National Research Corp
NASDAQ: NRC · HEALTHCARE · HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICES
Updated 2026-06-04
National Research Corp (NRC) Stock Valuation Analysis
Fair value estimate, historical valuation range, and quality signals for NRC.
Current price exceeds what fundamentals support. Risk/reward skewed unfavorably.
NRC historical valuation range
Where current P/E sits in NRC's own 5Y range.
NRC intrinsic value (DCF)
DCF-based fair value estimate vs current market price.
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.
P/E Ratio — History
Current: 49.08x
P/S Ratio — History
Current: 3.11x
Is NRC overvalued in 2026?
National Research Corp (NRC) currently trades at $18.71 per share with a market capitalization of $431,352,000.00. Based on our multi-factor framework, the stock appears richly valued with a Smart Value Score of 48/100. 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 49.1x, above its 5-year median of 32.9x. 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 100% of the last 5Y on P/E. This places it in the 100th percentile of its historical range, a zone where forward returns have typically been muted.
Our discounted cash flow model estimates NRC's intrinsic value at $27.80 per share, against the current market price of $18.71. This implies a margin of safety of +50.54%. A meaningful cushion exists against model error, making this a reasonable risk-adjusted entry.
Financial quality is a concern. The Piotroski F-Score of 3/9 flags weakening fundamentals that deserve closer scrutiny before the valuation case can be fully trusted.
Bottom line: NRC appears richly valued on our framework, with a Smart Value Score of 48/100. At current levels the risk/reward is skewed against the buyer. A materially lower price or significant operational improvement would be needed to change the picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is NRC overvalued?
NRC scores 48/100 on our Smart Value Score (Grade C), a weak overall profile. The DCF also shows a positive margin of safety, so price and fundamentals line up reasonably well.
What is NRC's fair value?
Our DCF model estimates NRC's intrinsic value at $27.80 per share, versus the current price of $18.71, a margin of safety of +50.54%. Fair value is the present value of the cash flows we project the business to produce, so a price below it means the market is pricing the stock below that conservative estimate.
What P/E ratio does NRC trade at?
NRC trades at a P/E of 49.1x on trailing twelve-month earnings, against a 5-year median of 32.9x. P/E is what you pay per dollar of profit, and sitting above its own median means the stock is pricier than usual relative to its earnings.
Is NRC a buy based on valuation?
Our Smart Value rating for NRC is Sell, from a Smart Value Score of 48/100 that blends growth, quality, and valuation. The profile skews cautious, and a better price or clearer operating improvement would strengthen the case. This is research to inform your decision, not personalized financial advice.
How does NRC's valuation compare to its history?
On P/E, NRC sits in the 100th percentile of its own 5Y range, historically expensive relative to where it has traded. A high percentile means today's multiple is near the top of its historical band.
What is NRC's Smart Value Score?
NRC's Smart Value Score is 48/100. It is a proprietary WallStSmart metric blending growth quality, financial health, and valuation into a single 0-100 read, and scores above 75 are rare, signaling strong multi-factor alignment.