HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Insperity, Inc. (NYSE: NSP), a leading provider of human resources and business performance solutions for America’s best businesses, today reported results for the third quarter ended Sep. 30, 2020:

• Q3 net income and diluted EPS of $20 million and $0.51, respectively
• Q3 adjusted EPS up 21% to $0.91
• Q3 adjusted EBITDA up 13% to $58 million
• YTD net income and diluted EPS of $134 million and $3.43, respectively
• YTD adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS up 20% and 16% to $251 million and $4.15, respectively
• Share repurchase authorization expanded by one million shares

Third Quarter Results

For the third quarter of 2020, reported net income and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) were $20 million and $0.51, respectively. Adjusted EPS increased 21% over the 2019 period to $0.91. Adjusted EBITDA increased 13% to $57.6 million. The difference between GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS was primarily caused by performance driven stock-based compensation.

“These excellent results reflect outperformance in worksite employee growth and pricing relative to our expectations in the midst of an uncertain business environment. These developments, together with favorable results in our direct cost programs, more than offset the impact of layoffs within our client base brought about by the pandemic,” said Paul J. Sarvadi, Insperity chief executive officer and chairman. “We expect the strength of our business model, the dedication of our staff, and the resiliency of our client base to be important factors as we look ahead with confidence into 2021.”

The average number of worksite employees (“WSEEs”) paid per month in Q3 2020 increased 1.7% sequentially over the Q2 period to 231,750 WSEEs, which was above the high end of our expected range. A continued improvement over the course of the pandemic from the low point experienced in May 2020 was driven by (1) WSEEs hired or returning to work outpacing layoffs, (2) client retention for both Q2 and Q3 remaining at our historical level of 99% and (3) the addition of WSEEs from solid new client sales throughout the pandemic.

“We are pleased with our recent sequential growth and expect paid worksite employees to return to near pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year,” said Douglas S. Sharp, Insperity senior vice president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer. “Additionally, strong execution in pricing, effective management of our direct cost programs and operating expenses, and the dynamics of the pandemic on our business has driven our recent substantial outperformance.”

Average pricing increased 4.4% over the 2019 period, which more than offset the 3.8% year-over-year decline in average paid WSEEs driven by the pandemic. However, total revenues decreased 3% from Q3 2019 to $1.0 billion, due to the FICA deferral program instituted as part of the CARES Act.

Gross profit increased by 8% over Q3 2019 to $185.0 million. This greater than expected increase resulted from the higher than anticipated paid WSEEs and pricing, combined with significant favorable results in benefits and workers’ compensation costs. Lower than expected benefit costs were primarily associated with favorable claims development from less healthcare utilization. Lower workers’ compensation costs were primarily attributable to the effective management of claims incurred in periods prior to the pandemic.

Operating expenses increased 15% over Q3 2019 and included a 10% increase in the number of trained Business Performance Advisors. In spite of an increased workload from the pandemic, we have held other corporate headcount flat and achieved cost savings in other areas, including travel, training and other general and administrative costs. An increase in stock-based compensation was driven by our recent outperformance in the level of paid WSEEs and earnings. Operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization, increased by 5% over Q3 2019.

Year-to-Date Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, reported net income and diluted EPS were $134.0 million and $3.43, respectively. Adjusted EPS increased 16% over the first nine months of 2019 to $4.15. Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% over the first nine months of 2019 to $250.8 million.

Revenues for the first nine months of 2020 were flat at $3.2 billion, as the improvement in the average number of paid WSEEs from the low point in May 2020 has resulted in the year-to-date average paid WSEEs per month being essentially unchanged compared to the 2019 period. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2020 increased 12% to $639.3 million. Operating expenses increased 10% to $452.3 million over the 2019 period.

Net income per WSEE per month increased 3% from $62 in the 2019 period to $64 in the 2020 period. Adjusted EBITDA per WSEE per month increased 20% from $100 in the 2019 period to $120 in the 2020 period.

Cash outlays in the first nine months of 2020 included the repurchase of approximately 1,337,000 shares of stock at a cost of $91.2 million, dividends totaling $46.5 million and capital expenditures of $68.8 million. Adjusted cash totaled $213 million at September 30, 2020 and $130 million remains available under our $500 million credit facility.

Share Repurchase Expansion

Insperity’s board of directors has authorized an expansion of its stock repurchase program by an additional one-million shares, and as a result will have approximately 1.2 million shares available for repurchase. Purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The company may also adopt Rule 10b5-1 prearranged stock trading plans designed to facilitate Insperity’s repurchase of its common stock during times it would not otherwise be in the open market due to self-imposed trading blackout periods or possible possession of material nonpublic information.

2020 Guidance

The company also announced its updated guidance for 2020, including the fourth quarter of 2020. Please refer to the accompanying financial tables at the end of this press release for the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Definition of Key Metrics

Average WSEEs paid - Determined by calculating the company’s cumulative worksite employees paid during the period divided by the number of months in the period.

Adjusted EPS - Represents diluted net income per share computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding the impact of non-cash stock-based compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA - Represents net income computed in accordance with GAAP, plus interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense and non-cash stock-based compensation.

About Insperity

Insperity®, a trusted advisor to America’s best businesses for more than 34 years, provides an array of human resources and business solutions designed to help improve business performance. Offering the most comprehensive suite of products and services available in the marketplace, Insperity delivers administrative relief, better benefits, reduced liabilities and a systematic way to improve productivity through its premier Workforce Optimization® solution. Additional company offerings include Traditional Payroll and Human Capital Management, Time and Attendance, Performance Management, Organizational Planning, Recruiting Services, Employment Screening, Retirement Services and Insurance Services. With 2019 revenues of $4.3 billion, Insperity supports more than 100,000 businesses with over 2 million employees nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.insperity.com.