ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- October 23, 2014 -- Cass Information Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CASS), the nation's leading provider of transportation, energy, telecom and environmental invoice payment and information services, reported third quarter 2014 earnings of $.55 per diluted share, a 3.8% increase over the $.53 per diluted share it earned in the third quarter of 2013. Net income for the period was $6.4 million, 4.3% higher than the $6.1 million the company earned in 2013.
*Includes Energy, Telecom and Environmental
2014 3rd Quarter Recap
A 10% increase in transportation volume, mainly attributed to a large number of new customers and heightened activity from core transportation clients, fueled the quarterly upturn. Even as new sales remained strong, facility expense dollar volume was muted as recent competitor consolidation in the energy sector affected customer retention.Operating expenses decreased by $0.2 million, or .9%, due mainly to lower pension expense. The decline was recorded even as Cass continued to invest in staff and technology to support growth and win new business.
“For the second consecutive quarter, our transportation payment processing group posted a double-digit gain in processing volume which enabled the company to post record earnings for the quarter,” said Eric H. Brunngraber, Cass president and chief executive officer. “Also notable is the diminished impact that the low interest rate environment had on earnings year over year. Our focus remains on fostering growth across all business lines as we position Cass to fully participate in an improving economy.”
Nine-Month 2014 Recap
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, the company earned $1.57 per diluted share, the same as it earned in the comparable period in 2013. Net income was $18.2 million, approximately the same as in 2013. Revenues rose 1.1%, from $86.7 million in 2013 to $87.6 million in 2014.
Operating expenses were up 1.2%, or $0.7 million, due to the cost of investing in staff and technology offset by lower pension expense, as discussed above.
Cash Dividend and Buyback Program
On October 20, 2014, the company’s board of directors declared a third quarter dividend of $.21 per share payable December 15, 2014 to shareholders of record December 5, 2014. The new quarterly dividend is one cent, or 5% higher than the previous pay-out of 20 cents per share.
The board of directors also authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of the company’s common stock.
“These actions reflect the company’s strong capital base, solid growth in transaction fees and the confidence of our board of directors in the company’s future,” said Brunngraber. Cass has continuously paid regularly scheduled cash dividends since 1934.
About Cass Information Systems
Cass Information Systems is the leading provider of transportation, energy, telecom and environmental invoice payment and information services. The company, which has been involved in the payables services and information support business since 1956, disburses $35 billion annually on behalf of customers from locations in St. Louis, Mo., Columbus, Ohio, Boston, Mass., Greenville, S.C., Wellington, Kansas and Jacksonville, Fla. The support of Cass Commercial Bank, founded in 1906, makes Cass Information Systems unique in the industry. Cass is part of the Russell 2000® Index.
Note to Investors
Certain matters set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. However, such performance involves risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. For a discussion of certain factors that may cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from the company’s actual results, see the company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
