H&R Block repurchased 10.5M shares for $500.3M in fiscal 2026
Company bought back 7.9% of shares outstanding at $47.48/share; $600M remains on $1.5B program
What the filing says
H&R Block repurchased and retired approximately 10.5 million shares during fiscal 2026 (year ended June 30, 2026) at an aggregate price of $500.3 million, representing an average price of $47.48 per share. The repurchases accounted for 7.9% of shares outstanding at the time of execution.
The company operates under a $1.5 billion share repurchase program authorized by its Board of Directors. As of the fiscal year-end, approximately $600 million remained available under this authorization. During fiscal 2026, H&R Block returned a total of $713.7 million to shareholders through a combination of dividends and share repurchases as part of its disciplined capital allocation strategy.
The reduction in share count contributed to higher adjusted earnings per share, which increased 13.9% to $5.31 for fiscal 2026, driven by both the lower share count from repurchases and higher adjusted net income. Since 2016, the company has returned more than $5.2 billion to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases, buying back over 48% of its shares outstanding as of April 30, 2016.
In fiscal 2026, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 10.5 million shares, or 7.9% of shares outstanding, at an aggregate price of $500.3 million, or $47.48 per share. — H&R BLOCK INC 8-K filing · View on SEC EDGAR →
What this means
H&R Block's fiscal 2026 buyback removed 10.5 million shares from circulation, representing a significant reduction of 7.9% of shares then outstanding. This execution reduced share count to 128.9 million weighted average diluted shares by year-end (down from 137.3 million in the prior year), a material driver of the 13.9% increase in adjusted EPS despite more modest 6.9% growth in adjusted net income. With $600 million remaining on a $1.5 billion program, the company maintains substantial dry powder for continued capital return. In the context of H&R Block's nine consecutive annual dividend increases and $5.2 billion in total shareholder returns since 2016, the buyback reflects a consistent commitment to returning capital while investing in operations.
Frequently asked questions
- How many shares did H&R Block repurchase in fiscal 2026?
- H&R Block repurchased and retired approximately 10.5 million shares at an aggregate price of $500.3 million, or $47.48 per share. This represented 7.9% of shares outstanding at the time.
- How much authorization remains on the buyback program?
- The company has approximately $600 million remaining on its $1.5 billion share repurchase program. The Board of Directors authorized the original program, and the company continues to execute repurchases under this authorization.
- How did the buyback impact H&R Block's earnings per share?
- The reduction in share count from the 10.5 million share repurchase was a key driver of adjusted diluted EPS growth of 13.9% to $5.31 in fiscal 2026, even though adjusted net income grew by only 6.9%. The lower share count amplified per-share profitability.
- What is H&R Block's total shareholder return strategy?
- H&R Block combines quarterly dividends (recently increased by 10% to $0.46 per share) with share repurchases as part of its disciplined capital allocation. In fiscal 2026 alone, the company returned $713.7 million to shareholders. Since 2016, it has returned over $5.2 billion through dividends and buybacks.
- How frequently does H&R Block repurchase shares?
- The filing does not specify the execution mechanism or timing cadence for repurchases. H&R Block operates under a standing $1.5 billion program and executes repurchases as part of ongoing capital allocation, but specific details on Rule 10b-18 windows or other execution parameters are not disclosed in this earnings release.
- What percentage of H&R Block's shares have been bought back since 2016?
- Since 2016, H&R Block has bought back over 48% of its shares outstanding as of April 30, 2016, using more than $5.2 billion in capital for dividends and repurchases combined. This substantial reduction in share count reflects a long-term capital return commitment.