Chemed Corporation (CHE) Earnings Call Transcripts

Chemed Corporation's Latest Earnings Call - Q1 FY2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Chemed Corporation reported strong performance driven by its VITAS subsidiary, which exceeded revenue expectations with $420 million, a 3.1% increase year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA for VITAS was $70.8 million, reflecting a 0.6% increase. The company raised its full-year guidance for average daily census growth to 4.5%-5.5% and revenue growth to 6.5%-7.5%, signaling confidence in continued operational improvements. Roto-Rooter showed signs of recovery, with residential plumbing revenue increasing for the first time since Q4 2022, although weather disruptions impacted overall performance.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

Chemed raised its full-year guidance for VITAS, projecting ADC growth of 4.5%-5.5% and revenue growth of 6.5%-7.5%. Adjusted earnings per diluted share guidance was increased to $24-$24.75, reflecting a 13% increase from 2025.

What management said

I can start with the margin discussion, Meghan, and then I'll let Joel talk about the fraud stuff. But we averaged roughly 100 FTEs below our budget in the quarter. We were able to efficiently serve the increased ADC with -- at that level. But I think to your point, that's not something that we view as something sustainable for the rest of the year. We intend to -- I think our original budget was adding 30 to 40 FTEs...

Yes. So we certainly are very sensitive to the national campaign to root out fraud, waste, and abuse within the healthcare system. Certainly, the hospice concerns in California have been very public. There were just Senate or congressional hearings on Tuesday, speaking specific to it. We are very supportive of the efforts. However, we also want to avoid direct implications associated with the fraudsters and ensure th...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of VITAS's margin improvements and the impact of increased marketing costs on Roto-Rooter's profitability. There were also inquiries about the potential regulatory impacts on hospice operations due to increased scrutiny in California.

Main topics on the call

• VITAS Revenue Growth — VITAS achieved net revenue of $420 million in Q1 2026, a 3.1% increase year-over-year, driven by a 2.2% rise in days of care and a 2.6% increase in Medicare reimbursement rates. Management stated, 'We are more confident ...
• Adjusted EBITDA Performance — VITAS reported adjusted EBITDA of $70.8 million, a 0.6% increase from the prior year. The adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding Medicare Cap, was 16.8%. This performance was attributed to lower hospice labor costs than budge...
• Roto-Rooter Recovery Signs — Roto-Rooter saw its core residential plumbing and sewer revenue increase for the first time since Q4 2022, with residential revenue totaling $166.3 million, although overall commercial revenue fell by 1.9%. Management no...
• Guidance Revision — Chemed raised its full-year guidance for VITAS, projecting ADC growth of 4.5%-5.5% (up from 3.5%-4%) and revenue growth of 6.5%-7.5% (up from 5.5%-6.5%). Adjusted earnings per diluted share guidance was also raised to $2...

Read the full Chemed Corporation transcript (Q1 FY2026) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 59 Chemed Corporation earnings call transcripts on record, spanning February 19, 2020 to July 29, 2026. Based on this history, Chemed Corporation reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated July 29, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

CHE

Exchange

NYSE

Country

US

Sector

Health Care

Industry

Health Care Providers and Services

Calls on record

59

First call

February 19, 2020

Most recent

July 29, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly