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Note 1 - Basis of Consolidation and Presentation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements  
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
1.
BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION
 
The Company is a leading provider of analytics and insights that facilitate measurement and improvement of the patient and employee experience while also increasing patient engagement and loyalty for healthcare providers, payers and other healthcare organizations in the United States and Canada.
 
The Company’s six operating segments 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 six operating segments are Experience, The Governance Institute, Market Insights, Reputation, National Research Corporation Canada and Connect (previously Customer-Connect LLC which was dissolved on June 30, 2016), each of which 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, 2015, 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.
 
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, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 4, 2016.
 
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 and its wholly-owned subsidiary, National Research Corporation Canada. Prior to becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary in March 2016, the accounts of Connect, then a variable interest entity for which NRC was deemed the primary beneficiary, were included in the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company. On June 30, 2016, Customer-Connect LLC was dissolved. 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 loss, 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.
 
 
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.
 
Commercial paper included in cash equivalents is valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to its short-term nature. These are included as a Level 2 measurement in the table below.
 
The following details the Company’s financial assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015:
 
Fair Values Measured on a Recurring Basis
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
    (In thousands)  
As of September 30, 2016
                               
Money Market Funds
  $ 10,536     $ --     $ --     $ 10,536  
Commercial Paper     --       18,247       --       18,247  
Total   $ 10,536     $ 18,247     $ --     $ 28,783  
                                 
As of December 31, 2015
                               
Money Market Funds
  $ 8,954     $ --     $ --     $ 8,954  
Commercial Paper
    --       30,872       --       30,872  
Total   $ 8,954     $ 30,872     $ --     $ 39,826  
 
The Company’s long-term debt is recorded at historical cost. The following are the carrying amounts and estimated fair values, using a Level 2 discounted cash flow analysis based primarily on estimated current rates available for debt of the same remaining duration and adjusted for nonperformance and credit risk:
 
 
 
September 30, 2016 
 
 
December 31, 2015
 
    (In thousands)  
Total carrying amounts of long-term debt
  $ 3,945     $ 5,739  
Estimated fair value of long-term debt
  $ 3,944     $ 5,708  
 
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 September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, there was no indication of impairment related to the Company’s non-financial assets.