Cass Information Systems, Inc. Reports 1st Quarter Earnings.ST. LOUIS -- Cass Information Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : CASS), the nation's leading provider of transportation, utility and telecom invoice payment and information services See Information Systems. reported first quarter earnings of $.43 per fully diluted di·lute tr.v. di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes 1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water. 2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture. share, a 4% decrease over the $.45 per fully diluted share it earned in the first quarter of 2007. Net income for the period was $4.0 million, compared to $4.2 million in 2007. 2008 1st Quarter Recap
< < 3/31/08 <
3/31/07
% Change
Transportation Dollar Volume < < $3.9 billion <
$3.4 billion
13%
Utility Dollar Volume < < $2.2 billion <
$1.8 billion
26%
Revenues < < $21.9 million <
$21.6 million
1%
Net Income < < $4.0 million <
$4.2 million
(4)%
Diluted Earnings per Share < < $.43 <
$.45
(4)%
< < <
Payment and processing fees increased 7% or $798 million compared to the year-earlier period. Utility transaction volume was up 13% and utility dollar volume rose 26% due to new business and heightened activity from existing customers. Net investment income decreased $447,000 or 5% due to the overall decline in interest rates. Operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. were up 7%, or $1,027,000, as a result of higher employee costs related to transaction growth. Income tax expense decreased due to the growth of the company's state and municipal bond portfolios. "The lower interest rate environment hampered earnings for the first quarter. However, all of our vital signs remain strong and processing activity should continue to grow in all of our units," said Lawrence A. Collett, Cass chief executive officer and chairman of the board. "Despite the slight decrease in this quarter's earnings due to the precipitous drop in interest rates, we continue to remain optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op about the company's performance for the remainder of the year." Cass currently holds no sub-prime mortgage loans nor has any securities in its investment portfolio that contain any exposure to such instruments. The company holds no mortgage-backed securities Mortgage-backed securities (MSBs) Securities backed by a pool of mortgage loans. or residential development loans of any kind. Hence, the issues that are having a significant detrimental effect on the financial community should not affect Cass in such a manner. About Cass Information Systems Cass Information Systems is the leading provider of transportation, utility and telecom invoice payment and information services. The company, which has been involved in the payables services and information support business since 1956, disburses over $22 billion annually on behalf of customers from processing centers in St. Louis, Mo., Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital and the largest city of the American state of Ohio. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. , Boston, Mass., Greenville, S.C. and Wellington, Kansas Wellington is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States. The population was 8,647 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sumner CountyGR6. History Wellington was first surveyed on April 4, 1871 and named for the Duke of Wellington. . The support of Cass Commercial Bank, founded in 1906, makes Cass Information Systems unique in the industry. Cass is part of the Russell 2000[R] Index. Note to Investors Certain matters set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. 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 Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2007. [TABLE OMITTED] |
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