H&R Block Reports Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Results; Expects to be Near the High End of FY24 Outlook

Rhea-AI Summary

H&R Block reported positive fiscal 2024 third-quarter results with revenue growth of 4%, net income growth of 7%, and earnings per share growth of 18%. The company expects to be near the high end of its fiscal year 2024 outlook. Key financial metrics show total revenue increased by 4% to $2.2 billion, while total operating expenses increased primarily due to higher field wages. Capital allocation included a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share and $350 million share repurchases. The company has returned over $3.8 billion to shareholders since 2016.

Positive

• Positive fiscal 2024 third-quarter results with revenue growth of 4% and net income growth of 7%.

• Earnings per share from continuing operations increased by 18%.

• Expected to be near the high end of fiscal year 2024 outlook.

• Total revenue increased by $91.2 million to $2.2 billion.

• Quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share payable on July 3, 2024.

• Company repurchased $350 million of shares outstanding in Q1 and Q2.

• Returned over $3.8 billion to shareholders since 2016.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

H&R Block has demonstrated a solid performance this quarter, marked by a 4% revenue growth and an impressive 18% earnings per share increase. The growth in DIY paid online clients by 6% is a testament to the company's successful adaptation to digital trends and consumer preferences for self-service options. However, the decline in Assisted volume needs to be monitored as it suggests a competitive market or a shift in customer behavior. Considering the company's buyback of $350 million in shares and the consistent dividend payouts, investors could view this as a commitment to returning value to shareholders. The expected finish near the higher end of the fiscal outlook indicates management's confidence in the business's trajectory. This, coupled with an effective tax rate adjustment from 23% to 21-22%, could result in a more favorable net income projection for investors.

Market Research Analyst

Investors should note the strategic implications of H&R Block's growth in the DIY segment, as it signals a shift towards automation and scalability, reducing reliance on labor-intensive assisted services. The company's ability to raise net average charges across its offerings by 7% in DIY paid online and 4% in Assisted, without deterring growth, suggests strong pricing power and brand loyalty. Given the broader industry's digitization trend, H&R Block's performance in virtual tax and small business spaces suggests it is well-aligned with market demand. The company's strategic investments in Spruce and Wave may indicate a diversification of revenue streams, potentially reducing risk for investors in the long term.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) (the "Company") today released its financial results¹ for the fiscal 2024 third quarter ended March 31, 2024.

• For the third quarter, the Company delivered revenue growth of 4%, net income growth of 7%, and earnings per share from continuing operations² growth of 18%
• Through April 30, filing volumes increased year over year, driven by strong performance in DIY paid online clients, which grew 6%, partially offset by modest Assisted volume declines. Net average charge grew 7% in DIY paid online and 4% in Assisted
• The Company now expects to be near the high end of its previously announced outlook for fiscal year 2024

"There are many things to be pleased about in the quarter, from our strong DIY performance, virtual tax growth, and positive trends in small business, to important progress for both Spruce and Wave. At the same time, I know we can execute better to improve the Assisted client experience for so many consumers who are choosing H&R Block," said Jeff Jones, H&R Block's president and chief executive officer.

Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Results and Key Financial Metrics
"We now expect to finish fiscal 2024 near the high end of our outlook range," said Tony Bowen, H&R Block's chief financial officer. "This will be yet another year of topline growth, robust cash flow generation, and double-digit EPS growth that allows for continued, significant returns of capital to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases."

• Total revenue of $2.2 billion increased by $91.2 million, or 4%, to the prior year. The increase was primarily due to a higher net average charge and higher company-owned volumes in the Assisted category combined with higher online paid returns and a higher NAC, partially offset by lower royalties due to franchise acquisitions, and lower Emerald Advance revenues.
• Total operating expenses of $1.3 billion increased by $27.5 million, primarily due to higher field wages due to higher company-owned volumes and higher legal fees and settlements, partially offset by lower marketing and advertising expenses primarily due to the timing of television advertising in the current year compared to the prior year.
• Pretax income increased by $51.9 million to $907.4 million, primarily due to higher revenues in the current year.
• Earnings per share from continuing operations² increased from $4.14 to $4.87 and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations² increased from $4.20 to $4.94, due to higher net income and fewer shares outstanding from share repurchases.

Capital Allocation

The Company reported the following related to its capital structure:

• As previously announced, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share is payable on July 3, 2024 to shareholders of record as of June 5, 2024. H&R Block has paid quarterly dividends consecutively since the Company became public in 1962.
• In Q1 and Q2, the Company repurchased $350 million of shares outstanding.
• The Company has approximately $350 million remaining on its $1.25 billion share repurchase authorization available through fiscal year 2025.

Since 2016, the Company has returned more than $3.8 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases, buying back over 40% of its shares outstanding³.

Fiscal Year 2024 Outlook

The Company now expects to be near the high end of its previously provided outlook, which was:

• Revenue to be in the range of $3.530 to $3.585 billion.
• EBITDA⁴ to be in the range of $930 to $965 million.
• Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share⁴ to be in the range of $4.10 to $4.30.

The effective tax rate is now expected to be in the range of 21-22% as compared to 23% previously.

Conference Call
A conference call for analysts, institutional investors, and shareholders will be held at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 9, 2024. During the conference call the Company will discuss fiscal 2024 third quarter results, outlook, and give a general business update. To join live, participants must register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI3025442b56334c7683e88d633cd4f150. Once registered, the participant will receive a dial-in number and unique PIN to access the call. Please join approximately 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

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 at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/2zqnvjkt and will be available for replay 2 hours after the call is concluded and continuing for 90 days.

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 year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions. For more information, visit H&R Block News.

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 may also include the expected impact of external events beyond the Company’s control, such as outbreaks of infectious disease (including the COVID-19 pandemic), severe weather events, natural or manmade disasters, or changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate. 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 most recently completed fiscal year 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.

¹All amounts in this release are unaudited. Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons refer to the current period compared to the corresponding prior year period.
²All 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, free cash flow, and free cash flow yield, 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).
³Shares outstanding calculated as of April 30, 2016.
⁴Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations are non-GAAP financial measures. Future period non-GAAP outlook includes adjustments for items not indicative of our core operations, which may include, without limitation, items described in the below section titled “Non-GAAP Financial Information” and in the accompanying tables. Such adjustments may be affected by changes in ongoing assumptions and judgments, as well as nonrecurring, unusual, or unanticipated charges, expenses or gains, or other items that may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of our business operations. The exact amounts of these adjustments are not currently determinable but may be significant. It is therefore not practicable to provide the comparable GAAP measures or reconcile this non-GAAP outlook to the most comparable GAAP measures.

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:		Teri Daley, (816) 854-3787, teri.daley@hrblock.com

FINANCIAL RESULTS		(unaudited, in 000s - except per share amounts)
		Three months ended March 31,								Nine months ended March 31,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
REVENUES:
U.S. tax preparation and related services:
Assisted tax preparation		$	1,534,825			$	1,453,049			$	1,622,430			$	1,530,577
Royalties			141,915				150,163				153,070				161,337
DIY tax preparation			198,570				167,022				215,529				182,330
Refund Transfers			118,937				117,384				120,892				120,210
Peace of Mind® Extended Service Plan			16,813				16,750				59,100				58,840
Tax Identity Shield®			7,536				8,720				16,810				19,237
Other			12,065				10,972				32,637				28,845
Total U.S. tax preparation and related services			2,030,661				1,924,060				2,220,468				2,101,376
Financial services:
Emerald Card® and SpruceSM			41,160				44,358				61,493				68,448
Interest and fee income on Emerald AdvanceSM			21,169				33,750				36,702				47,267
Total financial services			62,329				78,108				98,195				115,715
International			68,264				69,417				158,398				156,297
Wave			23,580				22,064				70,656				66,651
Total revenues		$	2,184,834			$	2,093,649			$	2,547,717			$	2,440,039
Compensation and benefits:
Field wages			510,299				480,779				650,529				618,656
Other wages			75,356				73,503				222,125				207,786
Benefits and other compensation			99,653				100,368				170,964				169,477
			685,308				654,650				1,043,618				995,919
Occupancy			119,364				118,111				319,843				316,874
Marketing and advertising			194,349				210,508				211,135				236,299
Depreciation and amortization			30,672				32,313				91,004				98,660
Bad debt			41,008				34,273				67,560				57,018
Other			185,929				179,292				360,111				363,081
Total operating expenses			1,256,630				1,229,147				2,093,271				2,067,851
Other income (expense), net			5,224				13,224				20,982				21,020
Interest expense on borrowings			(26,070	)			(22,298	)			(63,304	)			(57,107	)
Pretax income			907,358				855,428				412,124				336,101
Income taxes			215,772				209,351				72,527				78,254
Net income from continuing operations			691,586				646,077				339,597				257,847
Net loss from discontinued operations			(849	)			(2,648	)			(2,097	)			(6,418	)
Net income		$	690,737			$	643,429			$	337,500			$	251,429
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Continuing operations		$	4.87			$	4.14			$	2.34			$	1.62
Discontinued operations			(0.01	)			(0.02	)			(0.02	)			(0.04	)
Consolidated		$	4.86			$	4.12			$	2.32			$	1.58
WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES			141,540				155,561				144,594				158,488
Adjusted diluted EPS(1)		$	4.94			$	4.20			$	2.54			$	1.80
EBITDA(1)		$	964,100			$	910,039			$	566,432			$	491,868

⁽¹⁾ All non-GAAP measures are results from 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		March 31, 2024				June 30, 2023
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	794,617			$	986,975
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted			18,078				28,341
Receivables, net			346,784				59,987
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			105,873				112,183
Total current assets			1,265,352				1,187,486
Property and equipment, net			139,542				130,015
Operating lease right of use assets			392,091				438,299
Intangible assets, net			277,218				277,043
Goodwill			787,634				775,453
Deferred tax assets and income taxes receivable			287,810				211,391
Other noncurrent assets			63,675				52,571
Total assets		$	3,213,322			$	3,072,258
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	247,109			$	159,901
Accrued salaries, wages and payroll taxes			238,864				95,154
Accrued income taxes and reserves for uncertain tax positions			351,721				271,800
Operating lease liabilities			185,396				205,391
Deferred revenue and other current liabilities			220,466				206,536
Total current liabilities			1,243,556				938,782
Long-term debt			1,490,570				1,488,974
Deferred tax liabilities and reserves for uncertain tax positions			277,957				264,567
Operating lease liabilities			214,990				240,543
Deferred revenue and other noncurrent liabilities			116,055				107,328
Total liabilities			3,343,128				3,040,194
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, no par, stated value $.01 per share			1,709				1,789
Additional paid-in capital			753,605				770,376
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(46,336	)			(37,099	)
Retained deficit			(200,296	)			(48,677	)
Less treasury shares, at cost			(638,488	)			(654,325	)
Total stockholders' equity (deficiency)			(129,806	)			32,064
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	3,213,322			$	3,072,258

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS		(unaudited, in 000s)
Nine months ended March 31,		2024				2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	337,500			$	251,429
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			91,004				98,660
Provision for credit losses			61,359				49,174
Deferred taxes			(58,223	)			6,685
Stock-based compensation			25,310				26,785
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables			(348,106	)			(237,395	)
Prepaid expenses, other current and noncurrent assets			(18,037	)			(17,438	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, salaries, wages and payroll taxes			223,045				122,025
Deferred revenue, other current and noncurrent liabilities			12,483				22,054
Income tax receivables, accrued income taxes and income tax reserves			93,961				179,692
Other, net			(32	)			(3,285	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			420,264				498,386
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures			(53,831	)			(56,661	)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(43,163	)			(47,740	)
Franchise loans funded			(18,815	)			(21,566	)
Payments from franchisees			12,884				14,963
Other, net			3,282				9,717
Net cash used in investing activities			(99,643	)			(101,287	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of line of credit borrowings			(1,025,000	)			(970,000	)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings			1,025,000				970,000
Dividends paid			(135,127	)			(133,762	)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered			(379,018	)			(365,852	)
Other, net			(6,358	)			(5,973	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(520,503	)			(505,587	)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash			(2,739	)			(7,880	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances			(202,621	)			(116,368	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period			1,015,316				1,050,713
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period		$	812,695			$	934,345
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW DATA:
Income taxes paid (received), net		$	35,888			$	(110,028	)
Interest paid on borrowings			66,464				59,429
Accrued additions to property and equipment			1,477				4,378
New operating right of use assets and related lease liabilities			139,872				131,949
Accrued dividends payable to common shareholders			44,648				44,163

(in 000s)
		Three months ended March 31,						Nine months ended March 31,
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE - EBITDA		2024			2023			2024			2023
Net income - as reported		$	690,737		$	643,429		$	337,500		$	251,429
Discontinued operations, net			849			2,648			2,097			6,418
Net income from continuing operations - as reported			691,586			646,077			339,597			257,847
Add back:
Income taxes			215,772			209,351			72,527			78,254
Interest expense			26,070			22,298			63,304			57,107
Depreciation and amortization			30,672			32,313			91,004			98,660
			272,514			263,962			226,835			234,021
EBITDA from continuing operations		$	964,100		$	910,039		$	566,432		$	491,868

(in 000s, except per share amounts)
		Three months ended March 31,								Nine months ended March 31,
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE - ADJUSTED EPS		2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income from continuing operations - as reported		$	691,586			$	646,077			$	339,597			$	257,847
Adjustments:
Amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions (pretax)			12,869				13,011				37,693				38,546
Tax effect of adjustments(1)			(2,793	)			(3,190	)			(8,815	)			(9,198	)
Adjusted net income from continuing operations		$	701,622			$	655,898			$	368,475			$	287,195
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations - as reported		$	4.87			$	4.14			$	2.34			$	1.62
Adjustments, net of tax			0.07				0.06				0.20				0.18
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations		$	4.94			$	4.20			$	2.54			$	1.80

⁽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, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, free cash flow, and free cash flow yield. We also use EBITDA from continuing operations and pretax income from 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 2024 third-quarter results?

H&R Block reported revenue growth of 4%, net income growth of 7%, and earnings per share growth of 18% in the fiscal 2024 third quarter.

What was the total revenue for H&R Block in the third quarter of fiscal 2024?

H&R Block's total revenue was $2.2 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

Did H&R Block pay a quarterly cash dividend?

Yes, H&R Block paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share payable on July 3, 2024.

How much has H&R Block returned to shareholders since 2016?

H&R Block has returned over $3.8 billion to shareholders since 2016.

When is the conference call to discuss fiscal 2024 third-quarter results?

The conference call will be held at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, May 9, 2024.