The battle for telemedicine dominance might have just ended before it even began.
Amazon (AMZN) just announced its all-cash plan to acquire One Medical (ONEM) for $3.9 billion, paying $18 per share.
To date, this will be Amazon’s biggest step toward the healthcare world.
With the entry of Amazon into this telehealth segment, companies like Teladoc (TDOC) and Amwell (AMWL) would need to work overtime to match the resources of the e-commerce giant.
However, Amazon’s move isn’t exactly novel considering that other FAANG companies like Google (GOOGL), Apple (AAPL), and Microsoft (MSFT) have already acquired healthcare companies.
What this move simply indicates is that Amazon has finally turned serious in its bid for a bigger piece of the healthcare market.
This isn’t even the first time Amazon decided to go beyond its retail business. It has a pretty diverse portfolio including Amazon Web Services, a cloud infrastructure service, and even Whole Foods.
However, the decision to aggressively pursue the $800 billion healthcare industry might just be what Amazon needs to really move the needle.
In 2018, Amazon shelled out roughly $1 billion to buy an online pharmacy called PillPack which led to the launch of virtual Amazon Care clinics.
On that same year, the e-commerce company also pursued a joint venture, dubbed Haven, with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t pan out and was eventually shut down.
Buying One Medical at a premium of 77%, Amazon beat other interested bidders including CVS (CVS), Walgreens (WBA), and UnitedHealth (UNH).
It’s still unclear what Amazon plans with One Medical. The e-commerce giant might add it to its Amazon Care brand or let it operate independently.
One Medical is a membership-based platform, which is backed by the Carlyle Group (CG) and managed under 1Life Healthcare.
Like most telehealth companies, it offers virtual healthcare services like virtual visits. What makes it different is that it also provides in-person checkups in accredited medical offices within the US.
One Medical’s app enables clients to schedule appointments, talk with their healthcare provider, and ask for prescriptions.
A key selling point is that the company guarantees that all the appointments start on time. Another notable feature is that users can gift a yearlong subscription to someone for $199.
Like Teladoc and Amwell, the company isn’t profitable yet. This case isn’t shocking for a relatively new field.
However, One Medical’s strategy has led to impressive revenue and membership growth.
The company’s revenue has consistently increased since its 2020 IPO. In 2021, its membership count climbed by 34% to reach 736,000.
In the first quarter of 2022, One Medical’s membership grew again by 28% and revenue jumped 109% to record over $254 million. So far, more than 8,000 companies provide One Medical services to their staff.
For 2022, One Medical projects its revenue to be between $831 million and $853 million.
Admittedly, these figures seem inconsequential when you compare them to the other sectors of Amazon’s business. For example, Amazon Web Services raked in $18.4 billion in sales in the first quarter of 2022.
Actually, One Medical’s revenue and membership growth might even look small and unimpressive compared to Teladoc, which recorded $565 million in the first quarter and has more than 54 million members in the US alone.
Undoubtedly, the healthcare market offers a mouthwatering opportunity for the likes of Amazon. It’s a lucrative industry, one of the handful that can truly make a difference in an already thriving business. Moreover, it has been highly profitable over the years.
Nonetheless, the acquisition of One Medical isn’t a foolproof plan for Amazon’s dominance in healthcare. So far, the e-commerce giant’s track record has been mixed. That doesn’t mean that the deal is a bad move. In fact, it indicates Amazon’s seriousness in making a play for the healthcare market.
Either way, the clear winner would be One Medical. Since the announcement, the stock has risen 70%.
Moreover, even if Amazon falls victim to politicization or anti-trust issues involving the deal, One Medical still has a number of suitors lined up.
Basically, it’s a win-win for this emerging telehealth company.
