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NIC Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

10/30/2019

Company Continues Momentum In Securing Key Contract Renewals and Driving Strong Organic Revenue Growth

OLATHE, Kan. - NIC Inc. (Nasdaq: EGOV), the leading provider of digital government services, announced results for the third quarter of 2019 that ended September 30, 2019, as compared to the third quarter of 2018.

  • Total revenues of $90.4 million, a 4% increase.
  • Operating income of $18.0 million, an 8% decrease, mainly reflecting lower revenues and profitability from the new Texas payment processing contract compared to revenues from the legacy Texas contract.
  • Net income of $14.5 million, a 9% decrease.
  • Diluted earnings per share of 21 cents, a 13% decrease. Diluted earnings per share was positively impacted by 1 cent due to the release of reserves for unrecognized income tax benefits resulting from the expiration of certain statutes of limitations for certain tax years, partially offset by a decrease in the previously estimated research and development tax credit for the 2018 and 2019 tax years upon filing of the Company's 2018 federal tax return during the current quarter. Certain similar discrete items increased earnings per share in the prior year quarter by approximately 2 cents.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $23.0 million, a 3% decrease.

Additional Financial Highlights:

  • Same state revenues of $73.0 million, a 12% increase.
    • Same state transaction-based revenues from Interactive Government Services (IGS) increased 17%.
    • Same state transaction-based revenues from Driver History Records (DHR) increased 2%.
    • Same state revenues from other services (development services & fixed fee management services) increased 9%.
    • Revenues from the Company's operations in the state of Texas and Illinois were excluded from same state revenues in the current quarter because they did not generate comparable revenues for two full comparable periods.
  • State enterprise revenues in the third quarter of 2019 included $7.8 million from the new Texas payment processing contract compared to $2.0 million in the prior year quarter. The prior year quarter also included $13.3 million in state enterprise revenues from the legacy Texas contract.
  • Software & Services revenues of $9.3 million, a 51% increase, driven mainly by the new federal Recreation.gov service, which launched on October 1, 2018, as well as higher transaction-based revenues from the federal Pre-Employment Screening Program, in addition to revenues from the recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses.
  • On October 28, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents per share, payable to stockholders of record as of December 4, 2019. The dividend, which is expected to total approximately $5.4 million based on the current number of shares outstanding, will be paid on December 18, 2019 out of the Company's available cash.

"This is an exciting time for everyone at NIC. The momentum we have with regard to the renewals of our long-term government partnerships speaks to the excellent work of NIC's teams and their commitment to our state partners," said Harry Herington, NIC's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. "We believe the strength in organic growth and the increasing contribution of our vertical solutions show that we are just beginning to hit our stride."

Operational Highlights:

Several of the Company's long-term government partners recently extended their relationships with the Company:

  • Following a competitive rebid process, the state of Vermont selected the Company as its state digital government services provider. The three-year contract with the state includes one three-year renewal term, which can be exercised at the state's option, for a possible total of six years.
  • The Company signed a new two-year contract with the state of Idaho, which includes one two-year renewal term, which can be exercised at the state's option, for a possible total of four years.
  • The Company signed a new one-year contract with the state of Maryland, which includes a one-year renewal term, which can be exercised at the state's option, for a possible total of two years.

As previously announced, after a competitive bid process, the Commonwealth of Virginia awarded the Company a new enterprise services contract to provide state digital government solutions. The multi-vendor award is for five years and includes three one-year renewal terms, which can be exercised at the state's option for a possible total of eight years.

Third Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast Details

On October 30, 2019, the Company will host a call to discuss its 2019 third quarter financial and operational results and to answer questions from the investment community. The call may also include a discussion of Company developments, and forward-looking and other material information about business and financial matters.

Dial-In Information

Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. (EDT)

Call bridge:

800-353-6461 (U.S. callers) or 334-323-0501 (international callers)

Conference ID:

9605573

Call leaders:

Harry Herington, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Steve Kovzan, Chief Financial Officer

Webcast Information

To sign in and listen: The Webcast system is available at http://www.egov.com/investor-relations

A replay of NIC's third quarter earnings call will be available by visiting http://www.egov.com/investor-relations.

About NIC

NIC Inc. (Nasdaq: EGOV) launched the digital government industry in 1992, and continues to lead it, providing a secure payment platform and thousands of digital government solutions across a network of more than 6,000 federal, state, and local government agencies. In addition, NIC is a leading provider of outdoor recreation solutions, with 1 out of 6 hunting and fishing licenses in the United States sold using an NIC service. The Company launched the nation's first personal assistant for government and comprehensive mobile device platform, Gov2Go®, as well as the innovative, data-driven prescription drug monitoring platform, RxGov®. More information is available at www.egov.com.

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to the results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company presents non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding interest, income tax expense, depreciation & amortization, stock-based compensation and other significant non-operating or non-recurring items that are considered expenses or income under U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. These measures should be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenues, operating income, operating income margin, net income, earnings per share or other measures of profitability, liquidity or other performance measures computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe the presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin is useful to investors and other users as these measures represent key supplemental information to compare and evaluate our core underlying business results over time and with other companies. The non-GAAP measures used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. The attached schedule provides a full reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin represent performance measures and are not intended to represent liquidity measures.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Any statements made in this release that do not relate to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements. These statements often address the Company's potential financial performance for the 2019 fiscal year or future fiscal years, estimates, projections, the expected length of contract terms, statements relating to the Company's business plans, objectives and expected operating results, statements relating to potential new contracts or renewals, statements relating to the Company's expected effective tax rate, statements relating to possible future dividends and share repurchases, and other possible future events, including potential acquisitions, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks include regional or national business, political, economic, competitive, social and market conditions, including various termination rights of the Company and its partners, the ability of the Company to renew existing contracts - in whole or in part, and to sign contracts with new federal, state, and local government agencies, the impact of potential information technology, cybersecurity or data security breaches or incidents, and the Company's ability to identify and acquire suitable acquisition candidates and to successfully integrate any acquired businesses. You should not rely on any forward-looking statement as a prediction or guarantee about the future. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and Cautions About Forward-Looking Statements" of the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the SEC. These filings are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

NIC INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2019

2018

2019

2018

Revenues:

State enterprise revenues

$

81,084

$

80,884

$

241,169

$

248,230

Software & services revenues

9,301

6,144

25,963

18,021

Total revenues

90,385

87,028

267,132

266,251

Operating expenses:

State enterprise cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization

50,408

48,224

151,340

148,577

Software & services cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization

3,586

2,226

9,635

6,689

Selling & administrative

8,153

8,514

26,473

24,285

Enterprise technology & product support

6,743

6,176

19,933

17,559

Depreciation & amortization

3,524

2,441

9,075

6,651

Total operating expenses

72,414

67,581

216,456

203,761

Operating income

17,971

19,447

50,676

62,490

Other income:

Interest income

729

153

1,910

212

Income before income taxes

18,700

19,600

52,586

62,702

Income tax provision

4,190

3,698

12,113

14,280

Net income

$

14,510

$

15,902

$

40,473

$

48,422

Basic net income per share

$

0.21

$

0.24

$

0.60

$

0.72

Diluted net income per share

$

0.21

$

0.24

$

0.60

$

0.72

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

66,960

66,562

66,858

66,476

Diluted

66,960

66,598

66,858

66,507

Key financial metrics:

Total revenue growth

4

%

3

%

-

%

5

%

Recurring revenues as a % of total revenues

97

%

97

%

97

%

97

%

State enterprise revenue growth

-

%

6

%

(3

)%

7

%

Same state revenue growth

12

%

9

%

11

%

9

%

Gross profit % - state enterprise

38

%

40

%

37

%

40

%

Software & services revenue growth

51

%

(24

)%

44

%

(10

)%

Gross profit % - software & services

61

%

64

%

63

%

63

%

Selling & administrative as a % of total revenues

9

%

10

%

10

%

9

%

Enterprise technology & product support as a % of total revenues

7

%

7

%

7

%

7

%

Operating income as a % of total revenue ("operating margin")

20

%

22

%

19

%

23

%

State enterprise revenue analysis:

IGS

$

54,308

$

51,085

$

160,015

$

156,463

DHR

23,076

25,555

70,158

79,439

Development services

2,462

3,006

7,283

8,615

Fixed-fee management services

1,238

1,238

3,713

3,713

Total state enterprise revenues

$

81,084

$

80,884

$

241,169

$

248,230

NIC INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value amount)

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2019

December 31, 2018

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash

$

209,277

$

191,700

Trade accounts receivable, net

106,081

80,904

Prepaid expenses & other current assets

12,972

13,730

Total current assets

328,330

286,334

Property and equipment, net

10,506

10,256

Right of use lease assets, net

11,667

-

Intangible assets, net

22,844

13,604

Goodwill

5,965

-

Other assets

355

332

Total assets

$

379,667

$

310,526

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

84,792

$

60,092

Accrued expenses

25,706

24,150

Lease liabilities

3,996

-

Other current liabilities

7,856

4,883

Total current liabilities

122,350

89,125

Deferred income taxes, net

2,245

781

Lease liabilities

8,062

-

Other long-term liabilities

7,099

8,931

Total liabilities

139,756

98,837

Commitments and contingencies

-

-

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock, $0.0001 par, 200,000 shares authorized, 66,961 and 66,569 shares issued and outstanding

7

7

Additional paid-in capital

121,706

117,763

Retained earnings

118,198

93,919

Total stockholders' equity

239,911

211,689

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

379,667

$

310,526

NIC INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2019

Common Stock

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Shares

Amount

Total

Balance, January 1, 2019

66,569

$

7

$

117,763

$

93,919

$

211,689

Net income

-

-

-

11,502

11,502

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,402

)

(5,402

)

Dividend equivalents on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

27

(27

)

-

Dividend equivalents cancelled upon forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

(122

)

122

-

Restricted stock vestings

364

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(153

)

-

(2,609

)

-

(2,609

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

2,272

-

2,272

Shares issuable in lieu of dividend payments on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

3

-

-

-

-

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

128

-

1,443

-

1,443

Balance, March 31, 2019

66,911

7

118,774

100,114

218,895

Net income

-

-

-

14,460

14,460

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,416

)

(5,416

)

Dividend equivalents on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

27

(27

)

-

Restricted stock vestings

47

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(2

)

-

(28

)

-

(28

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

1,431

-

1,431

Balance, June 30, 2019

66,956

7

120,204

109,131

229,342

Net income

-

-

-

14,510

14,510

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,416

)

(5,416

)

Dividend equivalents on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

27

(27

)

-

Restricted stock vestings

8

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(3

)

-

(49

)

-

(49

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

1,524

-

1,524

Balance, September 30, 2019

66,961

$

7

$

121,706

$

118,198

$

239,911

NIC INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2018

Common Stock

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Shares

Amount

Total

Balance, January 1, 2018

66,271

$

7

$

111,275

$

56,960

$

168,242

Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting standard

-

-

-

208

208

Net income

-

-

-

15,508

15,508

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,370

)

(5,370

)

Dividend equivalents on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

34

(34

)

-

Dividend equivalents canceled upon forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

(140

)

140

-

Restricted stock vestings

202

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(81

)

-

(1,132

)

-

(1,132

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

1,511

-

1,511

Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan

122

-

1,382

-

1,382

Balance, March 31, 2018

66,514

7

112,930

67,412

180,349

Net income

-

-

-

17,011

17,011

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,385

)

(5,385

)

Dividend equivalents on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards

-

-

33

(33

)

-

Restricted stock vestings

44

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(2

)

-

(32

)

-

(32

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

1,576

-

1,576

Balance, June 30, 2018

66,556

7

114,507

79,005

193,519

Net income

-

-

-

15,902

15,902

Dividends declared

-

-

-

(5,383

)

(5,383

)

Restricted stock vestings

14

-

-

-

-

Shares surrendered and canceled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings

(3

)

-

(43

)

-

(43

)

Stock-based compensation

-

-

1,877

-

1,877

Balance, September 30, 2018

66,567

$

7

$

116,341

$

89,524

$

205,872

NIC INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2019

2018

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

40,473

$

48,422

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation & amortization

9,075

6,651

Stock-based compensation expense

5,227

4,965

Deferred income taxes

1,464

1,043

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

409

350

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Trade accounts receivable, net

(25,135

)

4,688

Prepaid expenses & other current assets

761

(1,018

)

Other assets

3,333

226

Accounts payable

24,700

(12,983

)

Accrued expenses

1,554

(3,032

)

Other current liabilities

2,052

92

Other long-term liabilities

(5,211

)

151

Net cash provided by operating activities

58,702

49,555

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

(3,483

)

(4,000

)

Business combination

(10,000

)

-

Asset acquisition

(3,486

)

(3,555

)

Capitalized software development costs

(6,679

)

(5,783

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(23,648

)

(13,338

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Cash dividends on common stock

(16,234

)

(16,138

)

Proceeds from employee common stock purchases

1,443

1,382

Tax withholdings related to stock-based compensation awards

(2,686

)

(1,209

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(17,477

)

(15,965

)

Net increase in cash

17,577

20,252

Cash, beginning of period

191,700

160,777

Cash, end of period

209,277

181,029

Other cash flow information:

Non-cash investing activities:

Contingent consideration - business combination

$

960

$

-

Cash payments:

Income taxes paid, net

$

12,283

$

13,206

NIC INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
September 30,

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA

2019

2018

2019

2018

Net income

$

14,510

$

15,902

$

40,473

$

48,422

Add: Income tax expense

4,190

3,698

12,113

14,280

Less: Interest income

729

153

1,910

212

Operating income

17,971

19,447

50,676

62,490

Add: Depreciation & amortization expense

3,524

2,441

9,075

6,651

Add: Stock-based compensation expense, inclusive of executive severance (1)

1,524

1,877

5,227

4,965

Add: Executive severance payments (1)

-

-

1,526

-

Adjusted EBITDA

$

23,019

$

23,765

$

66,504

$

74,106

Total Revenues

$

90,385

$

87,028

$

267,132

$

266,251

Net income as a % of total revenues ("net profit margin")

16

%

18

%

15

%

18

%

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of total revenues ("Adjusted EBITDA margin")

25

%

27

%

25

%

28

%

Detail of stock-based compensation expense

State enterprise cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization

$

370

$

361

$

1,127

$

1,166

Software & services cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization

19

36

75

112

Selling & administrative

951

1,324

3,523

3,183

Enterprise technology & product support

184

156

502

504

Stock-based compensation expense

$

1,524

$

1,877

$

5,227

$

4,965

  1. Executive severance expense of $2.6 million related to the departure of the Company's former Chief Operating Officer is included in selling & administrative expense in the consolidated statements of income and financial summary for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. These costs consisted of a one-time cash payment of $1.5 million and $1.1 million of stock-based compensation expense associated with the accelerated vesting of certain restricted stock awards. These costs were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA because the Company does not regard these costs as reflective of normal recurring costs to operate its business.

Steve Kovzan
Chief Financial Officer
(913) 754-7007
stevek@egov.com

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