ACTON, Mass., Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Psychemedics Corporation (NASDAQ: PMD) today announced fourth quarter and year-end financial results for the period ended December 31, 2013. The Company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share payable to shareholders of record as of February 21, 2014 to be paid on March 7, 2014. This will be the Company's 70^th consecutive quarterly dividend.

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The Company's revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $26.9 million versus $25.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, an increase of 7%. Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 was $3.8 million or $0.72 per diluted share, versus $3.0 million or $0.57 per diluted share, for the comparable period last year, an increase of 28%.The Company's revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 was $6.5 million versus $5.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, an increase of 15%. Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 was $868 thousand or $0.16 per diluted share, versus $273 thousand or $0.05 per diluted share, for the comparable period last year, an increase of 218%.

Raymond C. Kubacki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said,

"2013 was the second consecutive year of record revenues and the Company achieved substantial earnings growth of 28% over 2012. In addition, the Company expanded its product offering in 2013 by building on the technology advances in 2012 with the launch of a hair test for alcohol which looks back at the same 90 day period as our patented drug test. The Company also expanded product offerings through its new partnerships in the instant drug and alcohol testing arena.

"The extraordinary growth in earnings in the fourth quarter compared to 2012 was driven by several factors including an increase in revenues of 15% in 2013, higher than normal expenses in 2012 related to transition costs of new technologies which were implemented in 2012 and did not re-occur in 2013, and a benefit due to a change in the calculation of California income tax. The change in California income tax rate significantly lowered the Company's overall income tax rate. The total benefit was realized in the fourth quarter of 2013 and had a positive impact of approximately $0.05 per diluted share. Without this positive tax impact, our EPS would still have been up 18%.

"With regard to new business, in December 2013, the Company noted that the Brazilian Federal Government had announced new guidelines that will require professional drivers in the transportation industry to pass a hair drug test when obtaining or renewing their driver's license. The first testing is expected to begin on July 1, 2014. We are excited about competing for the hair testing business in Brazil. Psychemedics has a very strong partner in Psychemedics Brasil, a Brazilian-owned independent distributor who we have worked closely with for over 15 years helping a variety of Brazilian organizations work to achieve a drug free workplace. We look forward to continuing to work together on this new opportunity to positively impact public safety as it relates to the transportation industry.

"We are very excited about this opportunity and believe the potential volume from this Brazil opportunity could be very substantial. In order to service that potential volume, we need to make significant investments in plant, equipment and people. These investments must be made in the first half of 2014 to be ready for the July 1 start date. During this period, we will not have any revenues from this Brazil opportunity to offset these costs. Therefore, we would expect earnings in the first half of 2014 to be unfavorably impacted.

"The Company's balance sheet remains strong with approximately $4.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt. Our directors share our confidence in the future of Psychemedics and remain committed to rewarding shareholders and sharing the financial success of the Company with them as we grow. Therefore, we are pleased to declare our quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share. This dividend represents our 70^th consecutive quarterly dividend."

Psychemedics Corporation is the world's largest provider of hair testing for the detection of drugs of abuse. The Company's patented process is used by thousands of U.S. and international clients, including over 10% of the Fortune 500 companies, for pre-employment and random drug testing. Major police departments, Federal Reserve Banks, schools, and other public entities also rely on our unique patented drug testing process. We strongly believe our drug testing method to be superior to any other product currently in use, including traditional urine testing and other hair testing methods.

The Psychemedics web site is www.psychemedics.com.

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, sales and marketing strategies, foreign drug testing laws and regulations, required investments in plant, equipment and people) 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 development of markets for new products and services offered, costs of capacity expansion, U.S. and foreign 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.

Contact: Neil Lerner
Vice President of Finance
(978) 206-8220
Neill@psychemedics.com