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H&R Block Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter revenue rose 11.1%: Total revenue was $198.9 million, up $19.8 million from $179.1 million. The release attributes the increase to higher assisted volume and net average charge, Wave growth and DIY software sales. Source
  • Assisted revenue rose to $55.9 million: Assisted tax preparation revenue was $55.9 million for the quarter, against $48.4 million, and $104.6 million for six months, against $91.3 million. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 5.4%: Total operating expenses were $497.7 million, up $25.4 million from the prior year, an increase management described as expected. Source
  • Cash balance fell from June: Cash and cash equivalents were $349.2 million at December 31, against $983.3 million at June 30. Source
  • Borrowings rose to $2.44 billion: Long-term debt and line of credit borrowings were $2,435.4 million at December 31, against $1,143.3 million at June 30. The current portion of long-term debt was nil, against $349.9 million. Source
  • $507.7 million returned year to date: Year-to-date returns to shareholders totaled $507.7 million across dividends and share repurchases. Source

“Across the business, we've made tangible improvements this season, whether receiving assistance from a tax professional or filing using our award-winning online tax product,”

Curtis Campbell, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

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

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Curtis Campbell is named president and chief executive officer, succeeding Jeff Jones, who led the company for eight years.

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarter revenue rose 11.1%: Total revenue was $198.9 million, up $19.8 million from $179.1 million. The release attributes the increase to higher assisted volume and net average charge, Wave growth and DIY software sales. Source
  • Six-month net loss narrowed: Net loss was $242.2 million for the quarter, against $243.4 million a year earlier. Six-month net loss was $408.0 million, against $416.0 million. Source
  • Per-share loss widened on buybacks: Loss per share from continuing operations rose 6.7% to ($1.91). Adjusted loss per share rose 6.4% to ($1.84). The release attributes this to fewer shares outstanding after repurchases, partly offset by the smaller net loss. Source
  • Six-month revenue reached $402.4 million: Six-month total revenue was $402.4 million, against $372.9 million a year earlier, according to the release tables. Source
  • EBITDA loss widened for quarter: EBITDA from continuing operations was a loss of $265.8 million for the quarter, against $261.4 million. The six-month EBITDA loss was $435.9 million, against $448.9 million. Source

Segment and product revenue

  • Assisted revenue rose to $55.9 million: Assisted tax preparation revenue was $55.9 million for the quarter, against $48.4 million, and $104.6 million for six months, against $91.3 million. Source
  • DIY revenue rose to $16.8 million: DIY tax preparation revenue was $16.8 million, up from $13.7 million. Refund Transfers revenue was $0.6 million in both periods. Source
  • Wave revenue rose to $29.8 million: Wave revenue was $29.8 million, against $26.6 million, with the release citing growth in subscription revenue and payments volume. Source
  • Emerald and Spruce revenue fell: Emerald Card and Spruce revenue was $9.1 million, against $10.1 million. Emerald Advance interest and fee income was $13.4 million, against $12.3 million, and total financial services revenue was $22.6 million. Source
  • International revenue rose to $34.7 million: International revenue was $34.7 million for the quarter, against $31.8 million, and $100.4 million for six months, against $96.7 million. Source

“We delivered double‑digit revenue growth in the quarter and reaffirmed our full‑year outlook, reflecting the strength of our year-to-date performance,”

Tiffany Mason, chief financial officer

Operating costs

  • Operating expenses rose 5.4%: Total operating expenses were $497.7 million, up $25.4 million from the prior year, an increase management described as expected. Source
  • Field wages rose with assisted revenue: Field wages were $94.2 million, up from $81.6 million. The release ties the increase to higher assisted revenue, and notes that consulting costs also rose. Source
  • Occupancy and other costs increased: Occupancy was $109.6 million, against $105.0 million. Other operating expense was $114.2 million, against $105.2 million, and bad debt was $21.8 million, against $19.4 million. Source
  • Other wages declined: Other wages were $73.0 million for the quarter, against $78.7 million. Six-month other wages were $152.3 million, against $156.1 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Six-month net cash used in operating activities was $970.8 million, against $895.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance fell from June: Cash and cash equivalents were $349.2 million at December 31, against $983.3 million at June 30. Source
  • Borrowings rose to $2.44 billion: Long-term debt and line of credit borrowings were $2,435.4 million at December 31, against $1,143.3 million at June 30. The current portion of long-term debt was nil, against $349.9 million. Source
  • Capital spending and acquisitions: Six-month capital expenditures were $48.7 million, against $49.1 million. Payments for business acquisitions were $35.4 million, against $28.0 million. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • $507.7 million returned year to date: Year-to-date returns to shareholders totaled $507.7 million across dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • About $700 million left on buyback: Approximately $700 million remained on the $1.5 billion share repurchase program, the same remaining amount reported in the prior release. Source
  • Repurchase and dividend cash payments: Six-month cash paid for repurchases of common stock was $412.6 million, against $436.2 million. Dividends paid were $104.6 million, against $97.0 million. Source

Strategy and client focus

  • Client-first strategy and execution focus: Management said its client-first strategy and disciplined execution keep it focused on durable growth and long-term value. Source
  • Performance across three product lines: The CFO said performance across Assisted, DIY and Wave demonstrated solid execution, and cited financial fundamentals and capital allocation discipline. Source
  • Expert-led, AI-supported experiences: Management said it is elevating value through expert-led, technology-enabled experiences that are increasingly supported by AI integration. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management noted the business is highly seasonal, with this quarter contributing modestly to annual revenue and typically producing a net loss. Source
  • External: Management cited heightened uncertainty for many filers this year as a factor in its planning. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the 5.4% increase in total operating expenses was as expected. 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.