LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Research Corporation (NASDAQ:NRC) today announced results for the fourth quarter and year end 2018.

    Voice of Customer (VoC) Platform solutions reach $75 million

  • VoC Platform contract value growth more than doubles in past 24 months
  • VoC Platform adoption helps double Transparency solution contract value
  • VoC Platform solution contract value now accounts for 57% of the business

    Fourth quarter highlights

  • Net New Sales of $7.6 million
  • Net Income increased to $7.8 million

    Year-end 2018 highlights

  • Total Contract Value of $131.4 million
  • Net Income increased to $30.0 million

Commenting on the milestone achieved at year-end 2018, Michael D. Hays, chief executive officer of National Research Corporation said, “Over just the past 24 months, the Company has shifted the mix of business among current clients from legacy methods of experience measurement and CAHPS compliance spend to our VoC platform with embedded tools such as Transparency, to drive revenue and customer communities for co-producing care experiences. This higher value strategic offering now accounts for more than half of our business and an unmatched advantage at point of sale.”

The VoC Platform solutions are decreasing variable direct expense and expanding our gross margin. In addition, solution cross-sell and organic contract value growth is accelerating as our customers realize greater value from leveraging multiple VoC Platform solutions to drive customer loyalty for their organizations. Revenue from VoC Platform solutions for the year ended December 31, 2018, grew by 49% over the prior year and accounted for 50% of total revenue in 2018 compared to 34% of total revenue in 2017.

Revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018, was $30.6 million, compared to $29.9 million for the same quarter in 2017. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, was $7.8 million, compared to $6.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.30 for the common stock (formerly Class A) for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, from diluted earnings per share of $0.15 for Class A shares and $0.90 for Class B shares for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Due to the recapitalization transaction on April 17, 2018, income has been allocated to both classes of shares through April 16 and allocated only to common stock (formerly Class A) after April 16. 

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $119.7 million, compared to $117.6 million for the same quarter in 2017. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2018, was $30.0 million, compared to $22.9 million for the year ended 2017. Diluted earnings per share increased to $1.04 for the common stock (formerly Class A) and decreased to $1.27 for Class B shares for the year ended December 31, 2018, from diluted earnings per share of $0.52 for Class A shares and $3.18 for Class B shares for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Regarding the Company’s fourth quarter financial performance, Kevin Karas, chief financial officer of National Research Corporation, said, “The record high net new sales reflect the growing adoption of our solutions to build customer loyalty in the healthcare market. Our operating income margin for the quarter increased to 31% of revenue as we continued to successfully leverage our revenue growth.”

A listen-only simulcast of National Research Corporation’s 2018 fourth quarter and year-end conference call will be available online at http://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/uohfqr6w on February 13, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The online replay will follow approximately one hour later and continue for 30 days.

For more than 37 years, National Research Corporation has been a leading provider of analytics and insights that facilitate measurement and improvement of the patient and employee experience while also increasing patient engagement and customer loyalty for healthcare providers, payers and other healthcare organizations in the United States and Canada. The Company’s solutions enable its clients to understand the voice of the customer with greater clarity, immediacy and depth.

This press release includes “forward-looking” statements related to the Company that can generally be identified as describing the Company’s future plans, objectives or goals.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated.  These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  For further information about the factors that could affect the Company’s future results, please see the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 Three months ended
   December 31,
 Twelve months ended
   December 31,
  2018   2017   2018   2017 
                
Revenue$30,639  $29,897  $119,686  $117,559 
                
Operating expenses:               
Direct expenses 11,892   12,362   47,577   49,068 
Selling, general and administrative 7,885   7,665   31,371   29,686 
Depreciation and amortization 1,467   1,209   5,463   4,586 
Total operating expenses 21,244   21,236   84,411   83,340 
                
Operating income 9,395   8,661   35,275   34,219 
                
Other income (expense):               
Interest income 6   38   62   96 
Interest expense (522)  (13)  (1,513)  (82)
Other, net 661   (27)  885   50 
                
Total other income (expense) 145   (2)  (566)  64 
                
Income before income taxes 9,540   8,659   34,709   34,283 
                
Provision for income taxes 1,739   2,142   4,662   11,340 
                
Net income$7,801  $6,517  $30,047  $22,943 
                
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:               
Basic Earnings Per Share:               
Class A$0.32  $0.15  $1.08  $0.54 
Class B$--  $0.93  $1.31  $3.26 
Diluted Earnings Per Share:               
Class A$0.30  $0.15  $1.04  $0.52 
Class B$--  $0.90  $1.27  $3.18 
                
Weighted average shares and share equivalents outstanding Class A - basic 24,684   20,802   23,562   20,770 
Class B - basic --   3,515   3,527   3,514 
Class A - diluted 25,534   21,843   24,448   21,627 
Class B - diluted --   3,625   3,628   3,603 


 
NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts and par value)
    
   Dec. 31,    Dec. 31,
  2018   2017
ASSETS
Current Assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$12,991  $34,733 
Accounts receivable, net 11,922   14,806 
Income taxes receivable --   375 
Other current assets 3,149   2,345 
Total Current Assets 28,062   52,259 
    
Property and equipment, net 14,153   12,359 
Goodwill 57,831   58,021 
Other, net 7,638   4,677 
Total Assets$107,684  $127,316 
    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    
Current Liabilities:   
Accounts payable and accrued expenses$3,651  $3,546 
Deferred revenue 16,244   16,878 
Accrued compensation 5,798   6,597 
Dividends payable 17,113   4,222 
Income taxes payable 288   -- 
Notes payable 3,667   1,067 
Total Current Liabilities 46,761   32,310 
    
Non-Current Liabilities 41,840   4,965 
    
Total Liabilities 88,601   37,275 
    
Shareholders’ Equity:   
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares, none issued --   -- 
Common stock (formerly Class A Common stock), $0.001 par value; authorized 60,000,000 shares, issued 29,917,667 in 2018 and 25,835,230 in 2017, outstanding 24,800,796 in 2018 and 20,936,703 in 2017 30   26 
Class B Common stock, $0.001 par value; 4,319,256 issued and 3,535,238 outstanding in 2017 --   4 
Additional paid-in capital 157,312   51,025 
Retained earnings (106,339)  77,574 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,916)  (1,635)
Treasury stock (29,004)  (36,953)
Total Shareholders’ Equity 19,083   90,041 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity$107,684  $127,316 
 

Contact:   Kevin R. Karas  
                 Chief Financial Officer
                 402-475-2525