expected to be probably toward the high end of our kind of normal three to five range, if not above.

Speaker #10: So, starting this year, obviously, at 6.5% on a same-store basis, we would still expect that to be the case for the remainder of this year.

Speaker #10: I think once we kind of get confirmation on New Mexico and that flowing through as well, that obviously benefits the back half of the year.

Speaker #10: So I think we still feel pretty comfortable with that commentary, thinking about kind of where we'll be on a same-store basis for each quarter going forward in PCS.

Brian Poff: I think we still feel pretty comfortable with that commentary, thinking about kind of where we'll be on a same-store basis for each quarter going forward in PCS. You know, hospice, you know, has been, you know, double-digit plus in same-store. I think we had, you know, guided people to think that's probably not, you know, long-term sustainable. You know, our ultimate, you know, expectation is probably, you know, upper single digits. We're, you know, just under 8% this quarter. I think we've seen some nice trajectory in ADC coming out of the quarter.

Speaker #10: Home health I mean, sorry, hospice has been double-digit plus in same-store. I think we had guided people to think that's probably not long-term sustainable.

Speaker #10: Our ultimate expectation is probably upper single digits. So we're just under 8% this quarter. I think we've seen some nice trajectory in ADC coming out of the quarter.

Speaker #10: We were a little bit softer coming off of the holiday. So I think that sets us up pretty well. I think going forward to be in really good shape to continue to meet that as well for the remainder of this year.

Brian Poff: We were a little bit softer coming off of the holidays, so I think that sets us up pretty well, I think going forward to be in really good shape to continue to meet that as well for the remainder of this year.

Speaker #10: Okay, thanks for that. And then, I guess to your comments about M&A and the pipeline and so forth, obviously these deals are more in the personal care arena.

A.J. Rice: Okay. Thanks on that. I guess to your comments about M&A and the pipeline and so forth, obviously these deals are more in the personal care arena. You sound like you're feeling a little better about the home health backdrop. Would that be something you would now sort of lean into again on M&A, or is it still too early to do that?

Speaker #10: You sound like you're feeling a little better about the home health backdrop. Would that be something you would now sort of lean into again on M&A?

Speaker #10: Or is it still too early to do that?

Dirk Allison: You know, I think we would look at home health deals today, as opposed to maybe a year ago. As you can understand, we'd be very careful in what we did, make sure it strategically met, for us, the overlap with our hospice and personal care so that our bridge program can work. Yes, we would start looking at home health care opportunities today.

Speaker #4: I think we would look at home health deals today. As opposed to maybe a year ago, as you can understand, we'd be very careful in what we did, make sure it's strategically met.

Speaker #4: For us, the overlap with our hospice and personal care, so that our bridge program can work. But yes, we would start looking at home healthcare opportunities today.

Speaker #10: Okay. All right. Thanks a lot.

A.J. Rice: Okay. All right. Thanks a lot.

Speaker #11: Did you?

Brian Poff: Thank you.

Speaker #13: The next question comes from Joanna Gadjuk from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Joanna Gajuk from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Joanna Gajuk from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Speaker #14: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for squeezing me in, so thank you. A couple of questions here. So, on Personal Care, same-store hours per business day, I think.

Joanna Gajuk: Hi. Good morning. Thanks for squeezing me in. Thank you. A couple of questions here. On personal care, same store hours per business day, I think, grew call it 2%, 2.2%. What was it excluding weather? I know you gave, you know, a revenue, I guess, impact from that. What was it as you exited the quarter? Essentially what I'm trying to get at is kind of, you know, what was your growth in March and do you expect sort of, you know, re-acceleration and a little bit higher growth the rest of the year of that metric?

Speaker #14: We'll call it 2%, 2.2%. So what was it excluding weather? I know you gave a revenue, I guess, impact from that. And what was it as you exited the quarter?

Speaker #14: So essentially, what I'm trying to get at is kind of what was your growth in March? And do you expect sort of the acceleration and a little bit higher growth the rest of the year on that metric?

Speaker #11: Yeah, I think, Joanna, I think our target has always been, and we've been talking about it for some time now, if we can keep that same-store hours per business day between 2% and 2.5%.

Brian Poff: I think, Joanna Gajuk, I think, you know, our target has always been, and we've been talking about it for some time now, if we can keep, you know, that same store hours per business day between 2% and 2.5%, you know, we're probably gonna be in a pretty good spot. We've been 2.4% each of Q3 and Q4, you know, 2.2%, we were a little bit softer as we kind of mentioned and Heather Dixon with some of the weather we saw in January. You know, we're probably not gonna go into kind of a month-by-month metric on that. I think we feel pretty comfortable coming out of the quarter with where we were from just a census perspective and hours in March and going into Q2.

Speaker #11: We're probably going to be in a pretty good spot. We've been 2.4% each of Q3 and Q4. 2.2%, but we were a little bit softer, as we kind of mentioned, and Heather, with some of the weather we saw in January.

Speaker #11: So we're probably not going to go into kind of a month-by-month metric on that. I think we feel pretty comfortable coming out of the quarter with where we were from just a census perspective, and hours in March, and going into Q2.

Brian Poff: That, you know, that 2% to 2.5% range still feels very solid for us going forward.

Speaker #11: That 2 to 2 and a half percent range still feels very, very solid for us going forward.

Brian Poff: That, you know, that 2% to 2.5% range still feels very solid for us going forward.

Speaker #14: Okay. That's great. So 2, 2 and a half percent. And then the gross margins, so Q1 is seasonally low, right? But can you help us kind of call out anything as we think about Q2 from Q1?

Joanna Gajuk: That's great. 2.5%. The gross margins, Q1 is seasonally low, right? Can you help us kind of call out anything about Q2 from Q1?

Speaker #11: Yeah. I think Q1, yes, seasonally is usually always our low watermark of the year, with a reset of payroll taxes and our merits. I think traditionally, what we see is usually you see a little bit of improvement with some of the payroll tax caps getting hit Q1 into Q2.

Brian Poff: Yeah. I think Q1, yes, seasonally is usually always our low water mark of the year, with the reset of payroll taxes and our merits. I think traditionally what we see is usually you see a little bit of improvement, with some of the payroll tax caps getting hit, Q1 into Q2. Usually there's a little bit of benefit into Q2. Q2, Q3, usually pretty flat. I think Q4 usually is the best quarter for us from a margin perspective, just with some additional benefit from payroll tax CAPs, but also our hospice rate increase kicks in in that quarter as well. I think, you know, if you look at the mix of our business, you know, personal care was a little over 77% this quarter.

Speaker #11: So usually, there's a little bit of benefit into Q2. Q2, Q3—usually pretty flat. And then Q4 usually is the best quarter for us from a margin perspective.

Speaker #11: Just with some additional benefit from payroll tax caps, but also our hospice rate increase kicks in that quarter as well. I think if you look at the mix of our business, personal care was a little over 77% this quarter.

Brian Poff: Just a comparison, you think about that versus hospice and home health. Hospice and home health have a higher gross margin. If that mix gets back more to 75, 25 on skilled and non-skilled, that would benefit as well. Mix is gonna potentially play in as well. I think we feel really good coming out of the quarter on the track for hospice and ADC. If that were to be a bigger part of our mix going forward, that would benefit our gross margin percentage as well.

Speaker #11: As a just a comparison, you think about that versus hospice and home health. Hospice and home health have a higher gross margin. So if that mix gets back more to 75/25 on skilled and non-skilled, that would benefit as well.

Speaker #11: But mix is going to potentially play in as well. So I think we feel really good coming out of the quarter on the track for hospice and ADC.

Speaker #11: So if that were to be a bigger part of our mix going forward, that would benefit our gross margin percentage as well.

Speaker #14: And the last one on the quarter of the stock comp was higher sequentially from Q4. Is there was there something kind of one-time in nature?

Joanna Gajuk: The last one on the quarter, the stock comp was higher sequentially from Q4. Was there something kind of one-time in nature? Is the $5 million essentially a good run rate, or just something outside of just regular? Thank you.

Speaker #14: Is the $5 million essentially a good run rate, or is there something outside of just regular? Thank you.

Speaker #11: Yeah. That's not our run rate. I mentioned in my comments. So with our former president, COO, retiring, there was some accelerated investing as part of his retirement that impacted the quarter.

Brian Poff: Yeah, yeah, that's not our run rate. I mentioned in my comments, with our former President and COO retiring, there was some accelerated vesting as part of his retirement that impacted the quarter. It should be one-time and would not be continuing going forward.

Speaker #11: But should be one-time and would not be continuing going forward.

Speaker #14: All right. Thank you so much.

Joanna Gajuk: All right. Thank you so much.

Speaker #11: Thank you.

Brian Poff: Thank you.

Speaker #13: This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Dirk Allison for any closing remarks.

Operator 3: This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Dirk Allison for any closing remarks.

Operator: This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Dirk Allison for any closing remarks.

Speaker #10: Thank you, operator. I want to thank each of you for taking the time to join us today on our call. And we hope that you have a great week.

Dirk Allison: Thank you, operator. I wanna thank each of you for taking the time to join us today on our call, and we hope that you have a great week. Thank you.

Speaker #10: Thank you.

Operator 3: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

Operator: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.