ACTON, Mass., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Psychemedics Corporation (Amex: PMD) today announced first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2008. The Company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share payable to shareholders of record as of June 6, 2008 to be paid on June 20, 2008. This will be the Company's 47th consecutive quarterly dividend.
The Company's revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $5.7 million essentially matching revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $0.9 million or $0.17 per share, a decrease of 14% from the comparable period last year during which the Company earned $1.0 million or $0.20 per share.
Raymond C. Kubacki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Despite the challenging economy which saw significant job losses for the first quarter 2008, our revenue remained the same at $5.7 million for the first quarter of 2008 when compared to the first quarter of 2007. Even with the absorption of normal cost increases, our gross margins improved to 58%, up from 57% in the first quarter of 2007, although revenues remained flat."
Kubacki continued, "Our net income was below historic levels due in part to our recent investment in our sales and marketing team during the first quarter of 2008. We expect that the addition of our Director of Marketing and our lead generation team should provide the Company with the tools to capitalize on significant growth opportunities."
Kubacki concluded, "The Company's balance sheet remains strong with approximately $9.1 million of cash and short-term investments, no long-term debt and over $12.7 million of working capital at March 31, 2008. The 13% dividend increase from $0.15 to $0.17 demonstrates our directors' commitment to rewarding shareholders and sharing the financial success of the Company. Therefore we are pleased to declare our 47th consecutive quarterly dividend."
On March 17, 2008, the Company announced the authorization of a 250,000 share stock repurchase program.
Psychemedics is the world's largest provider of hair testing for drugs of abuse with thousands of corporations relying on the patented Psychemedics drug testing services. Psychemedics' clients include over 10% of the Fortune 500, some of the largest police departments in America and six Federal Reserve Banks.
Cautionary Statement for purposes of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: From time to time, information provided by Psychemedics may contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements contained in this release that are not historical facts (including but not limited to statements concerning earnings, earnings per share, revenues, dividends, future business, growth opportunities, new accounts, customer base, market share, test volume and sales and marketing strategies) may be "forward looking" statements. Actual results may differ from those stated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to risks associated with the expansion of the Company's sales and marketing team, development of markets for new products and services offered, the economic health of principal customers of the Company, government regulation, including but not limited to FDA regulations, competition and general economic conditions and other factors disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Psychemedics Corporation
