greeksoup/ stock research

H&R Block Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5.0% to $203.6 million: Total revenue was $203.6 million, up $9.7 million or 5.0%. The company attributed the increase to net average charge, Assisted volume and Wave. Source
  • Operating expenses fell on lower legal costs: Total operating expenses were $410.6 million, down 2.7%. The company said the decrease was primarily due to lower legal fees and settlements. Source
  • Net loss narrowed; per-share loss widened: Net loss from continuing operations was $165.4 million, $6.1 million smaller. Loss per share rose 2.4%, which the company attributed to the smaller net loss offset by fewer shares after repurchases. Source
  • All four fiscal 2026 ranges kept: Management kept its fiscal 2026 revenue, EBITDA, tax rate and adjusted EPS ranges, all unchanged from the August 2025 release. Source
  • Repurchased $400 million of shares: The company retired 7.9 million shares for $400 million, or $50.90 per share. About $700 million remains on the $1.5 billion program. Source
  • Cash balance fell sharply: Cash and cash equivalents were $376.4 million, down from $983.3 million at June 30, 2025. Operating cash outflow was $356.8 million. Source
  • Debt rose to $1.73 billion: Long-term debt and line of credit borrowings were $1.73 billion, against $1.14 billion. The $349.9 million current portion at June 30 no longer appears. Source
  • Campbell's leadership cited: The release credits Curtis Campbell's leadership and experience with continuing the company's transformation. It gives no title or start date. Source

“Fiscal 2026 is off to a strong start, not only in the financial results we are reporting but also in the plans we are preparing to execute in the coming quarters,”

Jeff Jones, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$3.875 to $3.895 billionKept
EBITDA from continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$1.015 billion to $1.035 billionKept
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$4.85 to $5.00Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 ranges for revenue, EBITDA, tax rate and adjusted EPS. Source
  • New: The release credits Curtis Campbell's leadership and experience alongside Jones's eight years leading the company. It gives no title or start date for Campbell. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5.0% to $203.6 million: Total revenue was $203.6 million, up $9.7 million or 5.0%. The company attributed the increase to net average charge, Assisted volume and Wave. Source
  • Operating expenses fell on lower legal costs: Total operating expenses were $410.6 million, down 2.7%. The company said the decrease was primarily due to lower legal fees and settlements. Source
  • Net loss narrowed; per-share loss widened: Net loss from continuing operations was $165.4 million, $6.1 million smaller. Loss per share rose 2.4%, which the company attributed to the smaller net loss offset by fewer shares after repurchases. Source
  • First quarter is seasonally small: The company said the business is highly seasonal. This quarter typically adds modestly to annual revenue and usually posts a net loss. Source

Fiscal 2026 targets reaffirmed

  • All four fiscal 2026 ranges kept: Management kept its fiscal 2026 revenue, EBITDA, tax rate and adjusted EPS ranges, all unchanged from the August 2025 release. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range $4.85 to $5.00: Adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2026 stays at $4.85 to $5.00, with the effective tax rate at about 25%. Source
  • EBITDA range $1.015 to $1.035 billion: EBITDA from continuing operations is kept at $1.015 billion to $1.035 billion. The release says a GAAP reconciliation of this figure is not practicable. Source

“We were pleased with our first quarter results and returned $455 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases,”

Tiffany Mason, chief financial officer

Segments and regions

  • U.S. tax services revenue up 6.9%: U.S. tax preparation and related services revenue was $100.2 million, against $93.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Wave revenue up 13.1%: Wave revenue reached $29.9 million from $26.4 million. The company cited subscription revenue and payments volume growth. Source
  • International revenue nearly flat: International revenue was $65.7 million, up from $64.9 million, an increase of about 1.2%. Source
  • Financial services revenue down 11%: Emerald Card and Spruce revenue fell to $7.9 million from $8.8 million. Emerald Advance interest and fee income was nil in both periods. Source

Products and customers

  • Assisted tax preparation revenue up 13%: Assisted tax preparation revenue was $48.6 million against $43.0 million, a 13.2% rise. The company cited higher year-over-year Assisted volume. Source
  • DIY and Peace of Mind revenue grew: DIY tax preparation rose to $3.7 million from $3.2 million. Peace of Mind Extended Service Plan revenue reached $23.5 million from $23.1 million. Source
  • Tax Identity Shield revenue up 5.4%: Tax Identity Shield revenue was $4.1 million, up from $3.9 million. Other U.S. revenue fell to $13.5 million from $13.8 million. Source

Operating cost lines

  • Compensation rose slightly: Compensation and benefits totaled $185.7 million against $184.2 million. Field wages rose to $69.7 million from $68.1 million. Source
  • Other operating expenses fell most: Other operating expenses fell to $82.7 million from $95.1 million, the largest line decrease. The company tied the total decline to lower legal fees and settlements. Source
  • Marketing and bad debt declined: Marketing and advertising fell to $8.3 million from $10.0 million. Bad debt fell to $2.2 million from $2.7 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose: Interest expense on borrowings rose to $17.4 million from $15.8 million. Source

Margins and pricing

  • EBITDA loss narrowed $17.6 million: EBITDA from continuing operations was a loss of $170.0 million, against a loss of $187.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Pretax loss narrowed; tax benefit smaller: Pretax loss was $216.3 million against $232.3 million. The income tax benefit was $51.0 million, down from $60.8 million. Source
  • Net average charge rose; no figure given: The company said net average charge increased. The release gives no NAC percentage or dollar amount. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased $400 million of shares: The company retired 7.9 million shares for $400 million, or $50.90 per share. About $700 million remains on the $1.5 billion program. Source
  • Dividends paid rose: Dividends paid were $50.2 million, up from $44.7 million. Share repurchases in cash flow were $412.4 million. Source
  • Cash balance fell sharply: Cash and cash equivalents were $376.4 million, down from $983.3 million at June 30, 2025. Operating cash outflow was $356.8 million. Source
  • Debt rose to $1.73 billion: Long-term debt and line of credit borrowings were $1.73 billion, against $1.14 billion. The $349.9 million current portion at June 30 no longer appears. Source
  • Stockholders' equity turned to deficiency: Total stockholders' equity was a deficiency of $550.9 million, from equity of $88.9 million. Retained earnings moved to a deficit of $609.3 million. Source

Investment and acquisitions

  • Capital expenditures fell: Capital expenditures were $13.2 million, down from $18.7 million. Payments for business acquisitions were $5.1 million, against $5.9 million. Source
  • Franchise loans funded fell: Franchise loans funded totaled $3.7 million, against $7.1 million. Payments from franchisees were $0.7 million, up from $0.2 million. Source
  • Investing outflow narrowed: Net cash used in investing activities was $20.9 million, against $26.4 million a year earlier. Source

People and leadership

  • Jones cites eight years leading: Jones said leading H&R Block for the last eight years has been an honor. Source
  • Campbell's leadership cited: The release credits Curtis Campbell's leadership and experience with continuing the company's transformation. It gives no title or start date. Source
  • Team said to build momentum: Jones said the team is excited to build on its momentum for the rest of the fiscal year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • Quarterly dividend payment: Quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share to be paid January 6, 2026, to holders of record on December 4, 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 ranges. The release does not report progress against them. Source
  • Not stated: Jones said plans are being prepared for execution in the coming quarters. The release gives no status on them. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.