H&R Block Offers 5% Return: How Its Stock Could Withstand AI and IRS Challenges.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 06 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Frustration with Taxes: Many people find doing their own taxes to be a frustrating experience.
- Tax Preparation as a Business: Providing tax preparation services for others has historically been a lucrative business opportunity.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy INTU?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on INTU
Wall Street analysts forecast INTU stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 404.830
Low
700.00
Averages
814.59
High
880.00
Current: 404.830
Low
700.00
Averages
814.59
High
880.00
About INTU
Intuit Inc. offers a financial technology platform that helps consumers and small and mid-market businesses prosper by delivering financial management, compliance, and marketing products and services. It also provides specialized tax products to accounting professionals. It helps small and mid-market businesses grow and run their business all in one place, including bookkeeping, getting paid, accessing capital, paying employees, getting and retaining customers, and managing their customer relationships. The Company's offerings include TTurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Intuit Enterprise Suite. Lacerte, ProSeries, and ProConnect Tax Online are its tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Its financial management includes payments and capital, compliance, human capital management, and marketing products and services. For accounting professionals, the Company provides professional tax and financial management products and services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Deadline Amid Market Uncertainty
- Ceasefire Extension: President Trump has extended the Iran ceasefire deadline by two weeks, a move that may exacerbate uncertainty in the Middle East conflict as Tehran shows reluctance to engage in diplomatic efforts, potentially impacting global market sentiment.
- Tariff Policy Impact: Trump expressed hope that U.S. companies that have not sought refunds for his tariffs will adhere to a 'no take back' policy, despite the Supreme Court ruling the tariffs illegal; major firms like Apple and Amazon have yet to file for refunds, which could affect their future financial performance.
- Market Reaction: Following Trump's announcement of the ceasefire extension, U.S. stock index futures rose, despite a lower close on Tuesday, while crude oil prices increased, indicating market sensitivity to developments in the Middle East.
- Aviation Industry Outlook: United Airlines has slashed its 2026 earnings outlook due to supply chain issues stemming from the Middle East conflict, reflecting the direct impact of soaring fuel prices on the airline industry and potentially leading to broader industry adjustments.
See More
U.S. Stocks Mixed as Oil Prices Rebound
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.13%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also declined by 0.13%, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a slight increase of 0.02%, reflecting market volatility influenced by oil price rebounds and economic data.
- Strong Economic Data: March retail sales rose by 1.7% month-over-month, exceeding expectations of 1.4%, marking the largest increase in a year, indicating robust consumer spending that may support stock prices.
- Oil Price Recovery: WTI crude oil prices rebounded by over 2% as market speculation intensified regarding Iran's participation in upcoming peace talks, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis.
- Impressive Earnings Reports: UnitedHealth Group reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $9.23, significantly above the consensus of $6.57, leading to a stock price increase of over 7% and raising its full-year earnings forecast, showcasing strong performance in the health insurance sector.
See More
Stock Markets Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.24%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.01%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.31% on Monday as WTI crude prices surged over 6%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid geopolitical tensions.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further unsettling investor sentiment.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, highlighting signs of economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks retreated as rising oil prices weighed on profits, with American Airlines and Alaska Air both down over 4%, reflecting the direct impact of fuel costs on company earnings and potential downward revisions in future profit expectations.
See More
U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.41%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.31%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.66% as WTI crude oil prices surged over 5%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid doubts about peace talks regarding the Iran war.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further increasing market uncertainty.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have beaten estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline and cruise line stocks are broadly down due to rising oil prices, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings down over 5% and American Airlines Group down over 4%, reflecting the negative impact of high fuel costs on company profits.
See More
Oil Price Surge Leads to Market Decline
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.04%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.24%, indicating investor concerns over rising oil prices that could impact corporate earnings and overall market confidence.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 5% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US's refusal to lift its naval blockade on Iranian vessels, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages and raise operational costs for affected industries.
- Earnings Expectations: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have exceeded estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to rise by 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected to be 3%, indicating signs of an overall economic slowdown.
- Airline and Chip Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks are down due to rising fuel costs, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings falling over 6%, while chipmakers like Intel are also down more than 2%, reflecting the negative impact of high oil prices across multiple sectors.
See More
Americans Turn to AI for Financial Advice Amid Limitations
- Current AI Usage: A recent survey reveals that 66% of Americans have used generative AI for financial advice, with over 80% among millennials and Gen Z, indicating a significant shift in reliance on technology that could disrupt traditional financial advisory markets.
- Importance of Prompt Engineering: Andrew Lo from MIT emphasizes the critical role of crafting effective AI prompts, where users must provide detailed context to receive relevant advice, highlighting the principle of 'garbage in, garbage out' and the need for user education in AI interactions.
- Limitations of AI: While AI excels at providing high-level overviews of financial topics, it struggles with specific tax calculations, and Lo warns users to exercise caution when relying on AI for personal financial decisions to avoid the risks associated with erroneous advice.
- Optimizing Prompts: Users can enhance future queries by asking AI, 'What prompt should I have asked to get the answer I was looking for?', which helps in reverse engineering prompts and improving efficiency in utilizing AI's capabilities for financial planning.
See More
Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Deadline Amid Market Uncertainty
- Ceasefire Extension: President Trump has extended the Iran ceasefire deadline by two weeks, a move that may exacerbate uncertainty in the Middle East conflict as Tehran shows reluctance to engage in diplomatic efforts, potentially impacting global market sentiment.
- Tariff Policy Impact: Trump expressed hope that U.S. companies that have not sought refunds for his tariffs will adhere to a 'no take back' policy, despite the Supreme Court ruling the tariffs illegal; major firms like Apple and Amazon have yet to file for refunds, which could affect their future financial performance.
- Market Reaction: Following Trump's announcement of the ceasefire extension, U.S. stock index futures rose, despite a lower close on Tuesday, while crude oil prices increased, indicating market sensitivity to developments in the Middle East.
- Aviation Industry Outlook: United Airlines has slashed its 2026 earnings outlook due to supply chain issues stemming from the Middle East conflict, reflecting the direct impact of soaring fuel prices on the airline industry and potentially leading to broader industry adjustments.
See More
U.S. Stocks Mixed as Oil Prices Rebound
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.13%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also declined by 0.13%, while the Nasdaq 100 saw a slight increase of 0.02%, reflecting market volatility influenced by oil price rebounds and economic data.
- Strong Economic Data: March retail sales rose by 1.7% month-over-month, exceeding expectations of 1.4%, marking the largest increase in a year, indicating robust consumer spending that may support stock prices.
- Oil Price Recovery: WTI crude oil prices rebounded by over 2% as market speculation intensified regarding Iran's participation in upcoming peace talks, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis.
- Impressive Earnings Reports: UnitedHealth Group reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $9.23, significantly above the consensus of $6.57, leading to a stock price increase of over 7% and raising its full-year earnings forecast, showcasing strong performance in the health insurance sector.
See More
Stock Markets Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices and Geopolitical Tensions
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.24%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.01%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.31% on Monday as WTI crude prices surged over 6%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid geopolitical tensions.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further unsettling investor sentiment.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings exceeded expectations, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected at 3%, highlighting signs of economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks retreated as rising oil prices weighed on profits, with American Airlines and Alaska Air both down over 4%, reflecting the direct impact of fuel costs on company earnings and potential downward revisions in future profit expectations.
See More
U.S. Stocks Decline Amid Soaring Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Markets: The S&P 500 index fell 0.41%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.31%, and the Nasdaq 100 index declined 0.66% as WTI crude oil prices surged over 5%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs amid doubts about peace talks regarding the Iran war.
- Geopolitical Risks Escalate: Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has raised market concerns, especially following U.S. Navy actions against Iranian tankers, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, further increasing market uncertainty.
- Earnings Season Continues: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have beaten estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to rise 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, the growth is only 3%, indicating signs of overall economic weakness.
- Airline Stocks Under Pressure: Airline and cruise line stocks are broadly down due to rising oil prices, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings down over 5% and American Airlines Group down over 4%, reflecting the negative impact of high fuel costs on company profits.
See More
Oil Price Surge Leads to Market Decline
- Market Decline: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.21%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.04%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.24%, indicating investor concerns over rising oil prices that could impact corporate earnings and overall market confidence.
- Oil Price Surge: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 5% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US's refusal to lift its naval blockade on Iranian vessels, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages and raise operational costs for affected industries.
- Earnings Expectations: So far, 81% of the 48 S&P 500 companies that reported earnings have exceeded estimates, with Q1 earnings projected to rise by 12% year-over-year; however, excluding the tech sector, growth is only expected to be 3%, indicating signs of an overall economic slowdown.
- Airline and Chip Stocks Under Pressure: Airline stocks are down due to rising fuel costs, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings falling over 6%, while chipmakers like Intel are also down more than 2%, reflecting the negative impact of high oil prices across multiple sectors.
See More
Americans Turn to AI for Financial Advice Amid Limitations
- Current AI Usage: A recent survey reveals that 66% of Americans have used generative AI for financial advice, with over 80% among millennials and Gen Z, indicating a significant shift in reliance on technology that could disrupt traditional financial advisory markets.
- Importance of Prompt Engineering: Andrew Lo from MIT emphasizes the critical role of crafting effective AI prompts, where users must provide detailed context to receive relevant advice, highlighting the principle of 'garbage in, garbage out' and the need for user education in AI interactions.
- Limitations of AI: While AI excels at providing high-level overviews of financial topics, it struggles with specific tax calculations, and Lo warns users to exercise caution when relying on AI for personal financial decisions to avoid the risks associated with erroneous advice.
- Optimizing Prompts: Users can enhance future queries by asking AI, 'What prompt should I have asked to get the answer I was looking for?', which helps in reverse engineering prompts and improving efficiency in utilizing AI's capabilities for financial planning.
See More
