Ruffer LLP Invests $4.20 Million in H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB)

Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 79,547 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,203,000.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in H&R Block by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 4,263 shares of the company’s stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the period. State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its stake in H&R Block by 26.8% in the fourth quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 58,628 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,097,000 after purchasing an additional 12,390 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in H&R Block in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,821,000. Algert Global LLC grew its holdings in H&R Block by 413.1% during the third quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 72,110 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,583,000 after acquiring an additional 58,057 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in H&R Block by 5.5% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,936,829 shares of the company’s stock worth $313,735,000 after purchasing an additional 255,354 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.14% of the company’s stock.

H&R Block Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:HRB opened at $55.52 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $53.66 and a 200-day moving average of $58.01. H&R Block, Inc. has a one year low of $45.87 and a one year high of $68.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.46, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.73. The company has a market capitalization of $7.43 billion, a PE ratio of 15.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.65.

H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The company reported ($1.73) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.59) by ($0.14). H&R Block had a negative return on equity of 179.15% and a net margin of 14.71%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that H&R Block, Inc. will post 5.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

H&R Block Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 4th will be issued a $0.375 dividend. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 4th. H&R Block’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of H&R Block in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. StockNews.com cut H&R Block from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th.

H&R Block Profile

H&R Block, Inc engages in the provision of tax return preparation solutions, financial products and small business solutions. The company was founded by Henry W. Bloch and Richard A. Bloch on January 25, 1955, and is headquartered in Kansas City, MO.