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8-K - 8-K - NIC INCa8-kxq42019earningsrel.htm







Exhibit 99.1
nicjpega06.jpg 4Q 2019 EARNINGS

Contact: Angie Davids
Senior VP, Marketing and Communications
(913) 754-7054
angie.davids@egov.com

NIC Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

Company Continues to Drive Strong Organic Revenue Growth
and Secure Key Contract Renewals
Declares 12.5% increase in regular quarterly dividend to 9 cents per share

OLATHE, Kan. - January 29, 2020 - NIC Inc. (Nasdaq: EGOV), the leading provider of digital government services, announced results for the fourth quarter of 2019 that ended December 31, 2019, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.

Total revenues of $87.1 million, an 11% increase.
Operating income of $11.7 million, a 7% decrease, reflecting higher costs to implement the Company's outdoor recreation solution in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and dilution from the Company's recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses, including higher amortization expense.
Net income of $10.0 million, a 1% increase.
Diluted earnings per share of 15 cents, flat to prior year. Diluted earnings per share was positively impacted in the fourth quarter of 2019 by 2 cents due to the release of reserves for unrecognized income tax benefits resulting from the expiration of statutes of limitations for certain tax years.
Adjusted EBITDA of $16.8 million, a 3% increase.

Additional Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights:
Same state enterprise revenues of $79.3 million, an 11% increase.
Same state transaction-based revenues from Interactive Government Services (IGS) increased 16%.
Same state transaction-based revenues from Driver History Records (DHR) were flat.
Same state revenues from other services (development & fixed fee management services) decreased 3%.
Revenues from the Company's operations in the state of Illinois were excluded from same state enterprise revenues in the current quarter because it did not generate comparable revenues for two full comparable periods.










Software & Services revenues of $7.5 million, a 20% increase, driven mainly by higher transaction-based revenues from the federal Pre-Employment Screening Program, in addition to revenues from the Company's recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses.

On January 27, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 9 cents per share, payable to stockholders of record as of March 4, 2020. The dividend, which is expected to total approximately $6.1 million based on the current number of shares outstanding, will be paid on March 18, 2020 out of the Company’s available cash.
 
“The positive momentum continued for NIC in the fourth quarter. We capped off the year with several renewals of our long-term government partnerships and another strong quarter of organic state enterprise revenue growth,” said Harry Herington, NIC’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “In addition to the strong performance of our core state enterprise division, we are excited about the long-term growth opportunities of our vertical solutions, which we firmly believe will take NIC to greater heights in the years to come.”

Operational Highlights:
The following long-term government partners recently extended their contracts with the Company:

Hawaii extended its contract with the Company for two years.
Mississippi extended its contract with the Company for two years.
Montana extended its contract with the Company for one year.
Maine extended its contract with the Company for one year.
Connecticut extended its contract with the Company for one year.

On January 13, 2020, after a competitive bid process, the state of Florida Department of Financial Services announced its intent to award the Company a contract for e-payment collection and processing services. The Company has not yet signed a contract with the state of Florida, as the award is currently under protest.

Full Year 2019 Performance:
Total revenues of $354.2 million, a 3% increase.
Operating income of $62.4 million, a 17% decrease, mainly reflecting lower revenues and profitability from the new Texas payment processing contract compared to the legacy Texas contract, in addition to higher costs to implement the Company's outdoor recreation solution in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and dilution from the Company's recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses, including higher amortization expense.
Net income of $50.4 million, a 13% decrease.
Diluted earnings per share of 75 cents, a 14% decrease. Diluted earnings per share was positively impacted in 2019 by approximately 4 cents due to the release of reserves for unrecognized income tax benefits resulting from the expiration of certain statutes of limitations for certain tax years, and by approximately 1 cent resulting










from the completion of an IRS examination of the Company's 2016 federal income tax return during the year, which resulted in no changes to the Company's previously filed return.
Adjusted EBITDA of $83.3 million, an 8% decrease.

Additional Full Year Financial Highlights:
Same state enterprise revenues of $289.5 million, a 10% increase.
Same state IGS transaction-based revenues increased 16%.
Same state DHR transaction-based revenues increased 3%.
Same state revenues from other services increased 1%.
Revenues from the Company's operations in the state of Texas and Illinois were excluded from same state revenues for the 2019 fiscal year because they did not generate comparable revenues for two full comparable periods.
State enterprise revenues in 2019 included $30.4 million from the new Texas payment processing contract compared to $8.1 million in the prior year. The prior year also included $49.0 million in state enterprise revenues from the legacy Texas contract.
Software & Services revenues of $33.5 million, a 38% 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 and revenues from the recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses.

Full Year 2020 Outlook:
For fiscal year 2020, NIC currently expects the following:

Total revenues of $380.5-$391.0 million
Diluted earnings per share of 76-81 cents
Capital expenditures of $6.0-$7.0 million
Capitalized internal use software development costs of $9.0-$10.0 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $88.5-$93.0 million

“The high end of our revenue guidance reflects continued strong same state enterprise revenue growth, in line with historical averages, driven by the expected deployment of dozens of new services across several states, in addition to incremental revenue contributions from our recently-acquired RxGov® and NIC Licensing Solutions businesses,” said Steve Kovzan, NIC’s Chief Financial Officer. “Our guidance also reflects continued investments in key government vertical solutions - outdoor recreation, payments, licensing and healthcare - where we have been winning significant new business to drive long-term growth.”












Fourth Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast Details
On January 29, 2020, the Company will host a call to discuss its 2019 fourth quarter and full year financial and operational results, and its fiscal 2020 financial guidance, 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, January 29, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. (EDT)

Call bridge:     888-394-8218 (U.S. callers) or 323-794-2588 (international callers)
Conference ID:     1609602
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 fourth 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
December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State enterprise revenues
 
$
79,532

 
$
72,354

 
$
320,700

 
$
320,584

Software & services revenues
 
7,542

 
6,295

 
33,505

 
24,316

Total revenues
 
87,074

 
78,649

 
354,205

 
344,900

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 State enterprise cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
 
52,354

 
46,412

 
203,694

 
194,989

 Software & services cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
 
3,797

 
2,354

 
13,432

 
9,043

Selling & administrative
 
8,727

 
8,462

 
35,200


32,747

Enterprise technology & product support
 
6,917

 
6,386

 
26,850


23,944

Depreciation & amortization
 
3,535

 
2,466

 
12,610

 
9,117

Total operating expenses
 
75,330

 
66,080

 
291,786

 
269,840

Operating income
 
11,744

 
12,569

 
62,419

 
75,060

Other income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Interest income
 
604

 
406

 
2,514

 
616

Income before income taxes
 
12,348

 
12,975

 
64,933

 
75,676

Income tax provision
 
2,390

 
3,127

 
14,503

 
17,407

Net income
 
$
9,958

 
$
9,848

 
$
50,430

 
$
58,269

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income per share
 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.75

 
$
0.87

Diluted net income per share
 
$
0.15

 
$
0.15

 
$
0.75

 
$
0.87

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Basic
 
66,967

 
66,569

 
66,884

 
66,499

     Diluted
 
66,967

 
66,641

 
66,884

 
66,560

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key financial metrics:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue growth (decline)
 
11
%
 
(6
)%
 
3
%
 
3
 %
Recurring revenues as a % of total revenues
 
97
%
 
96
 %
 
97
%
 
96
 %
State enterprise revenue growth
 
10
%
 
(8
)%
 
%
 
3
 %
Same state revenue growth
 
11
%
 
8
 %
 
10
%
 
9
 %
Gross profit % - state enterprise
 
34
%
 
36
 %
 
36
%
 
39
 %
Software & services revenue growth (decline)
 
20
%
 
23
 %
 
38
%
 
(3
)%
Gross profit % - software & services
 
50
%
 
63
 %
 
60
%
 
63
 %
Selling & administrative as a % of total revenues
 
10
%
 
11
 %
 
10
%
 
9
 %
Enterprise technology & product support as a % of total revenues
 
8
%
 
8
 %
 
8
%
 
7
 %
Operating income as a % of total revenue ("operating margin")
 
13
%
 
16
 %
 
18
%
 
22
 %
State enterprise revenue analysis:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IGS
 
$
54,391

 
$
46,784

 
$
214,406

 
$
203,247

DHR
 
20,901

 
20,801

 
91,059

 
100,241

Development services
 
3,002

 
3,531

 
10,285

 
12,146

Fixed-fee management services
 
1,238

 
1,238

 
4,950

 
4,950

Total state enterprise revenues
 
$
79,532

 
$
72,354

 
$
320,700

 
$
320,584





NIC INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value amount)
(Unaudited)

 
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
214,380

 
$
191,700

Trade accounts receivable, net
 
85,399

 
80,904

Prepaid expenses & other current assets
 
12,944

 
13,730

Total current assets
 
312,723

 
286,334

Property and equipment, net
 
10,091

 
10,256

Right of use lease assets, net
 
10,778

 

Intangible assets, net
 
22,398

 
13,604

Goodwill
 
5,965

 

Other assets
 
404

 
332

Total assets
 
$
362,359

 
$
310,526

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
63,685

 
$
60,092

Accrued expenses
 
25,940

 
24,150

Lease liabilities
 
3,776

 

Other current liabilities
 
7,191

 
4,883

Total current liabilities
 
100,592

 
89,125

 
 
 
 
 
Deferred income taxes, net
 
2,463

 
781

Lease liabilities
 
7,373

 

Other long-term liabilities
 
6,003

 
8,931

Total liabilities
 
116,431

 
98,837

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.0001 par, 200,000 shares authorized, 66,968 and 66,569 shares issued and outstanding
 
7

 
7

Additional paid-in capital
 
123,208

 
117,763

Retained earnings
 
122,713

 
93,919

Total stockholders' equity
 
245,928

 
211,689

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
362,359

 
$
310,526






NIC INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
50,430

 
$
58,269

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation & amortization
 
12,610

 
9,117

Stock-based compensation expense
 
6,769

 
6,338

Deferred income taxes
 
1,682

 
1,448

Provision for losses on accounts receivable
 
782

 
852

Loss on disposal of property and equipment
 
89

 
88

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable, net
 
(4,826
)
 
22,182

Prepaid expenses & other current assets
 
789

 
(887
)
Other assets
 
4,430

 
1,810

Accounts payable
 
3,593

 
(28,828
)
Accrued expenses
 
1,788

 
(2,351
)
Other current liabilities
 
1,132

 
1,262

Other long-term liabilities
 
(7,218
)
 
536

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
72,050

 
69,836

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
 
(4,253
)
 
(5,410
)
Business combination
 
(10,000
)
 

Asset acquisition
 
(3,486
)
 
(3,555
)
Capitalized software development costs
 
(8,671
)
 
(8,580
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(26,410
)
 
(17,545
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Cash dividends on common stock
 
(21,649
)
 
(21,521
)
Proceeds from employee common stock purchases
 
1,443

 
1,382

Tax withholdings related to stock-based compensation awards
 
(2,754
)
 
(1,229
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(22,960
)
 
(21,368
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in cash
 
22,680

 
30,923

Cash, beginning of period
 
191,700

 
160,777

Cash, end of period
 
214,380

 
191,700

 
 
 
 
 
Other cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
Non-cash investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration - business combination
 
$
960

 
$

Cash payments:
 
 
 
 
Income taxes paid, net
 
$
16,035

 
$
13,707





NIC INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income
 
$
9,958

 
$
9,848

 
$
50,430

 
$
58,269

Add: Income tax expense
 
2,390

 
3,127

 
14,503

 
17,407

Less: Interest income
 
604

 
406

 
2,514

 
616

Operating income
 
11,744

 
12,569

 
62,419

 
75,060

Add: Depreciation & amortization expense
 
3,535

 
2,466

 
12,610

 
9,117

Add: Stock-based compensation expense, inclusive of executive severance (1)
 
1,543

 
1,374

 
6,769

 
6,338

Add: Executive severance payments (1)
 

 

 
1,526

 

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
16,822

 
$
16,409

 
$
83,324

 
$
90,515

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Revenues
 
$
87,074

 
$
78,649

 
$
354,205

 
$
344,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income as a % of total revenues ("net profit margin")
 
11
%
 
13
%
 
14
%
 
17
%
Adjusted EBITDA as a % of total revenues ("Adjusted EBITDA margin")
 
19
%
 
21
%
 
24
%
 
26
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Detail of stock-based compensation expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State enterprise cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
 
$
373

 
$
350

 
$
1,499

 
$
1,516

Software & services cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
 
26

 
39

 
101

 
151

Selling & administrative
 
972

 
811

 
4,495

 
3,994

Enterprise technology & product support
 
172

 
174

 
674

 
677

Stock-based compensation expense
 
$
1,543

 
$
1,374

 
$
6,769

 
$
6,338

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(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 twelve months ended December 31, 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.