H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) Stake Boosted by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB - Free Report) by 29.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 250,280 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 57,311 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.18% of H&R Block worth $15,179,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in shares of H&R Block by 70.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 19,495 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,239,000 after purchasing an additional 8,036 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in H&R Block during the third quarter worth about $169,000. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in H&R Block in the third quarter worth about $201,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its position in H&R Block by 38.7% in the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 6,076 shares of the company's stock worth $386,000 after acquiring an additional 1,695 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in H&R Block by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,878 shares of the company's stock valued at $309,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.14% of the company's stock.

H&R Block Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of HRB stock traded up $0.83 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $54.72. 3,709,033 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,206,582. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.50 billion, a PE ratio of 13.35, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.66. H&R Block, Inc. has a 1-year low of $42.28 and a 1-year high of $68.45. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $58.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.48.

H&R Block (NYSE:HRB - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The company reported ($1.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.13) by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $193.81 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $188.78 million. H&R Block had a net margin of 16.19% and a negative return on equity of 212.45%. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($1.05) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that H&R Block, Inc. will post 5.27 EPS for the current year.

H&R Block Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 6th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 5th will be given a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 5th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.74%. H&R Block's payout ratio is presently 36.59%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Barrington Research reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of H&R Block in a report on Friday, November 8th.

About H&R Block

H&R Block, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides assisted income tax return preparation and do-it-yourself (DIY) tax return preparation services and products to the general public primarily in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It offers assisted income tax return preparation and related services through a system of retail offices operated directly by the company or its franchisees.