NRC Q1 Earnings Dip Y/Y Amid Rising Interest Costs, Shares Up 13%

Core Insights - National Research Corporation (NRC) shares increased by 12.8% following the earnings report for Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.7% growth during the same period, although NRC stock has seen a slight decline of 0.6% over the past month compared to the broader market's 1.6% drop [1] Financial Performance - For Q1 2025, NRC reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.25, down from $0.27 a year earlier, with revenues of $33.6 million, reflecting a 5% decline from $35.3 million in the prior year [2] - Net income for the quarter was $5.8 million, a 9% decrease from $6.4 million in the same quarter last year, while operating income was $8.6 million, slightly below the $8.7 million reported in Q1 2024 [3] Cost Management - Total operating expenses decreased to $25 million from $26.6 million a year earlier, driven by lower direct and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs, with direct expenses down 6% to $13.1 million and SG&A expenses down 8% to $10.4 million [5] - Interest expense surged by 49% year over year to $0.9 million, attributed to increased debt utilization, including a new $3.5 million drawdown from its line of credit during the quarter [6] Business Metrics - A positive aspect of the quarter was the sequential growth in total recurring contract value, marking the second consecutive quarter of improvement, indicating potential future revenue growth [4] - Deferred revenues remained stable at $15.5 million, suggesting consistent contracted business levels without significant short-term expansion [10] Management Insights - CEO Michael D. Hays highlighted the progress in rebuilding NRC's sales force, which has positively impacted pipeline, win rates, and total sales, and emphasized the need for a differentiated market message and broader product offerings [7] - COO Helen Hrdy was credited for implementing operational efficiencies that support growth investments while returning value to shareholders [8] Shareholder Returns - NRC completed its existing share repurchase program and authorized a new plan for up to one million shares, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns [12] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, payable on July 11 to shareholders of record as of June 27, indicating a balanced approach to reinvestment and direct returns to shareholders [12]