nrc20230215_8k.htm
false 0000070487 0000070487 2023-02-14 2023-02-14
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 14, 2023
 

 
National Research Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
001-35929
47-0634000
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
1245 Q Street, Lincoln, Nebraska
68508
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(402) 475-2525
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
$.001 Par Value Common Stock
NRC
The NASDAQ Stock Market
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 
 

 
 
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
   
 
On February 14, 2023, National Research Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), issued a press release announcing its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.
 
On February 15, 2023, the Company held a conference call and online Web simulcast in connection with the Company’s announcement of its earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022. A copy of the script for such conference call and simulcast is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this report. An archive of such conference call and simulcast and the related question and answer session will be available online at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/759565253.
   
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
   
 
(d)
Exhibits.
     
 
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
     
 
99.1
 
99.2
 
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
   
 
The information contained in Items 2.02 and 9.01 of this report and the exhibits hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
   
 
The information in Items 2.02 and 9.01 of this report and the exhibits hereto may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements are made based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events may differ from those anticipated by forward-looking statements. Please refer to the paragraph at the end of the attached press release and various disclosures by the Company in its press releases, stockholder reports, and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information concerning risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may affect future results.
 
 

 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION
 
 
(Registrant)
   
       
Date: February 16, 2023
By:
/s/ Kevin R. Karas
 
   
Kevin R. Karas
 
   
Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
 
 
 

 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
   
99.1
National Research Corporation press release announcing its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.
   
99.2
National Research Corporation script for the conference call and online Web simulcast held February 15, 2023.
   
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
 
 
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

1245 Q Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
P: 1 800 388 4264 | F: 402 475 9061
nrchealth.com

 

 

Contact:

Kevin R. Karas

Chief Financial Officer

402-475-2525

 

 

NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

FOURTH QUARTER AND CALENDAR YEAR 2022 RESULTS

 


 

LINCOLN, Nebraska (February 14, 2023) — National Research Corporation, dba NRC Health, (NASDAQ:NRC) today announced results for the fourth quarter and calendar year 2022.

 

Regarding the Company’s 2022 annual performance, Kevin Karas, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We continued to grow revenue from core offerings, including our Human Understanding Program, resulting in 7% year-over-year revenue growth, partially offset by the phase out of our Canadian operations and other non-core offerings. Adoption of the Human Understanding Program has continued to increase with recent new client additions including St. Bernards Healthcare, Longstreet Clinic, and Legacy Community Health. In addition, we are proud to have recently received the Best in KLAS 2023 Award for Patient Experience Improvement. This recognition affirms our leadership position and focus on transforming the healthcare industry with a human-first approach.”

 

The Company’s Board of Directors maintained its capital allocation priorities of funding innovation and growth investments, including merger and acquisition activity as well as internal projects, shareholder dividends and share repurchases during 2022. For the full year, the Company funded $12.2 million for innovation and growth, $21.0 million for dividend payments, and $27.6 million for share repurchases.

 

Related to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022, other expense increased primarily due to a $2.6 million reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustment into earnings from the substantial liquidation of our investment in our Canadian subsidiary.

 

Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.27 for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, from diluted earnings per share of $0.38 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $1.27 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from diluted earnings per share of $1.46 for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

 

NRC Announces Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

Page 2

February 14, 2023

 

 

A live simulcast of National Research Corporation’s 2022 fourth quarter conference call will be available online at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/759565253 on February 15, 2023, 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 40 years, NRC Health (NASDAQ: NRC) has led the charge to humanize healthcare and support organizations in their understanding of each unique individual. NRC Health’s commitment to Human Understanding® helps leading healthcare systems get to know each person they serve not as point-in-time insights, but as an ongoing relationship. Guided by its uniquely empathic heritage, NRC Health’s patient-focused approach, unmatched market research, and emphasis on consumer preferences are transforming the healthcare experience, creating strong outcomes for patients and entire healthcare systems. For more information, email [email protected], or visit www.nrchealth.com.

 

This press release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may be identified by their use of terms or phrases such as believes, expect, derivations thereof, and similar terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, which could cause future events and actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements, including those risks and uncertainties as set forth in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and various disclosures in our press releases, stockholder reports, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward-looking information.

 

 

NRC Announces Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

Page 3

February 14, 2023

 

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

 
   

2022

   

2021

   

2022

   

2021

 
                                 

Revenue

  $ 38,144     $ 38,298     $ 151,568     $ 147,954  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Direct

    13,987       14,167       57,049       52,350  

Selling, general and administrative

    10,541       9,901       42,699       38,960  

Depreciation, amortization and impairment

    1,375       1,357       5,277       6,374  

Total operating expenses

    25,903       25,425       105,025       97,684  
                                 

Operating income

    12,241       12,873       46,543       50,270  
                                 

Other income (expense):

                               

Interest income

    134       4       168       14  

Interest expense

    (286

)

    (399

)

    (1,209

)

    (1,667

)

Reclassification of cumulative translation into earnings

    (2,569

)

    --       (2,569

)

    --  

Other, net

    (49

)

    13       (118

)

    4  
                                 

Total other income (expense)

    (2,770

)

    (382

)

    (3,728

)

    (1,649

)

                                 

Income before income taxes

    9,471       12,491       42,815       48,621  
                                 

Provision for income taxes

    2,830       2,858       11,015       11,155  
                                 

Net income

  $ 6,641     $ 9,633     $ 31,800     $ 37,466  
                                 

Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:

                               

Basic Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.27     $ 0.38     $ 1.28     $ 1.47  

Diluted Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.27     $ 0.38     $ 1.27     $ 1.46  
                                 

Weighted average shares and share equivalents outstanding:

                               

Basic

    24,648       25,419       24,922       25,422  

Diluted

    24,775       25,597       25,052       25,640  

 

 

NRC Announces Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

Page 4

February 14, 2023

 

 

NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts and par value)

 

   

December 31,

2022

   

December 31,

2021

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 25,026     $ 54,361  

Accounts receivable, net

    14,461       13,728  

Other current assets

    4,229       5,618  

Total current assets

    43,716       73,707  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    17,248       12,391  

Goodwill

    61,614       61,614  

Other, net

    7,883       9,828  

Total assets

  $ 130,461     $ 157,540  
                 

Liabilities and Shareholders Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Current portion of notes payable, net unamortized debt issuance costs

  $ 4,491     $ 4,278  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    5,136       7,393  

Accrued compensation

    4,551       7,139  

Deferred revenue

    15,198       17,213  

Dividends payable

    2,956       3,044  

Other current liabilities

    1,085       1,321  

Total current liabilities

    33,417       40,388  
                 

Notes payable, net of current portion and unamortized debt issuance costs

    17,690       22,269  

Other non-current liabilities

    7,321       9,546  

Total liabilities

    58,428       72,203  
                 

Shareholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares, none issued

    --       --  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 110,000,000 shares, issued 30,922,181 in 2022 and 30,898,600 in 2021, outstanding 24,628,173 in 2022 and 25,361,409 in 2021

    31       31  

Additional paid-in capital

    175,453       173,942  

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

    (25,184

)

    (36,112

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, foreign currency translation adjustment

    --       (2,375

)

Treasury stock

    (78,267

)

    (50,149

)

Total shareholders’ equity

    72,033       85,337  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 130,461     $ 157,540  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

Kevin:

 

Thank you, ___________, and welcome everyone to National Research Corporation’s 2022 fourth quarter earnings call. My name is Kevin Karas, the company’s CFO, and joining me on the call today is Linda Stacy, our Vice President of Finance.

 

Before we continue, I would ask Linda to review conditions related to any forward-looking statements that may be made as part of today’s call.

 

Linda.

 

Linda:

 

Thank you, Kevin.

 

This conference call includes forward-looking statements related to the Company that involve 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 facts that could affect the Company's future results, please see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. With that, I’ll turn it back to you, Kevin.

 

 

 

 

Kevin:

 

Thanks, Linda, and again, welcome everyone.

 

For almost 42 years NRC Health has been committed to humanize healthcare and support organizations in their understanding of each unique individual. NRC Health’s commitment to Human Understanding helps leading healthcare systems get to know each person they serve not as point-in-time insights, but as an ongoing relationship that builds trust and loyalty. Over time, NRC Health has consistently led the industry with innovative and transformative solutions, including patient centered care, Market Insights, Real time feedback and online ratings and reviews. Last week it was announced that NRC Health received the Best in KLAS 2023 Award for Patient Experience Improvement. This recognition affirms our leadership position and focus on transforming the healthcare industry with a human-first approach.

 

Let me turn the call back over to Linda to review our financial performance and then open the call to your questions.

 

2

 

Linda

 

Thank you, Kevin.

 

Revenue for the fourth quarter 2022 decreased slightly compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 primarily due to the scheduled closure of our Canadian location. Revenue growth in core offerings year over year was 7% partially offset by the phase out of our Canadian operations and other non-core offerings, resulting in a net 2% increase in revenue for 2022 over prior year.

 

Our operating income was also impacted by expense increases in 2022 due to some inflationary pressure as well as intentional resource allocation towards retaining and developing talent, solution innovation, process automation and marketing programs. Operating income decreased by 5% and 7% respectively, for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022.

 

Fourth quarter other expense increased primarily due to a $2.6 million reclassification of the cumulative translation adjustment into earnings from substantial liquidation of our investment in our Canadian subsidiary.

 

3

 

The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2022 was 30% compared to 23% in 2021 primarily due to the non-deductible cumulative translation adjustment.

 

We ended the year with $146.8 million in TRCV. Our TRCV metric represents the total revenue projected under all renewable contracts for their respective next annual renewal periods, assuming no upsells, downsells, price increases, or cancellations, measured as of the most recent quarter end.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has established priorities for capital allocation with funding of innovation and growth investments, including both M&A activity and internal projects, as the preferred use of capital. The Company funded $12.2 million for innovation and growth purposes for the year end December 31, 2022, in addition to quarterly dividend payments to shareholders totaling $21.0 million, and $27.6 million for share repurchases.

 

That concludes my comments for this morning. I’ll now turn the call back to Kevin.

 

4

 

Kevin

 

Thank you, Linda.

 

This completes our prepared remarks, so operator I will now ask you to open the call to any questions.

 

Closing Statement Kevin

 

Thank you for your time today. We look forward to sharing our results again next quarter.

 

 

5