Block (H.&R.), Inc. Stock Price, News & Analysis

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has promoted George Agurkis to Vice President of Government Relations. In his new role, Agurkis will lead the government relations team and oversee the company's legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives across state, federal, and local levels.

During his three-year tenure at H&R Block, Agurkis has made significant contributions, particularly in advancing enhanced identity verification standards and real-time data sharing to combat fraud. Prior to joining H&R Block, he served as Senior Director of Advocacy at the Credit Union National Association and spent ten years with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules in various leadership positions.

H&R Block's 2024 Outlook on American Life report reveals positive economic trends across generations. Based on analysis of 11.4 million tax returns and surveys of 7,852 Americans, the report shows that 66% of Americans feel optimistic about their financial future. 71% of Gen Z, 62% of Millennials, 56% of Gen X, and 51% of Boomers are earning income above inflation rates. Gen Z experienced a notable 30% earnings increase in 2023. However, debt remains a significant concern, with up to two-thirds of credit card holders reporting unmanageable debt levels. The report also highlights increasing trends in DINK households and investment participation, with 32% of tax filers reporting investment income in 2023.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) reported its fiscal 2025 first-quarter results, revealing a 5% revenue increase to $193.8 million, driven by higher company office volumes and increased charges in the Assisted category. The company repurchased $210 million in shares and reaffirmed its full-year outlook. Despite the revenue growth, operating expenses rose to $422.1 million, leading to a pretax loss of $232.3 million and an increased loss per share from continuing operations to $(1.23). H&R Block continues its share repurchase program with $1.3 billion remaining and has consistently paid quarterly dividends since 1962. The company expects full-year revenue between $3.69 to $3.75 billion, EBITDA of $975 million to $1.02 billion, and adjusted diluted EPS of $5.15 to $5.35.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.375 per share, payable on January 6, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 5, 2024. The company has maintained an unbroken streak of quarterly dividend payments for over 60 years since going public in 1962. Notably, H&R Block has increased its dividend by 88% since 2016 and has returned more than $3.9 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) announced its participation in the upcoming Northcoast Research 2024 Management Fall Forum. CEO Jeff Jones and CFO Tiffany Mason will conduct virtual investor meetings on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Interested investors can arrange meetings through their Northcoast Research sales representatives.

H&R Block's Spruce has expanded its partnership with Atomic, becoming the first to implement Atomic's new PayLink Switch solution. This integration, combined with Atomic's existing Deposit solution, aims to streamline money management by simplifying direct deposits and payment switching for Spruce users. The partnership enhancement aligns with Spruce's mission to help consumers improve their financial well-being by consolidating various financial management aspects in one place.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has announced the 2024 application period for its Emerald Advance® Loan, running from November 1 through December 31, 2024. The loan offers qualifying individuals up to $1,300 same-day funding with no annual fee and no credit impact for eligibility checks. Key features include flexible repayment options with no required monthly payments until March 31, 2025, and the ability to repay through tax refunds for H&R Block customers. The loan carries a 35.9% APR with amounts ranging from $350-$1,300. Applications can be submitted at nearly 4,000 participating H&R Block offices.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) has announced it will release its fiscal 2025 first quarter results on Thursday, November 7, 2024, after the NYSE market close. The company will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on the same day for analysts, institutional investors, and shareholders to discuss the quarterly results, outlook, and provide a general business update. The call will be accessible through registration, and a webcast will be available for media and public in listen-only format, remaining accessible for 90 days after the event.

H&R Block has released its fifth Annual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report for fiscal year 2024, highlighting its commitment to responsible business practices. Key achievements include:

• A 36% reduction in printed pages across retail locations through the 'Path to Print Less' initiative
• Introduction of an associate-led composting program at corporate headquarters
• Expansion of GHG emissions inventory
• Progress in the Spruce mobile banking platform, nearing $1B in customer deposits
• Launch of AI Tax Assist tool for DIY Online users
• Introduction of 'Fund Her Future' small business grant program
• Implementation of quarterly Block Party events for employee engagement

The report emphasizes H&R Block's dedication to transparency, sustainability, and social responsibility, aligning with its purpose to provide help and inspire confidence in clients and communities.