EGOV NIC Inc

NIC Inc. (NASDAQ: EGOV), the dominant provider of official eGovernment services, today announced net income of $8.9 million and earnings per share of 14 cents on total revenues of $70.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company reported net income of $9.4 million and earnings per share of 14 cents on total revenues of $65.4 million.

Quarterly portal revenues were $65.9 million, a 7 percent increase over the first quarter of 2014. On a same-state basis, portal revenues were $64.8 million in the current quarter, a 7 percent increase over the first quarter of 2014. Same-state, transaction-based revenues from Interactive Government Services (IGS) rose 12 percent over the first quarter of 2014, with same-state, transaction-based revenues from Driver History Records (DHR) up 5 percent due mainly to price increases in three states. Total same-state, transaction-based revenues (IGS and DHR) rose 9 percent in the current quarter. Same-state portal software development revenues decreased 23 percent as the Company cycled against a stronger quarter of project-based, time & materials revenues in the prior year quarter.

Current quarter revenues from the Connecticut portal, which launched in the second quarter of 2014, totaled $1.1 million. Revenues from the legacy Arizona state portal contract, which expired on March 26, 2014, were $0.8 million in the prior year quarter. Start-up costs from the pilot program with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety totaled $0.3 million during the current quarter.

NIC’s portal gross profit percentage was 37 percent in the current quarter, down from 39 percent in the first quarter of 2014, in part reflecting start-up costs from the Louisiana pilot and a temporary decline in gross profits of $1.4 million attributable to the Texas portal due to a change in legislation effective March 1, 2015 that affected the process for vehicle inspections in the state and the timing of revenues associated with this service. The change in legislation resulted in a temporary decline in IGS transaction-based revenues from the vehicle inspection service totaling approximately $0.7 million coupled with approximately $0.7 million in non-recurring costs to transition the service to the new vehicle inspection process.

Software & services revenues were $4.4 million in the current quarter, up 14 percent from the first quarter of 2014, driven by an increase in transactional revenues from the federal Pre-employment Screening Program and other payment processing services.

“Once again, I am pleased to see our business producing consistent results,” said Harry Herington, NIC Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “We are committed to developing efficient and secure online services that make government more accessible to businesses and citizens.”

Operational Highlights

Recently, two NIC subsidiaries signed new contracts to provide state eGovernment services. NIC’s Oklahoma subsidiary, Oklahoma Interactive, LLC signed a new contract to manage the state’s official government portal and provide self-funded eGovernment services. The contract includes renewal options which the state can exercise to extend the contract through April 2020. New Jersey NIC subsidiary, New Jersey Interactive, LLC, signed a new contract with the state to provide self-funded eGovernment services. The contract includes a five-year base contract with renewal options which the state can exercise taking the contract through May 2022.

During the quarter, two NIC subsidiaries received contract extensions. The Tennessee Division of NICUSA received a one-year contract extension from the State of Tennessee, and Alabama Interactive, LLC received a one-year extension from the State of Alabama.

First Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast Details

On the call, the Company will discuss its 2015 first quarter, and answer questions from the investment community. The call may also include discussion of Company developments, and forward-looking and other material information about business and financial matters.

Dial-In Information

Monday, May 4, 2015 4:30 p.m. (EDT)   Call bridge: 888-401-4668 (U.S. callers) or 719-457-2083 (international callers) Conference ID: 3687918 Call leaders: Harry Herington, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Steve Kovzan, Chief Financial Officer Robert Knapp, Chief Operating Officer

Webcast Information

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

A replay of the Webcast will be available by visiting https://www.egov.com/investor-relations.

About NIC

Founded in 1992, NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV) is the nation's leading provider of official government websites, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The Company's innovative eGovernment services help make government more accessible to everyone through technology. The family of NIC companies provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,500 federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Forbes has named NIC as one of the “100 Best Small Companies in America” six times, most recently ranked at No. 36 (2014), and the Company has been included four times on the Barron’s 400 Index. Additional information is available at https://www.egov.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Any statements contained in this release that do not relate to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the Company’s potential financial performance for the current fiscal year, statements regarding the planned implementation of new portal contracts and projects under existing portal contracts, and statements regarding continued implementation of NIC’s business model and its development of new products and services. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These include, among others, NIC’s ability to successfully integrate into its operations recently awarded eGovernment contracts; NIC's ability to implement its new portal contracts and new projects in a timely and cost-effective manner; NIC’s ability to successfully increase the adoption and use of eGovernment services; the possibility of reductions in fees or revenues as a result of budget deficits, government shutdowns or changes in government policy; the success of the Company in renewing existing contracts and in signing contracts with new states and federal government agencies; continued favorable government legislation; NIC’s ability to develop new services; existing states and agencies adopting those new services; acceptance of eGovernment services by businesses and citizens; competition; the possibility of security breaches or disruptions through cyber attacks or other events and any resulting liability; and general economic conditions and the other important cautionary statements and risk factors described in NIC's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2015. Any forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release. NIC does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstances.

  NIC INC. FINANCIAL SUMMARY (UNAUDITED) Thousands except per share amounts and percentages         Three months ended March 31, 2015 2014 Revenues: Portal revenues $ 65,914 $ 61,482 Software & services revenues   4,445     3,915   Total revenues   70,359     65,397   Operating expenses: Cost of portal revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization (1) 41,494 37,560 Cost of software & services revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization 1,290 993 Selling & administrative (1) 10,538 9,208 Depreciation & amortization   2,292     2,250   Total operating expenses   55,614     50,011   Operating income before income taxes 14,745 15,386 Income tax provision   5,804     6,010   Net income $ 8,941   $ 9,376     Basic net income per share $ 0.14   $ 0.14   Diluted net income per share $ 0.14   $ 0.14     Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic   65,387     65,057   Diluted   65,387     65,057     Key Financial Metrics: Revenue growth - outsourced portals 7 % 6 % Same state revenue growth - outsourced portals 7 % 7 % Recurring portal revenue as a % of total portal revenues 97 % 95 % Gross profit % - outsourced portals (1) 37 % 39 % Revenue growth - software & services 14 % 23 % Gross profit % - software & services 71 % 75 % Selling & administrative expenses as a % of total revenues (1) 15 % 14 % Operating income as a % of total revenue 21 % 24 %   Portal Revenue Analysis: IGS transaction-based $ 36,147 $ 32,369 DHR transaction-based 25,652 23,476 Portal software development 2,295 3,027 Portal management   1,820     2,610   Total portal revenues $ 65,914   $ 61,482     (1) The Company reclassified certain income statement employee benefit related expenses for the three- month period ended March 31, 2014 to conform to the 2015 presentation. The reclassification resulted in a reduction of selling & administrative expenses of $1.1 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 and a corresponding increase in cost of portal revenues. In addition, the reclassification resulted in a reduction of selling & administrative expenses as a percentage of total consolidated revenues of 2% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 and a corresponding decrease in portal gross profit percentage. The reclassification had no effect on total operating expenses, operating income, net income, earnings per share or cash flows.             NIC INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) Thousands except par value amount       March 31, 2015 December 31, 2014 ASSETS Current assets: Cash $ 92,104 $ 87,983 Trade accounts receivable, net 67,822 57,468 Deferred income taxes, net 1,079 1,039 Prepaid expenses & other current assets   12,525   11,502 Total current assets 173,530 157,992 Property and equipment, net 11,018 12,247 Intangible assets, net 2,395 2,394 Other assets   444   446 Total assets $ 187,387 $ 173,079   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 48,318 $ 41,402 Accrued expenses 16,498 19,751 Other current liabilities   2,458   2,902 Total current liabilities 67,274 64,055   Deferred income taxes, net 1,558 1,536 Other long-term liabilities   3,563   3,350 Total liabilities   72,395   68,941   Commitments and contingencies - -   Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.0001 par, 200,000 shares authorized, 65,543 and 65,303 shares issued and outstanding 7 7 Additional paid-in capital 96,546 94,690 Retained earnings   18,439   9,441 Total stockholders' equity   114,992   104,138 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 187,387 $ 173,079                       NIC INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) Thousands     Additional Common Stock Paid-in Shares Amount Capital Retained Earnings   Total Balance, January 1, 2015 65,303 $ 7 $ 94,690 $ 9,441 $ 104,138 Net income - - - 8,941 8,941 Restricted stock vestings 258 - 74 - 74 Dividend equivalents cancelled upon forfeiture of performance-based restricted stock awards - - 18 57 75 Shares surrendered and cancelled upon vesting of restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings (93 ) - (1,581 ) - (1,581 ) Stock-based compensation - - 2,159 - 2,159 Tax deductions relating to stock-based compensation - - 204 - 204 Shares issuable in lieu of dividend payments on unvested performance-based restricted stock awards - - (149 ) - (149 ) Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan 75     -   1,131     -   1,131   Balance, March 31, 2015 65,543   $ 7 $ 96,546   $ 18,439 $ 114,992             NIC INC. CASH FLOW SUMMARY (UNAUDITED) Thousands   Three months ended March 31, 2015 2014   Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 8,941 $ 9,376 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation & amortization 2,292 2,250 Stock-based compensation expense 2,159 1,000 Deferred income taxes (1,436 ) (676 ) Loss on disposal of property and equipment 27 104 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: (Increase) in trade accounts receivable, net (10,354 ) (8,797 ) Decrease in prepaid expenses & other current assets 395 2,241 (Increase) decrease in other assets 2 (34 ) Increase in accounts payable 6,916 7,987 (Decrease) in accrued expenses (4,960 ) (7,227 ) Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities (444 ) 415 Increase in other long-term liabilities   213     161   Net cash provided by operating activities   3,751     6,800   Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (677 ) (919 ) Capitalized internal use software development costs   (288 )   (325 ) Net cash used in investing activities   (965 )   (1,244 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from employee common stock purchases 1,131 1,107 Tax deductions related to stock-based compensation   204     690   Net cash provided by financing activities   1,335     1,797   Net increase in cash 4,121 7,353 Cash, beginning of period   87,983     74,245   Cash, end of period $ 92,104   $ 81,598   Other cash flow information: Non-cash investing activities: Capital expenditures accrued but not yet paid $ 126 $ 189 Cash payments: Income taxes paid $ 6,414 $ 6,532 Cash dividends on common stock previously restricted for payment of dividend $ - $ 22,982  

NIC Inc.Angela Davied, 913-754-7054adavied@egov.com