Jack Henry starts fiscal year with 52-week high

Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) started its fiscal year with first-quarter earnings of $51.4 million, a more than 11 percent increase from $46.1 million a year earlier.

The results prompted a 52-week stock high of $78.69 this morning, above yesterday’s closing price of $77.59. The company’s 52-week low is $59.63.

The Monett-based financial industry software firm posted 64-cent diluted share earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 30, an 8-cent bump from the first quarter of fiscal 2015, according to a news release.

Revenue rose 7 percent to $321.6 million from $301.5 million.

“We are pleased to announce another quarter of record revenue and earnings and strong organic revenue grow,” Jack Henry CEO Jack Prim said in the release.

First-quarter financial notes:
    •    The company’s support and service revenue - which comprises 96 percent of its total - increased by 7 percent to $307.7 million.
    •    Operating expenses moved up 4 percent to $57.4 million, largely due to new employees and increased salaries.
    •    Financing activities cost Jack Henry $142 million in cash for the purchase of treasury shares, repayment of revolving credit and capital leases, stockholder dividends and the issuance of stock.

As of Sept. 30, Jack Henry held assets of $1.7 billion. The company serves nearly 11,000 customers nationwide, supporting financial services institutions with information processing technology, according to the release.