National Research's Q4 Earnings Drop Y/Y, Stock Falls 9%

Shares of National Research Corporation NRC have declined 9.1% since the company reported its earnings for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024. This compares to the S&P 500 index’s 0.6% decline over the same time frame. Over the past month, the stock has declined 7.4% compared with the S&P 500’s 0.4% growth.See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.National Research reported earnings per share of 28 cents in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 36 cents in the corresponding period last year. The company reported revenues of $36.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease from $38 million in the prior-year quarter. Net income for the quarter declined to $6.6 million from $8.9 million in the year-ago quarter.Total operating expenses increased to $27.3 million from $26.3 million, primarily driven by higher direct expenses and selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) costs. Operating income fell to $9.6 million from $11.7 million, reflecting the impact of higher costs and lower revenues.National Research Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise National Research Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | National Research Corporation QuoteOther Key Business MetricsThe company's total recurring contract value stood at approximately $133.2 million on Dec. 31, 2024. Net indebtedness (total borrowing minus cash and cash equivalents) was around $58.5 million at the end of the quarter.Interest expenses increased to $0.7 million, up from $0.3 million in the prior-year quarter.Factors Influencing PerformanceRevenue declines and margin compression were key contributors to NRC’s lower earnings performance in the quarter. A modest increase in operating expenses, particularly in SG&A costs, weighed on profitability. Additionally, a significant rise in interest expenses further pressured net income.Other DevelopmentsDuring the quarter, NRC continued its capital allocation strategy through share repurchases and dividend distributions. NRC repurchased approximately 393,000 shares for around $7.3 million and paid a quarterly dividend of 12 cents per share, totaling approximately $2.8 million.Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report National Research Corporation (NRC): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks