WallStSmart
NRC

National Research Corp

NASDAQ: NRC · HEALTHCARE · HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICES

$16.46
-0.48% today

Updated 2026-04-30

Market cap
$389.19M
P/E ratio
34.22
P/S ratio
2.83x
EPS (TTM)
$0.50
Dividend yield
3.02%
52W range
$11 – $23
Volume
0.1M

National Research Corp (NRC) Stock Valuation Analysis

Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for NRC.

WallStSmart Verdict
Fairly
Valued

Valuation reasonably reflects current fundamentals. Limited margin of safety at these levels.

Smart Value Score: 50 / 100
P/E (TTM)
34.2x
vs 5Y median of 31.6x
PEG
1.32
Fair range
Margin of Safety
+56.36%
Fair value $31.51 vs $16.46
EV / EBITDA
16.0x

NRC historical valuation range

Where current P/E sits in NRC's own 5Y range.

NOW
12.4x
5Y Low
26.8x
25th
31.6x
Median
34.5x
75th
38.3x
5Y High
NRC is trading more expensive than 72% of the last 5Y.
72th percentile · Above median

NRC intrinsic value (DCF)

DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.

Current price
$16.46
Market value
Intrinsic value
$31.51
DCF estimate
Margin of safety
+56.36%
+91.4% upside to fair value

Intrinsic value calculated using discounted cash flow (DCF) model based on projected free cash flows, discount rate, and terminal growth assumptions. A positive margin of safety indicates the current price is below estimated fair value, providing a cushion against estimation error.

NRC valuation signals

Quick-read green flags, caution flags, and risks based on current metrics.

!
PEG in fair range
PEG of 1.32 suggests price reflects growth fairly. Neither a bargain nor overpriced.
!
P/E in mid-range
P/E sits at the 72th percentile of the 5Y range. Neither cheap nor rich historically.
Strong margin of safety
Current price 56.4% below DCF intrinsic value estimate. Meaningful downside cushion.
Weak financial quality
Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 suggests deteriorating fundamentals. Valuation requires closer scrutiny.

P/E Ratio — History

Current: 34.22x

P/S Ratio — History

Current: 2.83x

Is NRC overvalued in 2026?

National Research Corp (NRC) currently trades at $16.46 per share with a market capitalization of $389,191,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock trades at a fair valuation with a Smart Value Score of 50/100. This score blends growth quality, financial health, and price attractiveness into a single institutional-grade read.

The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 34.2x, above its 5-year median of 31.6x. The PEG ratio of 1.32 points to a price that reasonably reflects expected earnings growth.

Looking at its own history, NRC is currently trading more expensive than 72% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 72th percentile of its historical range, a reasonable but unremarkable position.

Our discounted cash flow model estimates NRC's intrinsic value at $31.51 per share, against the current market price of $16.46. This implies a margin of safety of +56.36%. A meaningful cushion exists against model error, making this a reasonable risk-adjusted entry.

Financial quality is a concern. The Piotroski F-Score of 0/9 flags weakening fundamentals that deserve closer scrutiny before the valuation case can be fully trusted.

Bottom line: NRC trades at a fair valuation on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 50/100. The valuation is defensible but offers no obvious bargain. Patience or a better entry price may reward disciplined buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Is NRC overvalued in 2026?

Based on a Smart Value Score of 50/100, NRC is fairly valued. Price reasonably reflects current fundamentals with limited cushion in either direction.

What is NRC's fair value?

Our DCF model estimates NRC's intrinsic value at $31.51 per share, versus the current price of $16.46. This produces a margin of safety of +56.36%.

What P/E ratio does NRC trade at?

NRC trades at a P/E of 34.2x on trailing twelve-month earnings, compared to its 5-year median of 31.6x.

Is NRC a buy based on valuation?

WallStSmart does not issue buy or sell recommendations. Our Smart Value Score of 50/100 reflects the combined read on growth, quality, and price. The profile is balanced. Best suited for investors with an existing thesis.

How does NRC's valuation compare to its history?

On P/E, NRC currently sits in the 72th percentile of its own 5Y range. That is above its long-run median relative to where it has traded over the period.

What is NRC's Smart Value Score?

NRC's Smart Value Score is 50/100. The Smart Value Score is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation attractiveness into a single 0-100 read. Scores above 75 are rare and indicate strong multi-factor alignment.