H&R Block Reports Fiscal 2022 Second Quarter Results; Reiterates Fiscal Year Financial Outlook

Rhea-AI Summary

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) reported a 12% revenue increase for the fiscal 2022 second quarter, totaling $159 million, driven by the Emerald Card and Wave performance. Despite a pretax loss of $299 million, loss per share from continuing operations improved to $1.09. The Company repurchased $159 million worth of shares, reducing the share count by 4%. H&R Block plans to maintain its fiscal year 2022 outlook. The recent launch of the Spruce mobile banking platform marks a significant step in its strategic transformation. A quarterly dividend of $0.27 was paid on January 3, 2022.

Positive

• 12% revenue growth to $159 million.
• Improved loss per share from $1.38 to $1.09.
• Share repurchase of $159 million, reducing shares outstanding by 4%.
• Launch of Spruce mobile banking platform indicates strategic growth.

Negative

• Pretax loss of $299 million.
• Operating expenses increased by 4% to $436 million.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) (the "Company") today released its financial results¹ for the fiscal 2022 second quarter ended December 31, 2021.

• Second quarter revenue grew 12%, demonstrating continued momentum across the business.
• Repurchased an incremental $159 million of shares in the quarter, retiring approximately 4% of shares outstanding. In the first half of the fiscal year share repurchases have totaled $325 million, or 7% of the float.
• The Company reiterates its previously given fiscal year 2022 outlook.
• The recent launch of Spruce^SM, H&R Block's new mobile banking platform, is a meaningful milestone in the Company's strategic transformation.

"Our second quarter results highlight ongoing momentum in the business, progress on our Block Horizons strategy, and our commitment to returning capital to shareholders," said Jeff Jones, H&R Block's president and CEO. "We set an aggressive goal to bring Spruce to market in a short amount of time, and I am very pleased that we were able to deliver such a robust product out of the gate. We are continuing to execute across the business, and we feel well-positioned for tax season."

Fiscal 2022 Second Quarter Results and Key Financial Metrics

"Our performance in the first half of 2022 has been solid, and we are reiterating our outlook," said Tony Bowen, H&R Block's chief financial officer. "During the quarter, we continued our trend of creating value for shareholders by returning capital and reducing shares outstanding."

• Total revenue of $159 million increased by $17 million, or 12%, to the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by strength in the Emerald Card and growth from Wave.
• Total operating expenses of $436 million increased by $15 million, or 4%, driven by higher compensation, as well as banking charges because of the growth in payments processed, partially offset by lower depreciation and amortization expenses.
• Pretax loss decreased by $2 million to $299 million due to higher revenues, partially offset by higher operating expenses and higher interest expense.
• Loss per share from continuing operations² improved from $1.38 to $1.09 due to the aforementioned items and from a discrete tax benefit during the quarter. Adjusted loss per share² from continuing operations improved from $1.28 to $1.02.

The Company's next update related to tax season results and financial performance will be on its third quarter earnings call in May.

Capital Structure

The Company reported the following related to its capital structure:

• Fiscal year second quarter repurchases and retirements of common stock totaled approximately 6.6 million shares at an aggregate price of $159 million, or $24.10 per share. The Company has approximately $239 million remaining on its authorization through June 2022.
• As previously announced, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share was paid on January 3, 2022 to shareholders of record as of December 6, 2021. H&R Block has paid quarterly dividends consecutively since the Company became public in 1962.

Since 2016, the Company has returned over $2 billion to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.

Discontinued Operations

For information on Sand Canyon, please refer to disclosures in the Company’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC.

Conference Call

Discussion of the fiscal 2022 second quarter results, outlook, and a general business update will occur during the Company’s previously announced fiscal second quarter earnings conference call for analysts, institutional investors, and shareholders. The call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on February 1, 2022. To access the call, please dial the number below approximately 5 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time:

U.S./Canada (866) 987-6821or International (630) 652-5951

Conference ID: 9297549

The call, along with a presentation for viewing, will also be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and public. The webcast can be accessed directly https://investors.hrblock.com/financial-information/quarterly-results, and the presentation will be posted following the conclusion of the call.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on February 1, 2022 and continuing for seven days by dialing (855) 859-2056 (U.S./Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (International). The conference ID is 9297549. The webcast will be available for replay beginning on February 2, 2022 and continuing for 90 days at https://investors.hrblock.com/financial-information/quarterly-results.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with human expertise and care as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time and also be better with money using its mobile banking app, Spruce. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small-business owners thrive with innovative products like Wave Money, a small-business banking and bookkeeping solution, and the only business bank account to manage bookkeeping automatically. For more information, visit H&R Block News or follow @HRBlockNews on Twitter.

About Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and the accompanying tables include non-GAAP financial information. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, please see the section of the accompanying tables titled "Non-GAAP Financial Information."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words or variation of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "commits," "seeks," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "targets," "would," "will," "should," "goal," "could" or "may" or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements provide management's current expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or results. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. They may include estimates of revenues, client trajectory, income, effective tax rate, earnings per share, cost savings, capital expenditures, dividends, share repurchases, liquidity, capital structure, market share, industry volumes or other financial items, descriptions of management’s plans or objectives for future operations, products or services, or descriptions of assumptions underlying any of the above. They also include the expected impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including, without limitation, the impact on economic and financial markets, the Company’s capital resources and financial condition, the expected use of proceeds under the Company’s revolving credit facility, future expenditures, potential regulatory actions, such as extensions of tax filing deadlines or other related relief, changes in consumer behaviors and modifications to the Company’s operations related thereto. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance or events. Furthermore, the Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions, factors, or expectations, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by law. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to a variety of economic, competitive and regulatory factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021 in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and additional factors we may describe from time to time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may get such filings for free at our website at https://investors.hrblock.com. In addition, factors that may cause the Company’s actual estimated effective tax rate to differ from estimates include the Company’s actual results from operations compared to current estimates, future discrete items, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, future actions of the Company, or increases in applicable tax rates in jurisdictions where the Company operates. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and, consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

1	All amounts in this release are unaudited. Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons refer to the current period compared to the corresponding prior year period.
2	All per share amounts are based on fully diluted shares at the end of the corresponding period. The company reports non-GAAP financial measures of performance, including adjusted earnings per share (EPS), earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations, and free cash flow, which it considers to be useful metrics for management and investors to evaluate and compare the ongoing operating performance of the company. See "About Non-GAAP Financial Information" below for more information regarding financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

For Further Information
Investor Relations:		Michaella Gallina, (816) 854-3022, michaella.gallina@hrblock.com
		Jordyn Eskijian, (816) 854-5674, jordyn.eskijian@hrblock.com
Media Relations:		Angela Davied, (816) 854-5798, angela.davied@hrblock.com

FINANCIAL RESULTS		(unaudited, in 000s - except per share amounts)
		Three months ended December 31,								Six months ended December 31,
			2021				2020				2021				2020
REVENUES:
U.S. assisted tax preparation		$	30,845			$	34,020			$	64,452			$	241,187
U.S. royalties			3,404				5,357				10,762				28,009
U.S. DIY tax preparation			9,210				6,114				13,271				53,577
International			27,907				26,637				86,232				85,413
Refund Transfers			777				397				2,442				6,510
Emerald Card®			24,830				9,962				53,088				22,398
Peace of Mind® Extended Service Plan			17,315				18,570				42,151				45,762
Tax Identity Shield®			5,200				4,809				10,353				13,803
Interest and fee income on Emerald AdvanceSM			12,424				14,039				12,903				14,565
Wave			19,497				14,837				38,634				28,574
Other			7,407				7,223				17,152				19,513
Total revenues			158,816				141,965				351,440				559,311
Compensation and benefits:
Field wages			70,058				66,307				126,137				158,852
Other wages			64,067				63,568				122,131				126,636
Benefits and other compensation			30,207				27,650				55,657				61,455
			164,332				157,525				303,925				346,943
Occupancy			99,296				99,029				195,118				195,879
Marketing and advertising			17,141				15,490				27,214				30,982
Depreciation and amortization			35,631				39,699				71,346				77,936
Bad debt			13,666				16,570				14,709				17,090
Other			106,050				93,200				191,200				170,782
Total operating expenses			436,116				421,513				803,512				839,612
Other income (expense), net			1,467				538				1,751				3,042
Interest expense on borrowings			(23,085	)			(21,489	)			(45,915	)			(56,186	)
Pretax loss			(298,918	)			(300,499	)			(496,236	)			(333,445	)
Income tax benefit			(109,845	)			(46,510	)			(157,218	)			(18,546	)
Net loss from continuing operations			(189,073	)			(253,989	)			(339,018	)			(314,899	)
Net loss from discontinued operations			(1,532	)			(1,762	)			(3,188	)			(3,108	)
Net loss		$	(190,605	)		$	(255,751	)		$	(342,206	)		$	(318,007	)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE:
Continuing operations		$	(1.09	)		$	(1.38	)		$	(1.93	)		$	(1.68	)
Discontinued operations			(0.01	)			(0.01	)			(0.02	)			(0.01	)
Consolidated		$	(1.10	)		$	(1.39	)		$	(1.95	)		$	(1.69	)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES			173,378				183,883				175,739				188,099
Adjusted diluted EPS (1)		$	(1.02	)		$	(1.28	)		$	(1.80	)		$	(1.49	)
EBITDA (1)			(240,202	)			(239,311	)			(378,975	)			(199,323	)

⁽¹⁾ All non-GAAP measures are results form continuing operations. See "Non-GAAP Financial Information" for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS	(unaudited, in 000s - except per share data)
As of			December 31, 2021				June 30, 2021
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents			$	336,250			$	1,434,381
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted				123,686				149,783
Receivables, net				301,055				88,932
Income taxes receivable				351,829				330,872
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				126,784				76,414
Total current assets				1,239,604				2,080,382
Property and equipment, net				140,459				139,276
Operating lease right of use assets				396,522				445,847
Intangible assets, net				334,557				351,093
Goodwill				759,183				754,521
Deferred tax assets and income taxes receivable				179,626				181,996
Other noncurrent assets				50,104				61,273
Total assets			$	3,100,055			$	4,014,388
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			$	155,841			$	164,269
Accrued salaries, wages and payroll taxes				62,524				168,989
Accrued income taxes and reserves for uncertain tax positions				78,921				238,863
Current portion of long-term debt				499,395				—
Operating lease liabilities				189,984				214,190
Deferred revenue and other current liabilities				184,775				196,175
Total current liabilities				1,171,440				982,486
Long-term debt				1,760,830				1,983,719
Deferred tax liabilities and reserves for uncertain tax positions				249,751				301,658
Operating lease liabilities				215,826				244,932
Deferred revenue and other noncurrent liabilities				74,863				113,535
Total liabilities				3,472,710				3,626,330
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, no par, stated value $.01 per share				2,033				2,167
Additional paid-in capital				770,661				779,465
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)				(9,433	)			88
Retained earnings (deficit)				(466,856	)			286,694
Less treasury shares, at cost				(669,060	)			(680,356	)
Total stockholders' equity (deficiency)				(372,655	)			388,058
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	3,100,055			$	4,014,388

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS		(unaudited, in 000s)
Six months ended December 31,			2021				2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss		$	(342,206	)		$	(318,007	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			71,346				77,937
Provision			14,639				15,977
Deferred taxes			16,685				29,015
Stock-based compensation			13,233				13,359
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables			(216,071	)			(248,184	)
Prepaid expenses, other current and noncurrent assets			(46,928	)			(61,070	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, salaries, wages and payroll taxes			(121,926	)			(14,798	)
Deferred revenue, other current and noncurrent liabilities			(50,882	)			(48,117	)
Income tax receivables, accrued income taxes and income tax reserves			(247,088	)			(146,215	)
Other, net			(4,373	)			(2,737	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(913,571	)			(702,840	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures			(39,371	)			(34,751	)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(19,333	)			(12,155	)
Franchise loans funded			(14,480	)			(20,064	)
Payments from franchisees			6,213				13,633
Other, net			9,527				(5,383	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(57,444	)			(58,720	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of line of credit borrowings			(210,000	)			(2,050,000	)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings			485,000				1,040,000
Repayments of long-term debt			—				(650,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			—				647,965
Dividends paid			(96,938	)			(100,198	)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered			(324,589	)			(150,782	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			4,067				1,133
Other, net			(7,423	)			(19,705	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(149,883	)			(1,281,587	)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash			(3,330	)			11,030
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances			(1,124,228	)			(2,032,117	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period			1,584,164				2,769,947
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period		$	459,936			$	737,830
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW DATA:
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received		$	72,169			$	95,789
Interest paid on borrowings			36,539				50,472
Accrued purchase of common stock			4,845				—
Accrued additions to property and equipment			1,393				1,285
New operating right of use assets and related lease liabilities			73,710				46,954
Accrued dividends payable to common shareholders			46,497				47,689

(in 000s)
		Three months ended December 31,								Six months ended December 31,
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE - EBITDA			2021				2020				2021				2020
Net loss - as reported		$	(190,605	)		$	(255,751	)		$	(342,206	)		$	(318,007	)
Discontinued operations, net			1,532				1,762				3,188				3,108
Net loss from continuing operations - as reported			(189,073	)			(253,989	)			(339,018	)			(314,899	)
Add back:
Income tax benefit			(109,845	)			(46,510	)			(157,218	)			(18,546	)
Interest expense			23,085				21,489				45,915				56,186
Depreciation and amortization			35,631				39,699				71,346				77,936
			(51,129	)			14,678				(39,957	)			115,576
EBITDA from continuing operations		$	(240,202	)		$	(239,311	)		$	(378,975	)		$	(199,323	)

(in 000s, except per share amounts)
		Three months ended December 31,								Six months ended December 31,
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE - ADJUSTED EPS			2021				2020				2021				2020
Net loss from continuing operations - as reported		$	(189,073	)		$	(253,989	)		$	(339,018	)		$	(314,899	)
Adjustments:
Amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions (pretax)			14,292				16,531				29,162				34,169
Tax effect of adjustments (1)			(1,922	)			2,086				(5,557	)			232
Adjusted net loss from continuing operations		$	(176,703	)		$	(235,372	)		$	(315,413	)		$	(280,498	)
Diluted loss per share from continuing operations - as reported		$	(1.09	)		$	(1.38	)		$	(1.93	)		$	(1.68	)
Adjustments, net of tax			0.07				0.10				0.13				0.19
Adjusted diluted loss per share from continuing operations		$	(1.02	)		$	(1.28	)		$	(1.80	)		$	(1.49	)

⁽¹⁾ Tax effect of adjustments is the difference between the tax provision calculated on a GAAP basis and on an adjusted non-GAAP basis.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Because these measures are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and are susceptible to varying calculations, they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures for other companies.

We consider our non-GAAP financial measures to be performance measures and a useful metric for management and investors to evaluate and compare the ongoing operating performance of our business. We make adjustments for certain non-GAAP financial measures related to amortization of intangibles from acquisitions and goodwill impairments. We may consider whether other significant items that arise in the future should be excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures.

We measure the performance of our business using a variety of metrics, including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, EBITDA margin from continuing operations, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations and free cash flow. We also use EBITDA from continuing operations and pretax income of continuing operations, each subject to permitted adjustments, as performance metrics in incentive compensation calculations for our employees.

FAQ

What were H&R Block's fiscal 2022 second quarter earnings?

H&R Block reported a revenue of $159 million, reflecting a 12% increase compared to the prior year.

What is the loss per share for H&R Block in Q2 2022?

The loss per share from continuing operations improved to $1.09 in the fiscal 2022 second quarter.

Did H&R Block repurchase shares in the second quarter of fiscal 2022?

Yes, H&R Block repurchased $159 million worth of shares, reducing the outstanding shares by approximately 4%.

What is the outlook for H&R Block for fiscal 2022?

H&R Block reiterated its fiscal year 2022 outlook, indicating confidence in its performance for the remainder of the year.

What dividend did H&R Block declare in January 2022?

H&R Block declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share, paid on January 3, 2022.