Jack Henry 3Q net income rises 21 percent

The financial data-processing and integrated technology provider reported total revenue of $145.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, an 8 percent increase from $134.4 million during the same quarter last year.

Gross profit for the quarter was $63.7 million, up 11 percent from $57.3 million last year, and net income rose 21 percent to $23.5 million, or 25 cents per share.

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2006, company revenue increased 9 percent to $429.9 million, compared to $394.4 million last year. Gross profit increased 14 percent to $185.7 million, and net income was $64.5 million, or 69 cents per share, representing a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Jack Henry also declared a quarterly cash dividend of 5.5 cents per share. The dividend on common stock, par value 1 cent per share, is payable May 31 to shareholders of record May 15.

“Our services business continues to show strong growth, with particularly strong volume growth in all of our electronic transactions businesses,” CEO Jack Prim said in a news release. “Our bank segment also experienced the largest software license fee quarter in the history of the company.”

Shares of company stock (Nasdaq: JKHY) closed May 8 at $23.32, compared to a 52-week range of $16.56 to $23.77.