Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company is a leading provider of analytics and insights that facilitate revenue growth, patient, employee and customer retention and patient engagement for healthcare providers, payers and other healthcare organizations in the United States and Canada.

The Company has two operating segments that are aggregated into one reporting segment because they have similar economic characteristics and meet the other aggregation criteria from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance on segment disclosure.  The two operating segments, organized by geographic area, are National Research Corporation (United States) and National Research Corporation Canada, which each offer a portfolio of solutions to address specific market needs around growth, retention, engagement and thought leadership for healthcare organizations. 

The condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company at December 31, 2013, was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. All other financial statements contained herein are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2013 financial statement information to conform to the 2014 financial statement presentation. There was no impact on the previously reported net income and earnings per share information.

Information and footnote disclosures included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that are included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 4, 2014.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary, National Research Corporation Canada, and the accounts of a variable interest entity, Customer-Connect LLC (“Connect”) for which NRC has been deemed the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiary, National Research Corporation Canada, is the subsidiary’s local currency. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its foreign subsidiary at the period-end rate of exchange and its foreign subsidiary’s income statement balances at the average rate prevailing during the period. The Company records the resulting translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of shareholders’ equity. Since the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiary are considered to be indefinitely reinvested, no taxes were provided for on currency translation adjustments arising from converting the investment denominated in a foreign currency to U.S. dollars. Gains and losses related to transactions denominated in a currency other than the subsidiary’s local currency and short-term intercompany accounts are included in other income (expense) in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

Recapitalization [Policy Text Block]

Recapitalization

In May 2013, the Company consummated a recapitalization (the “May 2013 Recapitalization”) pursuant to which the Company established two classes of common stock (class A common stock and class B common stock), issued a dividend of three shares of class A common stock for each share of the Company’s then existing common stock and reclassified each then existing share of common stock as 0.5 of one share of class B common stock.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s valuation techniques are based on maximizing observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. The inputs are then classified into the following hierarchy: (1) Level 1 Inputs—quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; (2) Level 2 Inputs—observable market-based inputs other than Level 1 inputs, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for similar or identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and (3) Level 3 Inputs—unobservable inputs.

The following details the Company’s financial assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy at June 30, 2014, and December 31, 2013:

Fair Values Measured on a Recurring Basis

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
As of June 30, 2014
Money Market Funds	$	8,147	$	--	$	--	$	8,147
Commercial Paper		22,525		--		--		22,525
Total	$	30,672	$	--	$	--	$	30,672
As of December 31, 2013
Money Market Funds	$	7,266	$	--	$	--	$	7,266
Commercial Paper		13,976		--		--		13,976
Total	$	21,242	$	--	$	--	$	21,242

The Company’s long-term debt is recorded at historical cost. The following are the carrying amounts and estimated fair values, based primarily on estimated current rates available for debt of the same remaining duration and adjusted for nonperformance and credit risk:

	June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)
Total carrying amounts of long-term debt	$	9,203	$	10,324
Estimated fair value of long-term debt	$	9,110	$	10,156

The Company estimated the fair value of its long-term, fixed-rate debt using a Level 2 discounted cash flow analysis based on current borrowing rates for debt with similar maturities.

The Company believes that the carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. All non-financial assets that are not recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, which includes goodwill and non-financial long-lived assets, are measured at fair value in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). As of June 30, 2014, and December 31, 2013, there was no indication of impairment related to the Company’s non-financial assets.