KANSAS CITY, Mo. - H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) reported a robust fiscal 2024 third quarter, with both earnings and revenue surpassing analyst expectations.
The tax preparation company announced a third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $4.94, outperforming the analyst estimate of $4.62. Revenue reached $2.2 billion, also exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.15 billion.
The company's shares rose 2.5% following the announcement, signaling a positive market response to the earnings and revenue beat. The increase in stock price reflects investor confidence bolstered by H&R Block's strong performance in the DIY paid online segment, which grew by 6%, and a 7% net average charge growth in the same category. Despite a slight decline in Assisted volume, the company's overall revenue grew by 4% compared to the same quarter last year, and net income saw a 7% increase.
Looking ahead, H&R Block provided guidance for fiscal year 2024, projecting EPS to be in the range of $4.10 to $4.30, with the midpoint of this range sitting just above the analyst consensus of $4.24. Revenue forecasts are also optimistic, with the company expecting $3.53 to $3.585 billion, higher than the consensus estimate of $3.519 billion.
President and CEO Jeff Jones expressed satisfaction with the quarter's achievements, citing strong DIY performance, virtual tax growth, and positive trends in small business as key contributors. He also acknowledged the need for improvements in the Assisted client experience. CFO Tony Bowen highlighted the company's anticipation of finishing the fiscal year near the top end of their outlook range, emphasizing a year of topline growth, robust cash flow, and double-digit EPS growth.
The company's capital allocation strategy remains shareholder-friendly, with a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share announced and a continuation of significant share repurchases. Since 2016, H&R Block has returned over $3.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
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