greeksoup/ stock research

H&R Block Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 4.9%: Total revenue was $3.95 billion, up $184.4 million or 4.9%. The company attributed the increase to higher net average charge and company-owned volume in assisted preparation, international revenue, and Wave. Source
  • Tax benefit lifted diluted EPS: Diluted EPS from continuing operations rose 28.7% to $5.69. A one-time non-cash benefit from an IRS examination resolution added $0.65 to fiscal 2026 EPS. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 13.9%: Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $688.0 million, up $44.7 million or 6.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $5.31, up 13.9%, driven by fewer shares from repurchases. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 3.0%: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $1.14 billion, up $33.9 million on the prior year. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.31, against $2.21. Source
  • Quarterly continuing net income declined: Net income from continuing operations was $294.5 million, against $300.4 million. Income taxes were $78.5 million, up from $67.4 million. Source
  • Operating costs rose 3.6%: Total operating expenses were $3.04 billion for the year, up $104.7 million or 3.6% on the prior year. Source
  • Repurchased 7.9% of shares: The company repurchased and retired about 10.5 million shares for $500.3 million, or $47.48 per share, equal to 7.9% of shares outstanding. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $838.7 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $838.7 million for fiscal 2026, against $680.9 million. Capital expenditures were $82.6 million, against $82.0 million. Source

“Fiscal 2026 provided meaningful evidence that the strategic choices we are making are strengthening H&R Block,”

Curtis Campbell, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2027$4.11 to $4.16 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027$1.11 to $1.14 billionNew
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2027approximately 23%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$6.04 to $6.24New
Quarterly cash dividend per share SourcePayable October 6$0.46 per shareRaised from $0.42 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 targets were issued for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, tax rate and adjusted EPS; the prior release covered fiscal 2026 only. Source
  • Guidance raised: The quarterly dividend per share was increased 10%, from $0.42 to $0.46, the ninth consecutive annual increase. Source
  • Ended: Fiscal 2026 closed, and the company reported full-year results for the year ended June 30, 2026. Source

Fiscal 2026 full-year results

  • Full-year revenue rose 4.9%: Total revenue was $3.95 billion, up $184.4 million or 4.9%. The company attributed the increase to higher net average charge and company-owned volume in assisted preparation, international revenue, and Wave. Source
  • Tax benefit lifted diluted EPS: Diluted EPS from continuing operations rose 28.7% to $5.69. A one-time non-cash benefit from an IRS examination resolution added $0.65 to fiscal 2026 EPS. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 13.9%: Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $688.0 million, up $44.7 million or 6.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $5.31, up 13.9%, driven by fewer shares from repurchases. Source
  • Full-year EBITDA reached $1.06 billion: EBITDA from continuing operations was $1,056.9 million for fiscal 2026, against $976.3 million in fiscal 2025. Source

Fourth quarter results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 3.0%: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $1.14 billion, up $33.9 million on the prior year. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.31, against $2.21. Source
  • Quarterly continuing net income declined: Net income from continuing operations was $294.5 million, against $300.4 million. Income taxes were $78.5 million, up from $67.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted quarterly EPS reached $2.38: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.38 for the quarter, against $2.27 in the prior-year quarter. Source

“Fiscal 2026 was a year of meaningful progress for H&R Block.”

Tiffany Mason, chief financial officer

Segments and revenue lines

  • Assisted preparation revenue rose: Assisted tax preparation revenue was $2.56 billion for the year, against $2.41 billion. The fourth quarter alone was $714.2 million, against $686.0 million. Source
  • International and Wave revenue grew: International revenue was $265.4 million for the year, against $247.0 million. Wave revenue was $122.7 million, against $109.2 million. Source
  • Royalties fell; DIY edged up: Royalties were $185.4 million for the year, against $192.9 million. DIY tax preparation revenue was $384.6 million, against $383.7 million. Source
  • Financial services revenue declined: Emerald Card and Spruce revenue was $68.8 million for the year, against $72.9 million. Total financial services revenue was $99.5 million, against $101.8 million. Source

Operating costs and margins

  • Operating costs rose 3.6%: Total operating expenses were $3.04 billion for the year, up $104.7 million or 3.6% on the prior year. Source
  • Field wages reached $996.7 million: Field wages were $996.7 million for the year, against $927.4 million. Other wages were $310.8 million, against $307.0 million. Source
  • Occupancy and marketing lines moved: Occupancy was $457.2 million for the year, against $438.9 million. Marketing and advertising was $277.8 million, against $285.8 million. Source
  • Depreciation and bad debt rose: Depreciation and amortization was $122.4 million for the year, against $116.8 million. Bad debt was $75.9 million, against $74.6 million. Source

“The results we delivered reflect continued progress in the quality of our business, improvements in the mix of our client base”

Curtis Campbell, president and chief executive officer

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased 7.9% of shares: The company repurchased and retired about 10.5 million shares for $500.3 million, or $47.48 per share, equal to 7.9% of shares outstanding. Source
  • $713.7 million returned to holders: Total returned to shareholders in fiscal 2026 was $713.7 million through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • About $600 million of buyback left: About $600 million remains under the $1.5 billion share repurchase program, against about $700 million in the prior-quarter release. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $838.7 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $838.7 million for fiscal 2026, against $680.9 million. Capital expenditures were $82.6 million, against $82.0 million. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $1.49 billion: Long-term debt was $1.49 billion at June 30, 2026, against $1.14 billion a year earlier. The current portion, $349.9 million a year earlier, was nil at year end. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Weighted average diluted shares were 128.9 million for the year, against 137.3 million, and 127.0 million for the fourth quarter, against 135.5 million. Source

Strategy, testing and leadership

  • Testing speeds learning and scaling: The CEO said testing and experimentation are accelerating the company's ability to learn, adapt and scale what works. Source
  • Expert-led model reaffirmed: Management said the results reinforce the value of its expert-led, technology-enabled strategy. Source
  • Momentum carried into fiscal 2027: The CFO said the company is well positioned to build on fiscal 2026 momentum in fiscal 2027. Source
  • Acquisition payments increased: Payments for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $57.6 million for the year, against $35.5 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 August 2026

  • Dividend payable October 6: The $0.46 quarterly dividend is scheduled for payment on October 6 to holders of record as of September 3. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management named higher field wages, occupancy and technology-related expenses as the drivers of the expense increase. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The board authorized an additional $100 million of repurchases in the fourth quarter; the fourth-quarter release does not state the amount completed.

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.