Cass Information Systems, Inc. Records All-Time High Earnings in 2017

[February 01, 2018]

Cass Information Systems, Inc. Records All-Time High Earnings in 2017

Cass Information Systems (News - Alert), Inc. (NASDAQ: CASS), the nation's leading provider of transportation, energy, telecom and waste invoice payment and information services, today announced fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings.

Those results (detailed in the table below) are skewed by a one-time, non-cash charge to income tax expense of $1.8 million triggered by the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on December 22, 2017. While the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate negatively impacted 2017 earnings, the rate reduction is projected to significantly boost after-tax earnings in the future.

The table that follows presents key 2017 fourth quarter and full-year performance metrics. Net Income and Diluted EPS (earnings per share) show comparative entries that reflect the impact of the TCJA one-time non-cash charge. None of the other metrics were impacted by the charge.

4^th Quarter

YTD

2017

2016

%
Change

2017

2016

%
Change

Transportation Invoice Volume

9.0 million

8.6 million

4.6

35.5 million

34.3 million

3.5

Transportation Dollar Volume

$6.5 billion

$5.7 billion

15.2

$24.8 billion

$22.8 billion

8.9

Facility Expense Transaction Volume*

7.2 million

6.6 million

9.6

27.7 million

23.5 million

17.5

Facility Expense Dollar Volume*

$3.1 billion

$3.0 billion

3.8

$12.8 billion

$11.9 billion

7.4

Revenues

$35.0 million

$32.2 million

8.9

$135.3 million

$125.5 million

7.8

Net Income

$5.3 million

$6.4 million

(17.0)

$25.0 million

$24.3 million

2.7

Net Income (excluding TCJA charge)

$7.2 million**

$6.4 million

11.4

$26.8 million**

$24.3 million

10.2

Diluted EPS

$.43

$.52

(17.3)

$2.01

$1.96

2.6

Diluted EPS (excluding TCJA charge)

$.58**

$.52

11.5

$2.16**

$1.96

10.2

*Includes Energy, Telecom and Waste

**Non-GAAP

2017 Q4 Revenue Up 9%

Cass posted a healthy 9% increase in revenue in the fourth quarter as it continued to grow its customer base, expanded new revenue-generating services and benefited from an improving interest rate environment. The company continued to foster service innovation with investment in new technology and infrastructure.

Highlighting fourth quarter performance was a 15% increase in transportation dollar volume. Against the backdrop of a strengthening global economy, increased carrier and fuel prices combined with higher volume from current accounts to produce the notable result. Transportation invoice volume was also up 5% for the period.

Facility-related (electricity, gas, waste, and telecom expense management) transactions increased 10% due to new customer wins and increased volume from current accounts. Facility expense dollar volume grew by 4% for the period.

Consolidated operating expenses were up $2.2 million (9%) due mainly to on-going strategic investment in the technology and staff required to win and support new business.

"We are delighted that 2017 proved to be another record-setting year for Cass, despite our need to absorb the significant accounting charge generated by federal tax reform legislation," stated Eric H. Brunngraber, Cass chairman and chief executive officer. "Excluding that charge, Cass achieved a 10.2%* increase in net income and earnings per share for 2017."

*Non-GAAP

Cash Dividend Declared

On January 30, 2018, the company's board of directors declared a first quarter dividend of $.24 per share payable March 15, 2018 to shareholders of record March 5, 2018. Cass has continuously paid regularly scheduled cash dividends since 1934. Additionally, Cass has returned more than $22 million to shareholders over the past three years through its share repurchase program.

"The positive impact on future earnings from tax reform combined with our strong balance sheet and sound operating performance leave our board of directors upbeat about what the future holds for Cass," Brunngraber commented.

About Cass Information Systems

Cass Information Systems, Inc (News - Alert). is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions. Cass enables enterprises to achieve visibility, control and efficiency in their supply chains, communications networks, facilities and other operations. Disbursing over $50 billion annually on behalf of clients, and with total assets of $1.6 billion, Cass is uniquely supported by Cass Commercial Bank. Founded in 1906 and a wholly owned subsidiary, Cass Bank provides sophisticated financial exchange services to the parent organization and its clients. Cass is part of the Russell 2000®. More information is available at www.cassinfo.com.

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, 2016.

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The following table presents selected unaudited consolidated financial data (in thousands, except per share data) for the periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:


	Quarter Ended December 31, 2017				Quarter Ended December 31, 2016			Year Ended December 31, 2017				Year Ended December 31, 2016
Transportation Invoice Volume		8,961				8,566			35,546				34,352
Transportation Dollar Volume	$	6,530,555			$	5,667,186		$	24,801,733			$	22,774,909
Facility Expense Transaction Volume		7,184				6,556			27,661				23,545
Facility Expense Dollar Volume	$	3,147,729			$	3,032,178		$	12,795,302			$	11,914,359

Payment and Processing Fees	$	23,990			$	21,551		$	93,322			$	83,713
Net Investment Income		10,315				10,151			39,790				39,401
Gain on Sales of Securities		-				-			-				387
Other		744				475			2,190				2,036
Total Revenues	$	35,049			$	32,177		$	135,302			$	125,537
Personnel	$	19,955			$	18,314		$	77,339			$	72,581
Occupancy		846				830			3,480				3,390
Equipment		1,325				1,162			5,071				4,451
Other		4,016				3,641			14,513				13,051
Total Operating Expenses	$	26,142			$	23,947		$	100,403			$	93,473
Income from Operations before Income Taxes	$	8,907			$	8,230		$	34,899			$	32,064
Income Tax Expense		3,576		*		1,806			9,885		*		7,716
Net Income	$	5,331			$	6,424		$	25,014			$	24,348
Basic Earnings per Share	$	.44			$	.53		$	2.04			$	1.99
Diluted Earnings per Share	$	.43			$	.52		$	2.01			$	1.96

Average Earning Assets	$	1,405,413			$	1,331,652		$	1,362,661			$	1,308,914
Net Interest Margin		3.31	%			3.30	%		3.34	%			3.32	%
Allowance for Loan Losses to Loans		1.49	%			1.53	%		1.49	%			1.53	%
Non-performing Loans to Total Loans		-				.04	%		-				.04	%
Net Loan (Recoveries) / Charge-offs to Loans		-				-			-				(.01	%)
Provision for Loan Losses	$	-			$	(500	)	$	-			$	(1,500	)