📊 NRC Key Takeaways
Is National Research Corp. (NRC) a Good Investment?
NRC Health exhibits severe financial distress with a critically weak balance sheet (0.52x current ratio, 5.48x debt/equity) that poses imminent solvency risk despite modest profitability. Declining revenue (-4.0% YoY) and deteriorating earnings combined with insufficient liquidity and excessive leverage create an unsustainable capital structure vulnerable to economic shocks.
NRC shows resilient profitability and cash generation (16.4% operating margin, 11.5% FCF margin) with solid interest coverage and OCF exceeding net income, indicating good earnings quality. However, declining revenue, very weak liquidity (0.55x current ratio), and elevated leverage (5.36x D/E with minimal equity) create balance-sheet risk that could pressure operations if softness persists.
Why Buy National Research Corp. Stock? NRC Key Strengths
- Positive free cash flow generation of $5.3M with strong 15.4% FCF margin
- Maintains profitability with 16.0% operating margin and 8.9% net margin
- Strong ROE of 22.9% indicates efficient equity utilization despite high leverage
- Solid operating margin and FCF margin supportable by OCF
- Adequate interest coverage at 6.7x
- Efficient asset use reflected in 8.4% ROA
NRC Stock Risks: National Research Corp. Investment Risks
- Critical liquidity crisis: current ratio of 0.52x indicates inability to cover short-term obligations; severe default risk
- Unsustainable capital structure: debt-to-equity of 5.48x with only $2.5M cash against $74M long-term debt
- Deteriorating fundamentals: revenue declining 4.0% YoY with net income down 2.7% YoY; low 1.6x interest coverage leaves no margin for error
- Asset-heavy model with only $2.5M liquidity cushion against $121.1M total liabilities
- Top-line decline (-4.0% YoY) signaling potential demand pressure
- Weak liquidity with current/quick ratio at 0.55x and low cash
- High leverage (5.36x D/E) and thin equity heighten refinancing/covenant risk
Key Metrics to Watch
- Current ratio and cash position (immediate solvency indicators)
- Debt refinancing schedule and covenant compliance
- Operating cash flow sustainability and free cash flow trend
- Revenue stabilization and operating margin trends
- Revenue growth YoY
- Current ratio
National Research Corp. (NRC) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
NRC Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
NRC vs Healthcare Sector: How National Research Corp. Compares
How National Research Corp. compares to Healthcare sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is National Research Corp. Stock Overvalued? NRC Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, National Research Corp. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Healthcare sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
National Research Corp. Balance Sheet: NRC Debt, Cash & Liquidity
NRC Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: National Research Corp.'s revenue has shown modest growth of 0% over the 5-year period. The most recent EPS of $1.25 reflects profitable operations.
NRC Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
NRC Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $33.6M | $3.2M | $0.14 |
| Q3 2025 | $34.6M | -$106.0K | $0.18 |
| Q2 2025 | $34.0M | -$106.0K | $-0.01 |
| Q1 2025 | $33.6M | $5.8M | $0.25 |
| Q3 2024 | $35.8M | $5.7M | $0.24 |
| Q2 2024 | $35.0M | $6.2M | $0.26 |
| Q1 2024 | $35.3M | $6.4M | $0.27 |
| Q3 2023 | $37.7M | $7.0M | $0.32 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
National Research Corp. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
NRC SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for National Research Corp. (CIK: 0000070487)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about NRC
What is the AI rating for NRC?
National Research Corp. (NRC) has a Combined AI Rating of SELL from Claude (SELL) and ChatGPT (HOLD) with 72% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are NRC's key strengths?
Claude: Positive free cash flow generation of $5.3M with strong 15.4% FCF margin. Maintains profitability with 16.0% operating margin and 8.9% net margin. ChatGPT: Solid operating margin and FCF margin supportable by OCF. Adequate interest coverage at 6.7x.
What are the risks of investing in NRC?
Claude: Critical liquidity crisis: current ratio of 0.52x indicates inability to cover short-term obligations; severe default risk. Unsustainable capital structure: debt-to-equity of 5.48x with only $2.5M cash against $74M long-term debt. ChatGPT: Top-line decline (-4.0% YoY) signaling potential demand pressure. Weak liquidity with current/quick ratio at 0.55x and low cash.
What is NRC's revenue and growth?
National Research Corp. reported revenue of $34.8M.
Does NRC pay dividends?
National Research Corp. pays dividends, with $3.6M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find NRC SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for National Research Corp. (CIK: 0000070487) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is NRC's EPS?
National Research Corp. has a diluted EPS of $0.14.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is NRC a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, National Research Corp. has a SELL rating with 72% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is NRC stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for NRC: ROE of 22.9% (sector avg: 15%), net margin of 8.9% (sector avg: 12%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy NRC stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives National Research Corp. a combined SELL rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is NRC's free cash flow?
National Research Corp.'s operating cash flow is $7.2M, with capital expenditures of $1.8M. FCF margin is 15.4%.
How does NRC compare to other Healthcare stocks?
Vs Healthcare sector averages: Net margin 8.9% (avg: 12%), ROE 22.9% (avg: 15%), current ratio 0.52 (avg: 2).
Is National Research Corp. carrying too much debt?
NRC has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.48x, which is above the Healthcare sector average of 0.6x. Combined with a current ratio below 1, this warrants careful monitoring of the balance sheet.