Teladoc shares hit record low after telehealth firm withdraws 2024 forecast
Adds share milestone in paragraph 1, background in paragraph 3 and graphics
By Bhanvi Satija
Aug 1 (Reuters) -Teladoc Health's TDOC.N shares hit a record low on Thursday, as surging costs and declining revenue in its mental health services unit forced the virtual healthcare provider to withdraw its annual and long-term forecasts.
The company recorded a $790 million impairment charge related to BetterHelp in the second quarter and flagged a double-digit increase in customer acquisition expenses from last quarter.
Teladoc enjoyed several years of growth, further accelerated by a surge in demand for virtual medical services during the pandemic as the lockdowns forced people to stay indoors.
The company is now undergoing what some analysts called a "strategic reset" under the leadership of its recently hired CEO Chuck Divita.
"Teladoc has become a victim of its own success and finds itself at a crossroads as it explores the next phase of growth," Oppenheimer analyst Michael Wiederhorn said.
Higher advertising costs for BetterHelp have also hampered the telehealth provider's growth in the United States.
Integrated Care, Teladoc's chronic care unit, should be the focus of its strategic shift, Leerink Partners analyst Michael Cherny wrote in a note titled 'BetterHelp Needs Some Help'.
BetterHelp services are offered directly to consumers on its platform and through some partnerships with employer groups.
Teladoc said on Wednesday it was assessing if it can offer services for the platform through more contracts with health insurers and employer groups.
While expanding BetterHelp's products and international presence are viable options, a potential sale of the segment can also be a path forward, said Barclays analyst Stephanie Davis.
Shares of Teladoc tumbled 13% to $8.22 in morning trading.
At least five brokerages cut their price targets on Teladoc stock. It has declined about 60% so far in 2024 and is on track to post a fall for the fourth straight year.
Teladoc's annual sales grew during the pandemic https://reut.rs/3A14D7C
Teladoc share performance since 2019 https://reut.rs/3Yod5bl
Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar
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