Record Backlog Powers NRC Health’s (NRC) Upward Potential

Long Cast Advisers, an independent registered investment adviser, released its Q2 2026 investor letter. A copy can be downloaded here. The firm reported strong earnings in the second quarter, with results improving 20%, bringing year-to-date returns to +19%. While performance trailed the Russell 2000 and iShares US MicroCap ETF, it remained well ahead of the iShares SmallCap EAFE (ex-N. Am) ETF. Since inception in 2015, cumulative returns stand at 343% (15% CAGR), reflecting the firm’s strategy of concentrated, patient investments in small and micro‑cap companies. The firm remains cautious in this environment, emphasizing patience and endurance while avoiding margin and volatility. In addition, please check the firm’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.

In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Long Cast Advisers highlighted NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC). NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) provides analytics and insights to enhance the patient and employee experience of healthcare organizations in the United States. NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) was formerly known as National Research Corporation and changed its name in April 2026. On August 7, 2026, NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) closed at $20.34 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $449.9 million and a year‑to‑date gain of 9.30%. NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) posted a one‑month return of ‑6.02%, while its shares gained 35.95% over the past 52 weeks.

Long Cast Advisers stated the following regarding NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:

“On NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC), our newest investment, I discussed the company’s evolution from owner / operator to professionally led management team, and the expected benefits from putting a growth focused, incentivized and entrepreneurial executive suite behind this strong and recognizable brand, in a business with strong FCF generation and in a market where the two leading competitors just merged in a PE backed $6.5B deal.

Quantitative evidence that supports our optimism includes the recently announced largest contract in company history, leading to the highest 12-mos backlog in history. Deferred revs are also growing and this typically leads sales. Furthermore, management indicated that the second year of the aforementioned contract is materially larger than the first, which infers that in one year’s time, 12-mos backlog could be even larger, and with capacity to do more. We continue to add opportunistically.”

10 Best Digital Health Stocks to Buy Now

NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 8 hedge fund portfolios held NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) at the end of the first quarter, the same as in the previous quarter.While we acknowledge the risk and potential of NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NRC Health (NASDAQ:NRC) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2026 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.