H&R Block – HRB – Reports Fiscal 2012 Results

H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) reported GAAP net income from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 of $346.0 million, or $1.16 per share. These results include after-tax charges of $30.8 million, or 10 cents per share, largely related to a previously announced strategic realignment and litigation expenses. Total revenues of $2.9 billion were down 1.7 percent compared to the prior year.

• Fiscal 2012 GAAP diluted earnings per share(1) from continuing operations of $1.16, above prior outlook of $1.09 to $1.15 per share
• Total revenues of $2.9 billion, in line with prior outlook
• Total worldwide tax returns prepared up 1.1 million, or 4.3 percent, to record 25.6 million
• Total Emerald Card units issued up 24 percent to 2.9 million, with $9.5 billion in total deposits
• Achieved share growth in both assisted and digital categories for second consecutive year
• Repurchased and retired 8 percent of shares outstanding, or 22.8 million shares, since fiscal third quarter ended Jan. 31, 2012

“I am very pleased that we served a record 25.6 million clients this year,” said Bill Cobb, H&R Block’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We achieved our top goal this fiscal year by growing clients and share in both the assisted and digital categories for the second consecutive year. During my first year as CEO, we also rationalized our cost structure and shed non-core assets to drive higher margins and to refocus the business on what we do best — tax preparation. Today, we believe we’re running a better, nimbler, and more client-centric company, which positions us well for long-term client and earnings growth.”

HRB Share Repurchases and Dividends

In fiscal 2012, the company repurchased and retired 14.6 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate price of $200.0 million, or $13.74 per share, including the repurchase of 1.5 million shares during the fourth quarter. At April 30, 292.1 million shares were outstanding.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to-date, the company has repurchased and retired an additional 21.3 million shares at an aggregate price of $315.0 million, or $14.82 per share. As of today, 270.9 million shares are outstanding.

“Since I became CEO in May 2011, we have returned $723 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Over that 13 month span, we repurchased 12 percent of outstanding shares and raised our annual dividend by 33 percent. We believe these actions demonstrate that we have a lot of confidence in our business and that our philosophy on capital allocation is shareholder friendly,” added Cobb.

About H&R Block HRB

H&R Block, Inc. (HRB) is the world’s largest tax services provider, having prepared more than 600 million tax returns worldwide since 1955. In fiscal 2012, HRB had annual revenues of $2.9 billion and prepared 25.6 million tax returns worldwide.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.