H&R Block Reports Q2 Earnings Amid Leadership Transition
H&R Block's stock fell 3.01% as it hit a 52-week low, reflecting broader market weakness with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.28% and S&P 500 down 1.19%.
The company's Q2 earnings report revealed a net loss of -$1.84, which, although worse than the previous year's -$1.73, was better than the expected -$1.89. Revenue reached $198.9 million, exceeding Wall Street's estimate of $187.4 million, driven by increased volume in assisted services. Despite reaffirming its fiscal 2026 guidance, the rising operating costs and leadership transition may have contributed to the stock's decline amid a challenging market environment.
Investors are closely watching H&R Block's strategic focus on client-centric initiatives and technology investments, which may enhance long-term growth prospects despite current challenges.
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- Leadership Transition: In his first quarter as CEO, Curtis Campbell emphasized a pivotal moment for H&R Block, focusing on a client-centric strategy and renewed attention to core tax season execution, aiming to drive long-term transformation and enhance customer experience.
- Financial Performance: H&R Block reported Q2 revenue of $199 million, an 11% year-over-year increase primarily driven by higher Assisted tax prep volume and improved DIY software sales, although the EBITDA loss of $266 million indicates challenges in cost optimization efforts.
- Outlook Reaffirmation: The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting revenue between $3.875 billion and $3.895 billion and EBITDA between $1.015 billion and $1.035 billion, reflecting confidence for the upcoming tax season despite risks of industry growth slowdown.
- Technology Investment: H&R Block is increasing investments in AI tools, planning to embed AI into workflows and pilot automation for back-office functions to reduce manual effort and enhance the quality and efficiency of client interactions.
- Earnings Report: H&R Block reported a Q2 net loss of -$1.84, which, despite widening from -$1.73 year-over-year, was better than the expected -$1.89, indicating resilience amid challenges.
- Revenue Growth: Q2 revenue reached $198.9 million, surpassing Wall Street's $187.4 million estimate and up from $179.1 million a year ago, primarily driven by increased volume and average charges in assisted services.
- Guidance Reaffirmation: The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $4.85-$5.00 and revenue expectations of $3.875 billion-$3.895 billion, both exceeding analyst averages, reflecting management's confidence in future performance.
- Rising Operating Costs: Total operating expenses rose to $497.7 million in Q2 from $472.4 million a year prior, reflecting higher field wages due to increased assisted revenue and rising consulting costs.
- Earnings Highlights: H&R Block reported a Q2 Non-GAAP EPS of -$1.84, beating expectations by $0.05, indicating resilience despite ongoing losses.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $198.9 million, an 11.1% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $11.54 million, reflecting improvements in its tax services business.
- Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook: H&R Block reaffirmed its revenue guidance for FY 2026 to be between $3.875 billion and $3.895 billion, with EBITDA expected to range from $1.015 billion to $1.035 billion, showcasing management's confidence in future growth.
- Profitability Expectations: Adjusted diluted EPS is projected to be between $4.85 and $5.00, with an effective tax rate of approximately 25%, providing investors with clear profitability guidance and enhancing market confidence in its long-term investment value.
- Stock Market Performance: Stocks are experiencing a rise similar to January's performance, indicating positive investor sentiment.
- Influencing Factors: Fresh economic data and a strong upcoming earnings season are contributing to the optimistic outlook among investors.
- Earnings Announcement: H&R Block (HRB) is set to release its Q2 fiscal year 2023 earnings on February 3rd after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of -$1.89, reflecting a 9.2% year-over-year decline, which may dampen investor sentiment.
- Revenue Expectations: The revenue is projected at $187.36 million, indicating a 4.6% year-over-year increase; however, the negative EPS outlook could overshadow this revenue growth and impact overall market performance.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, H&R Block has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 88% of the time, suggesting that the company typically exceeds market expectations during earnings releases, which could positively influence stock prices.
- Estimate Revisions: In the last three months, there have been no upward revisions to EPS estimates and four downward revisions, while revenue estimates saw one upward revision and two downward revisions, indicating a cautious market outlook regarding the company's future performance.
- AI in Tax Preparation: Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly reduce the time and effort required for preparing tax returns in 2025.
- Efficiency Gains: The use of AI tools could streamline the tax filing process, making it less tedious for individuals and businesses alike.










