Cerner Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results


KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq:CERN) today announced results for the 2017 fourth quarter and full year that ended December 30, 2017.

Bookings in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $2.329 billion, which is an all-time high and an increase of 62 percent compared to $1.437 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Full-year 2017 bookings were also a record at $6.325 billion, up 16 percent compared to 2016 bookings of $5.446 billion.

Fourth quarter revenue was $1.314 billion, an increase of 4 percent compared to $1.258 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016 and in the Company’s guidance range. Full-year 2017 revenue was $5.142 billion, up 7 percent compared to 2016 revenue of $4.796 billion.

On a U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis, fourth quarter 2017 net earnings were $336.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.00.  Fourth quarter 2016 GAAP net earnings were $149.7 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.44. For the full year, 2017 GAAP net earnings were $867.0 million and diluted earnings per share were $2.57.  Full year 2016 GAAP net earnings were $636.5 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.85.

Adjusted Net Earnings for fourth quarter 2017 were $195.7 million, compared to $206.2 million of Adjusted Net Earnings in the fourth quarter of 2016. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) were $0.58 in the fourth quarter of 2017, down from $0.61 of Adjusted Diluted EPS in the year-ago quarter.  Analysts’ consensus estimate for fourth quarter 2017 Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.61. For the full year 2017, Adjusted Net Earnings were $804.9 million and Adjusted Diluted EPS was $2.38, compared to full year 2016 Adjusted Net Earnings of $790.4 million and Adjusted Diluted EPS of $2.30.

Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are not recognized terms under GAAP.  These non-GAAP financial measures should not be substituted for GAAP net earnings or GAAP diluted earnings per share, respectively, as measures of Cerner’s performance, but instead should be utilized as supplemental measures of financial performance in evaluating our business.  Please see the accompanying schedule, titled “Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Results,” where our non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Other Highlights:

  • Fourth quarter operating cash flow of $348.9 million and full-year of $1.308 billion.
  • Fourth quarter Free Cash Flow of $185.1 million. For the full year, Free Cash Flow was $671.4 million. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as GAAP cash flows from operating activities less capital purchases and capitalized software development costs. Please see the accompanying schedule, titled “Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Results.”
  • Fourth quarter days sales outstanding of 72 days, up from 69 days in the year-ago period.
  • Total backlog of $17.55 billion, up 10 percent over the year-ago quarter.

“We finished the year on a mostly positive note, with record bookings and all other key metrics except for earnings in line with our expectations,” said Zane Burke, President. “Our bookings were at record levels across several key areas, including population health, Cerner ITWorksSM, and revenue cycle, and also included strong contributions from outside of the U.S.  We believe the strong bookings in the fourth quarter combined with our robust pipeline and strong competitive position sets us up for solid growth in 2018 and beyond.”

Future Period Guidance
Cerner currently expects:

  • First quarter 2018 revenue between $1.315 billion and $1.365 billion.
  • Full year 2018 revenue between $5.450 billion and $5.650 billion.
  • First quarter 2018 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share between $0.57 and $0.59. 
  • Full year 2018 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share between $2.57 and $2.73.
  • First quarter 2018 new business bookings between $1.250 billion and $1.450 billion.

Tax Reform
Our results for the 2017 fourth quarter and full year that ended December 30, 2017, include our current estimates of the impact of certain U.S. tax reform enacted in December 2017. Relevant accounting guidance provides that the impact of such U.S. tax reform may be provisionally recorded, and adjusted during a measurement period of up to one year. The impacts of U.S. tax reform on our income tax balances are complex and wide-reaching, and the enactment date of such U.S. tax reform fell in close proximity to our 2017 fiscal year-end. Accordingly, the adjustments we have made to our deferred and current tax balances are provisional, and it is reasonably possible that our estimates regarding the impact of U.S. tax reform on our current and deferred tax balances might materially change in the near-term due to, among other things, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued, changes to assumptions and interpretations that we have made, and actions we may take as a result of U.S. tax reform.

Earnings Conference Call
Cerner will host an earnings conference call to provide additional detail on the Company’s results and outlook at 3:30 p.m. CT on February 6, 2018. On the call, Cerner will discuss its fourth quarter 2017 results and answer questions from the investment community. The call may also include discussion of Cerner developments, and forward-looking and other material information about business and financial matters. The dial-in number for the conference call is (678)-509-7542; the passcode is Cerner. Cerner recommends joining the call 15 minutes early for registration. The re-broadcast of the call will be available from 6:30 p.m. CT, February 6, 2018 through 11:59 p.m. CT, February 9, 2018. The dial-in number for the re-broadcast is (855)-859-2056; the passcode is 9296298.

An audio webcast will be available live and archived on Cerner’s website at www.cerner.com under the About Us section (click Investor Relations, then Presentations and Webcasts).

About Cerner
Cerner’s health information technologies connect people, information and systems at more than 27,000 provider facilities worldwide. Recognized for innovation, Cerner® solutions assist clinicians in making care decisions and enable organizations to manage the health of populations. The company also offers an integrated clinical and financial system to help health care organizations manage revenue, as well as a wide range of services to support clients’ clinical, financial and operational needs. Cerner’s mission is to contribute to the systemic improvement of health care delivery and the health of communities. Nasdaq: CERN. For more information about Cerner, visit cerner.com, read our blog at blogs.cerner.com, connect with us on Twitter at twitter.com/cerner and on Facebook at facebook.com/cerner. Our website, blog, Twitter account and Facebook page contain a significant amount of information about Cerner, including financial and other information for investors.

Certain trademarks, service marks and logos set forth herein are property of Cerner Corporation and/or its subsidiaries.

All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Cerner's management with respect to future events and are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties.  It is important to note that Cerner's performance, and actual results, financial condition or business could differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The words “expects”, “expectations”, “guidance”, “position”, “believe”, “plan”, “opportunity”, “forecasted”, “estimate”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “target”, “outlook”, “anticipate” or the negative of these words, variations thereof or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the possibility of significant costs and reputational harm related to product-related liabilities; potential claims for system errors and warranties; the possibility of interruption at our data centers or client support facilities that could expose us to significant costs and reputational harm; the possibility of increased expenses, exposure to legal claims and regulatory actions and reputational harm associated with a cyberattack or other breach in our IT security; our proprietary technology may be subject to claims for infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property rights of others, or may be infringed or misappropriated by others; potential claims or other risks associated with relying on open source software in our proprietary software, solutions or services; material adverse resolution of legal proceedings; risks associated with our global operations, including without limitation greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable; risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in tax laws, regulations or guidance that could adversely affect our tax position and/or challenges to our tax positions in the U.S. and non-U.S. countries; changes in interpretations and assumptions we have made with respect to the anticipated effects of the recently enacted U.S. tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union (commonly referred to as Brexit) on our global business; risks associated with the unexpected loss or recruitment and retention of key personnel or the failure to successfully develop and execute succession planning to assure transitions of key associates and their knowledge, relationships and expertise; risks related to our dependence on strategic relationships and third party suppliers; risks inherent with business acquisitions and combinations and the integration thereof into our business; risks associated with volatility and disruption resulting from global economic or market conditions; significant competition and our ability to quickly respond to market changes and changing technologies and to bring competitive new solutions, devices, features and services to market in a timely fashion; managing growth in the new markets in which we offer solutions, health care devices or services; long sales cycles for our solutions and services; risks inherent in contracting with government clients, including without limitation, complying with strict compliance and disclosure obligations, navigating complex procurement rules and processes and defending against bid protests; risks associated with our outstanding and future indebtedness, such as compliance with restrictive covenants, which may limit our flexibility to operate our business; changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our financial statements; the potential for losses resulting from asset impairment charges; changing political, economic, regulatory and judicial influences, which could impact the purchasing practices and operations of our clients and increase costs to deliver compliant solutions and services; government regulation; variations in our quarterly operating results; potential variations in our sales forecasts compared to actual sales; volatility in the trading price of our common stock and the timing and volume of market activity; and our directors’ authority to issue preferred stock and the anti-takeover provisions in our corporate governance documents. Additional discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties and factors affecting Cerner's business is contained in Cerner's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, since the statements speak only as of the date that they are made. Except as required by law, Cerner undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in our business, results of operations or financial condition over time.

Investor Contact: Allan Kells, (816) 201-2445, akells@cerner.com
Media Contact: Dan Smith, (913) 304-3991, dan.smith1@cerner.com 
Cerner’s Internet Home Page:  www.cerner.com

CERNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
For the three and twelve months ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 
(unaudited)     
      
(In thousands, except per share data)Three Months Ended Years Ended
  2017 2016   2017  2016 
Revenues            
System sales$  363,487$  352,252  $  1,355,172 $  1,265,962 
Support, maintenance and services  922,154  880,492    3,685,637   3,441,966 
Reimbursed travel  28,144  25,075    101,463   88,545 
Total revenues  1,313,785  1,257,819    5,142,272   4,796,473 
             
Margin            
System sales  238,050  236,522    906,851   853,896 
Support, maintenance and services  846,604  806,300    3,381,330   3,163,461 
Total margin  1,084,654  1,042,822    4,288,181   4,017,357 
             
Operating expenses            
Sales and client service  588,613  537,163    2,276,821   2,071,926 
Software development  162,476  145,967    605,046   551,418 
General and administrative  92,064  125,222    355,267   392,454 
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles  22,450  22,442    90,576   90,546 
Total operating expenses  865,603  830,794    3,327,710   3,106,344 
             
Operating earnings  219,051  212,028    960,471   911,013 
             
Other income, net  2,604  3,687    6,658   7,421 
             
Earnings before income taxes  221,655  215,715    967,129   918,434 
Income tax benefit (expense)  115,003  (66,024)   (100,151)  (281,950)
Net earnings$  336,658$  149,691  $  866,978 $  636,484 
             
Basic earnings per share$  1.02$  0.45  $  2.62 $  1.88 
             
Basic weighted average shares outstanding  331,418  334,931    331,373   337,740 
             
Diluted earnings per share$  1.00$  0.44  $  2.57 $  1.85 
             
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding  338,039  339,890    337,999   343,653 

 

CERNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP RESULTS TO NON-GAAP RESULTS  
For the three and twelve months ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 
(unaudited)      
       
ADJUSTED OPERATING EARNINGS 
       
(In thousands) Three Months Ended Years Ended
   2017  2016   2017  2016 
Operating earnings (GAAP) $  219,051 $  212,028  $  960,471 $  911,013 
Share-based compensation expense   25,601   19,459    88,969   80,591 
Health Services acquisition-related amortization   20,706   20,597    83,285   80,647 
Acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustment   3,972   4,662    16,885   20,470 
Other acquisition-related adjustments   —   665    72   4,338 
Voluntary separation plan expense   —   36,080    —   36,080 
Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) $  269,330 $  293,491  $  1,149,682 $  1,133,139 
       
ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS AND ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE 
       
(In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Years Ended
   2017  2016   2017  2016 
               
Net earnings (GAAP) $  336,658 $  149,691  $  866,978 $  636,484 
Pre-tax adjustments for Adjusted Net Earnings:              
Share-based compensation expense   25,601   19,459    88,969   80,591 
Health Services acquisition-related amortization   20,706   20,597    83,285   80,647 
Acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustment   3,972   4,662    16,885   20,470 
Other acquisition-related adjustments   —   665    72   4,338 
Voluntary separation plan expense   —   36,080    —   36,080 
After-tax adjustments for Adjusted Net Earnings:              
Income tax effect of pre-tax adjustments   (13,700)  (24,933)   (53,795)  (68,166)
Share-based compensation permanent tax items   (42,590)  —    (62,501)  — 
Impact of U.S. tax reform enacted in December 2017   (134,943)  —    (134,943)  — 
Adjusted Net Earnings (non-GAAP) $  195,704 $  206,221  $  804,950 $  790,444 
               
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding    338,039    339,890     337,999    343,653 
               
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (non-GAAP) $  0.58 $  0.61  $  2.38 $  2.30 
       
FREE CASH FLOW   
       
(In thousands) Three Months Ended Years Ended
   2017  2016   2017  2016 
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $  348,910 $  337,939  $  1,307,675 $  1,245,637 
Capital purchases   (99,711)  (131,566)   (362,083)  (459,427)
Capitalized software development costs   (64,115)  (64,893)   (274,148)  (293,696)
Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) $  185,084 $  141,480  $  671,444 $  492,514 
Cash flows from investing activities (GAAP) $  (412,162)$  (94,179) $  (1,005,851)$  (789,774)
Cash flows from financing activities (GAAP) $  (138,623)$  (496,892) $  (110,984)$  (676,677)
       
Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
       
We report our financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). However, we supplement our GAAP results with certain non-GAAP financial measures, which we believe enable investors to better understand and evaluate our ongoing operating results and allows for greater transparency in the review and understanding of our overall financial, operational and economic performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to GAAP results and investors should be aware that non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations and should be read only in conjunction with Cerner's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may also be different from similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and may not be comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the method of calculations. We provide the measures of Adjusted Operating Earnings, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as such measures are used by management, along with GAAP results, to analyze Cerner's business, make strategic decisions, assess long-term trends on a comparable basis, and for management compensation purposes. We provide the measure of Free Cash Flow as such measure takes into account certain capital expenditures necessary to operate our business. Free Cash Flow is used by management, along with GAAP results, to analyze our earnings quality and overall cash generation of the business.
       
We calculate each of our non-GAAP financial measures as follows:
       
Adjusted Operating Earnings - Consists of GAAP operating earnings adjusted for: (i) share-based compensation expense, (ii) Health Services acquisition-related amortization, (iii) acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustment, (iv) other acquisition-related adjustments, and (v) voluntary separation plan expense.
       
Adjusted Net Earnings - Consists of GAAP net earnings adjusted for: (i) share-based compensation expense, (ii) Health Services acquisition-related amortization, (iii) acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustment, (iv) other acquisition-related adjustments, (v) voluntary separation plan expense, (vi) the income tax effect of the aforementioned items, (vii) share-based compensation permanent tax items, and (viii) impact of U.S. tax reform enacted in December 2017.
       
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share - Consists of Adjusted Net Earnings, as defined above, divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding, in the applicable period.
       
Free Cash Flow - Consists of cash flows from operating activities, less capital purchases and capitalized software development costs.
       
Adjustments included in the calculations of Adjusted Operating Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings are described below: 
       
Share-based compensation expense - Non-cash expense arising from our equity compensation and stock purchase plans available to our associates and directors. We exclude share-based compensation expense as we believe the amount of such non-cash expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Share-based compensation expense is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows:
       
(In thousands) Three Months Ended Years Ended
   2017  2016   2017  2016 
Sales and client service $  13,150 $  9,944  $  48,063 $  40,879 
Software development   5,494   4,188    19,196   16,815 
General and administrative   6,957   5,327    21,710   22,897 
Total share-based compensation expense $  25,601 $  19,459  $  88,969 $  80,591 
               
Health Services acquisition-related amortization - Non-cash expense consisting of the amortization of customer relationships, acquired technology, and trade name intangible assets recorded in connection with our acquisition of the Health Services business in February 2015. We exclude Health Services acquisition-related amortization as we believe the amount of such non-cash expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Such amount is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the caption "Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles."
       
Acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustment - Consists of acquisition-related deferred revenue adjustments in connection with our acquisition of the Health Services business in February 2015. Accounting guidance requires that deferred revenue acquired in a business combination be written-down to an estimate of fulfillment cost, plus a normal profit margin, as a part of the allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We add back the amount of the write-down applicable to the period as we believe such amount directly correlates to the underlying performance of our business operations.
       
Other acquisition-related adjustments - Consists of acquisition, employee separation, and other costs associated with our acquisition of the Health Services business in February 2015. We exclude other acquisition-related adjustments as they are non-recurring charges, and we believe the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Such amount is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the caption "General and administrative" expense.
       
Voluntary separation plan expense - Consists of expense associated with our voluntary separation plans available to certain associates for specific time periods in 2016. We exclude voluntary separation plan expense as we believe the amount of such expenses in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Such amount is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the caption "General and administrative" expense.
       
Income tax effect of pre-tax adjustments - The GAAP effective income tax rate for the applicable quarterly period adjusted for: (i) impact of U.S. tax reform enacted in December 2017, as defined below, and (ii) $40,458 thousand of net excess tax benefits recognized in December 2017 related to a particular significant exercise of stock options; applied to pre-tax adjustments for Adjusted Net Earnings.
       
Share-based compensation permanent tax items - Consists of permanent items impacting the Company's income tax provision related to our share-based compensation arrangements, including net excess tax benefits recognized upon the exercise of stock options. We exclude such items as we believe the amount of such items in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Such amount is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the caption "Income tax benefit (expense)."
       
Impact of U.S. tax reform enacted in December 2017 - Consists of a net benefit recorded to income tax expense (benefit) in connection with certain U.S. income tax reform enacted in December 2017, and certain contemporaneous U.S. tax accounting method changes. We have excluded such amount as it is a non-recurring net income tax benefit, and we believe the amount of such benefit does not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. Such amount is included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the caption "Income tax benefit (expense)."
       
Cerner's future period guidance in this release includes adjustments for items not indicative of our core operations, which may include without limitation share-based compensation expense and acquisition-related expenses, such as integration expenses, and may be affected by changes in ongoing assumptions and judgments relating to the Company's acquired businesses, and may also be affected by nonrecurring, unusual or unanticipated charges, expenses or gains, all of which are excluded in the calculation of non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Earnings, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as described above. The exact amount of these adjustments are not currently determinable, but may be significant. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile this non-GAAP guidance to the most comparable GAAP measures.

 

CERNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
As of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016  
(unaudited)      
       
(In thousands) 2017  2016 
       
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents$  370,923 $  170,861 
Short-term investments  434,844   185,588 
Receivables, net  1,042,781   944,943 
Inventory  15,749   14,740 
Prepaid expenses and other  515,930   303,229 
Total current assets  2,380,227   1,619,361 
       
Property and equipment, net  1,603,319   1,552,524 
Software development costs, net  822,159   719,209 
Goodwill  853,005   844,200 
Intangible assets, net  479,753   566,047 
Long-term investments  196,837   109,374 
Other assets  134,011   219,248 
Total assets$  6,469,311 $  5,629,963 
       
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable$  218,996 $  238,134 
Current installments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations  11,585   26,197 
Deferred revenue  311,337   311,839 
Accrued payroll and tax withholdings  183,770   211,554 
Other accrued expenses  63,907   57,677 
Total current liabilities  789,595   845,401 
       
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations  515,130   537,552 
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities  365,674   306,263 
Deferred revenue  13,564   12,800 
Total liabilities  1,683,963   1,702,016 
       
Shareholders’ Equity:      
Common stock  3,592   3,537 
Additional paid-in capital  1,380,371   1,230,913 
Retained earnings  4,938,866   4,094,327 
Treasury stock  (1,464,099)  (1,290,665)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net  (73,382)  (110,165)
Total shareholders’ equity  4,785,348   3,927,947 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$  6,469,311 $  5,629,963 

 

CERNER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
For the three and twelve months ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016  
(unaudited)     
      
 Three Months Ended Years Ended
(In thousands) 2017  2016   2017  2016 
              
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:             
Net earnings$336,658 $149,691  $  866,978 $  636,484 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:             
Depreciation and amortization  155,482   132,851    580,723   504,236 
Share-based compensation expense  23,802   17,640    83,019   74,536 
Provision for deferred income taxes  10,742   14,405    47,409   (11,517)
Changes in assets and liabilities (net of businesses acquired):             
Receivables, net  (13,756)  34,559    (32,836)  78,258 
Inventory  (63)  4,924    (972)  (666)
Prepaid expenses and other  (179,461)  (32,857)   (191,369)  (66,658)
Accounts payable  19,611   6,369    6,960   (13,197)
Accrued income taxes  16,374   10,680    18,358   64,073 
Deferred revenue  (15,863)  3,335    (3,114)  1,555 
Other accrued liabilities  (4,616)  (3,658)   (67,481)  (21,467)
Net cash provided by operating activities  348,910   337,939    1,307,675   1,245,637 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:             
Capital purchases  (99,711)  (131,566)   (362,083)  (459,427)
Capitalized software development costs  (64,115)  (64,893)   (274,148)  (293,696)
Purchases of investments  (295,038)  (94,269)   (632,048)  (482,078)
Sales and maturities of investments  54,162   201,799    292,074   463,899 
Purchase of other intangibles  (7,460)  (5,250)   (29,646)  (18,472)
Net cash used in investing activities  (412,162)  (94,179)   (1,005,851)  (789,774)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:             
Proceeds from exercise of stock options  15,017   3,308    76,705   63,794 
Payments to taxing authorities in connection with shares directly withheld from associates  (3,595)  —    (11,584)  (38,122)
Treasury stock purchases  (150,045)  (500,200)   (173,434)  (700,275)
Contingent consideration payments for acquisition of businesses  —   —    (2,671)  (2,074)
Net cash used in financing activities  (138,623)  (496,892)   (110,984)  (676,677)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  (256)  (7,504)   9,222   (10,447)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (202,131)  (260,636)   200,062   (231,261)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  573,054   431,497    170,861   402,122 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$370,923 $170,861  $  370,923 $  170,861