NRC Health (NASDAQ: NRC), a leader in healthcare experience improvement solutions, today announced results for the third quarter 2026.

“We delivered a strong third quarter, with revenue up 11% year-over-year and sequential margin expansion,” said Trent Green, CEO of NRC Health. “Our large customer went live on schedule, and several long-standing customers renewed under multi-year agreements, reinforcing the durability of our recurring-revenue base. As our expanding contract base converts into revenue, the operating leverage inherent in our model will translate into greater profitability and free cash flow over time, reinforcing our confidence in NRC Health’s ability to create long-term shareholder value.”

Third Quarter 2026 Highlights

  • TRCV: Total Recurring Contract Value (TRCV)* was $154.1 million, up 9% year-over-year

  • Revenue: Total revenue was $38.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, up 11% from the prior year

  • Net Income: GAAP Net Income and Adjusted Net Income* were $4.7 million, representing 12% of revenue

  • Earnings Per Share: GAAP Earnings per Share and Adjusted Earnings per Share* were $0.21 on 22.0 million fully diluted shares

  • Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA* was $10.9 million, representing 28% of revenue

  • Cash Flow: Net cash flow from operating activities was $8.0 million, representing 21% of revenue; Free Cash Flow* was $7.0 million

* These financial measures are defined below under the headings “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Total Recurring Contract Value.” Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to their most closely comparable GAAP measures are included in the tables in this release.

Dividend Declaration

The Company’s Board of Directors on October 14, 2026, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share. The dividend will be payable on Friday, January 8, 2027, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Tuesday, December 29, 2026.

Earnings Call Information

The company will be hosting a conference call to discuss the financial results on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET. A live webcast and replay of the call will be available on the NRC Health Investor Relations website at nrchealth.com/investor-relations.

About NRC Health

For more than 45 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 the patients, families, consumers, employees, and communities they serve on a human level. Guided by its uniquely empathic heritage, human-centered approach, unmatched national market research, and emphasis on consumer preferences, NRC Health is transforming the healthcare experience, creating strong outcomes across the healthcare journey. For more information, email info@nrchealth.com, or visit www.nrchealth.com.

Total Recurring Contract Value

Total Recurring Contract Value, or TRCV, is viewed by management as a leading indicator of our future revenue trends. It represents the total annualized contract value under customer contracts that are in effect or contractually committed as of the most recent quarter-end, based on contractual pricing and term provisions, and expected to be in force over the subsequent 12 months. TRCV is an operating metric and is not a measure of revenue recognized under U.S. GAAP.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to consolidated GAAP financial measures, NRC Health reviews various non-GAAP financial measures that management believes to be important in the evaluation of its operating results and performance, including “Adjusted Net Income,” “Adjusted Earnings per Share,” “Adjusted EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA Margin,” “Free Cash Flow,” and “Free Cash Flow Margin.” Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial information are provided later in this release.

NRC Health believes Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings per Share, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are helpful supplemental measures to assist management and investors in evaluating the Company’s operating results as (i) they exclude certain items that are unusual in nature or whose fluctuation from period to period do not necessarily correspond to changes in the operations of NRC Health’s business, and (ii) the exclusion of non-cash stock compensation is useful for investors applying certain valuation metrics and is consistent with the leverage ratio for our credit facility.

Adjusted Net Income represents net income adjusted to add back management transition costs and non-cash stock compensation and the related tax. The income tax effect on non-GAAP adjustments is calculated by applying the Company’s blended federal and state statutory rate to the deductible portion of each adjustment; amounts nondeductible under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code receive no tax effect. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, management transition costs, and non-cash stock compensation items. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by our revenue.

Management transition costs, presented in the Company’s prior earnings releases as “non-recurring executive compensation,” consist of costs related to the Company’s executive leadership transition. The caption was revised in the prior period to more accurately reflect the composition of these costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, these costs consisted of bonuses tied to compensation arrangements for our new CEO and existing executive leaders. For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, these costs consist of bonuses paid to certain executives to cover anticipated tax obligations in connection with amendments to their 2025 equity awards, as previously disclosed, and approximately $270,000 of severance costs incurred in connection with team restructurings implemented by newly appointed executives.

NRC Health considers Free Cash Flow to be a measure that provides useful information to management and investors about our liquidity. Free Cash Flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow Margin represents Free Cash Flow divided by our revenue.

There is no comprehensive, authoritative guidance for the presentation of such non-GAAP information, which is only meant to supplement GAAP results by providing additional information that management utilizes to assess performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

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,” “focus,” “potential,” “will,” 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, 2025, 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 HEALTH

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

38,399

 

 

$

34,608

 

 

$

108,594

 

 

$

102,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

 

15,378

 

 

 

12,404

 

 

 

42,588

 

 

 

38,436

 

Selling, general, and administrative

 

 

12,045

 

 

 

12,271

 

 

 

48,409

 

 

 

40,360

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

6,358

 

 

 

5,479

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

29,491

 

 

 

26,870

 

 

 

97,355

 

 

 

84,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

8,908

 

 

7,738

 

 

 

11,239

 

 

 

17,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

26

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

81

 

 

 

82

 

Interest expense

 

 

(1,532

)

 

 

(1,461

)

 

 

(4,108

)

 

 

(3,393

)

Other, net

 

 

–

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

32

 

 

 

(34

)

Total other expense

 

 

(1,506

)

 

 

(1,465

)

 

 

(3,995

)

 

 

(3,345

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

7,402

 

 

 

6,273

 

 

 

7,244

 

 

 

14,576

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

2,698

 

 

 

2,151

 

 

 

2,601

 

 

4,774

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

4,704

 

$

4,122

 

$

4,643

 

$

9,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share of common stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.22

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.43

 

Diluted

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares and share equivalents outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

21,724

 

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

21,844

 

 

 

22,584

 

Diluted

 

 

21,887

 

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

22,022

 

 

 

22,590

 

 

NRC HEALTH

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands except share amounts and par value)

 

 

 

 

September 30,

2026

 

 

December 31,

2025

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,626

 

 

$

4,139

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

15,341

 

 

 

11,108

 

Other current assets

 

 

7,743

 

 

 

4,962

 

Total current assets

 

 

26,710

 

 

 

20,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

38,344

 

 

 

40,474

 

Goodwill

 

 

66,152

 

 

 

66,152

 

Other, net

 

 

8,007

 

 

 

8,043

 

Total assets

 

$

139,213

 

 

$

134,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of notes payable, net of unamortized debt issuance costs

 

$

4,767

 

 

$

4,014

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

6,394

 

 

 

4,066

 

Accrued wages and bonuses

 

 

6,676

 

 

 

7,218

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

20,277

 

 

 

16,201

 

Dividends payable

 

 

3,406

 

 

 

3,625

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

325

 

 

 

1,496

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

41,845

 

 

 

36,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

98,133

 

 

 

75,021

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

8,357

 

 

 

9,247

 

Total liabilities

 

 

148,335

 

 

 

120,888

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 31,846,649 in 2026 and 31,966,504 in 2025, outstanding 21,221,538 in 2026 and 22,637,252 in 2025

 

 

32

 

 

 

32

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

192,864

 

 

 

183,880

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(23,209

)

 

 

(17,298

)

Treasury stock

 

 

(178,809

)

 

 

(152,624

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

$

(9,122

)

 

$

13,990

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

139,213

 

 

$

134,878

 

 

NRC HEALTH

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

4,704

 

 

$

4,122

 

 

$

4,643

 

$

9,802

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

6,358

 

 

 

5,479

 

Deferred income tax expense

 

 

(16

)

 

 

(49

)

 

 

(52

)

 

 

(80

)

Change in uncertain tax positions

 

 

(150

)

 

 

(45

)

 

 

(154

)

 

 

103

 

Non-cash share-based compensation expense (benefit)

 

 

(135

)

 

 

925

 

 

 

8,844

 

 

 

1,403

 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

 

–

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

131

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

67

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

 

27

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

81

 

 

 

75

 

Net changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade accounts receivable

 

 

(6,017

)

 

 

(332

)

 

 

(4,233

)

 

 

(1,694

)

Prepaid expenses and other current and long-term assets

 

 

1,184

 

 

 

1,794

 

 

 

(113

)

 

 

(1,021

)

Deferred contract costs, net

 

 

(651

)

 

 

(348

)

 

 

(1,084

)

 

 

(359

)

Operating lease assets and liabilities, net

 

 

–

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

(40

)

Accounts payable

 

 

68

 

 

 

(91

)

 

 

291

 

 

 

66

 

Accrued expenses, wages, and bonuses

 

 

1,977

 

 

 

1,478

 

 

 

968

 

 

2,146

 

Income taxes receivable and payable

 

 

1.404

 

 

 

1,896

 

 

 

(2,943

)

 

 

1,246

Deferred revenue

 

 

3.557

 

 

 

2,129

 

 

 

4,011

 

 

 

1,947

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

8,020

 

 

 

13,764

 

 

 

16,586

 

 

 

19,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(1,038

)

 

 

(3,589

)

 

 

(4,196

)

 

 

(9,585

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(1,038

)

 

 

(3,589

)

 

 

(4,196

)

 

 

(9,585

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings on notes payable

 

 

15,000

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

15,000

 

 

 

47,681

 

Payments on notes payable

 

 

(1,155

)

 

 

(947

)

 

 

(3,216

)

 

 

(30,393

)

Borrowings on revolving loan

 

 

14,000

 

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

36,000

 

 

 

33,000

 

Payments on revolving loan

 

 

(15,000

)

 

 

(5,000

)

 

 

(24,000

)

 

 

(33,003

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

(135

)

Payments on finance lease obligations

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(7

)

Proceeds from the exercise of share-based awards

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

139

 

 

 

132

 

Payment of acquisition contingent consideration

 

 

–

 

 

 

(236

)

 

 

(484

)

 

 

(516

)

Repurchase of shares for treasury

 

 

(15,983

)

 

 

(9,269

)

 

 

(25,561

)

 

 

(20,179

)

Payment of dividends on common stock

 

 

(3,543

)

 

 

(2,776

)

 

 

(10,774

)

 

 

(8,280

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(6,683

)

 

 

(13,230

)

 

 

(12,903

)

 

 

(11,700

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

299

 

 

 

(3,055

)

 

 

(513

)

 

 

(2,014

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

3,327

 

 

 

5,274

 

 

 

4,139

 

 

 

4,233

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

3,626

 

 

$

2,219

 

 

$

3,626

 

 

$

2,219

 

 

NRC HEALTH

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Share

 

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Net income

 

$

4,704

 

 

$

4,122

 

 

$

4,643

 

 

$

9,802

 

Add back:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management transition costs1

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

3,160

 

 

 

6,640

 

Tax on management transition costs

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

(180

)

 

 

(468

)

Non-cash stock compensation expense (benefit)

 

 

(134

)

 

 

925

 

 

 

8,844

 

 

 

1,403

 

Tax (expense) benefit on non-cash stock compensation

 

 

93

 

 

 

(39

)

 

 

(378

)

 

 

(60

)

Adjusted net income

 

$

4,663

 

 

$

5,008

 

 

$

16,089

 

 

$

17,317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share of common stock, diluted

 

$

0.21

 

 

$

0.18

 

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

0.43

 

Weighted average shares and share equivalents outstanding, diluted

 

 

21,887

 

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

22,022

 

 

 

22,590

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share of common stock, diluted

 

$

0.21

 

 

$

0.23

 

 

$

0.73

 

 

$

0.77

 

Adjusted weighted average shares and share equivalents outstanding, diluted

 

 

21,887

 

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

22,022

 

 

 

22,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1)

See ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ above for a description of the composition of management transition costs and the change from prior period presentation.

 

NRC HEALTH

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Continued

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Net income

 

$

4,704

 

 

$

4,122

 

 

$

4,643

 

 

$

9,802

 

Add back:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,068

 

 

 

2,195

 

 

 

6,358

 

 

 

5,479

 

Interest expense

 

 

1,532

 

 

 

1,461

 

 

 

4,108

 

 

 

3,393

 

Income taxes

 

 

2,698

 

 

 

2,151

 

 

 

2,601

 

 

 

4,774

 

Management transition costs1

 

 

–

 

 

 

–

 

 

 

3,160

 

 

 

6,640

 

Non-cash stock compensation expense (benefit)

 

 

(134

)

 

 

925

 

 

 

8,844

 

 

 

1,403

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

10,868

 

 

$

10,854

 

 

$

29,714

 

 

$

31,491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income margin

 

 

12

%

 

 

12

%

 

 

4

%

 

 

10

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

28

%

 

31

%

 

27

%

 

31

%

1)

See ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ above for a description of the composition of management transition costs and the change from prior period presentation.

 

Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow Margin

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

8,020

 

$

13,764

 

$

16,586

 

 

$

19,271

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

1,038

 

 

 

3,589

 

 

 

4,196

 

 

 

9,585

 

Free cash flow

 

$

6,982

 

 

$

10,175

 

 

$

12,390

 

 

$

9,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities margin

 

 

21

%

 

 

40

%

 

 

15

%

 

 

19

%

Free cash flow margin

 

18

%

29

%

 

11

%

 

9

%

 

Media gallery

About The Author