H&R Block Reports 13 Percent Increase in Fourth Quarter EPS; Upcoming Fiscal Year Guidance Set at $4.25 to $4.65 Per Share

Jun 8, 2005

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2005-- Company Announces Two-for-One Stock Split, Dividend Increase

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) today reported record fourth quarter results, driven by revenue growth in each of its lines of business. Fourth quarter revenues increased 7.2 percent over the prior year's quarter to $2.4 billion. Revenues for the fiscal year were $4.4 billion, a 4.1 percent increase over the prior year.

Consolidated net income for the fourth quarter increased 6.9 percent to $616.5 million. Consolidated net income for the fiscal year declined 10.5 percent to $635 million. Earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter increased 13 percent to $3.66. For the fiscal year, earnings per diluted share decreased 4.1 percent to $3.76.

"We finished our fiscal year on a very high note," said Mark A. Ernst, H&R Block's chairman and chief executive officer. "We successfully completed an important transition year in our tax business, saw our mortgage business returning to more normalized levels of profitability, finished a stellar year at RSM McGladrey, and achieved important changes in our investment services organization during the quarter.

"For our U.S. tax operations, opening more than 1,200 new retail locations this year was an important first step in positioning us for future client growth as these new locations mature.

"Increasing our mortgage sales staff resulted in a 33 percent increase to loan origination volume for the year. At the same time, we are lowering our cost of origination to succeed in a more competitive environment," Ernst said.

Fiscal 2006 Outlook

For fiscal year 2006, the company said it expects earnings per share in the range of $4.25 to $4.65.

"Our focus on building our business for the long term is expected to deliver strong financial results in the coming year," Ernst said.

Restated Results

The company said that it will restate its results for fiscal years 2004 and 2003, as well as previously reported quarterly results for fiscal 2005, making several changes that it believes collectively will result in an estimated 6-cent increase in earnings per share in fiscal 2004, and an estimated 8-cent decrease in earnings per share in fiscal 2003. The restatement had the effect of adding 14 cents per share to fiscal 2005 results reported prior to the fourth quarter. The decision to restate was based on the cumulative impact of the items.

The company has not completed its analysis of the restatement adjustments, and accordingly, the effects of the restatement are preliminary and subject to change. These adjustments are being reviewed with the company's current and former auditors, and additional detail will be provided later in the company's Form 8-K and 10-K filings.

Board Actions

Reflecting the company's strong financial position, H&R Block's board of directors approved a two-for-one split of the company's common stock. The stock split will be effective Aug. 22, 2005, in the form of a 100 percent stock distribution payable to stockholders of record as of the close of business Aug. 1, 2005.

The board also approved a 13.6 percent increase of the quarterly cash dividend, effective with the quarterly dividend payment on Oct. 3, 2005, to shareholders of record on Sept. 12, 2005. After the stock split noted above, the quarterly cash dividend will increase from 11 cents to 12.5 cents per share. This payment will be the company's 172nd consecutive quarterly dividend.

"Today's actions by the board, along with our ongoing share re-purchase, are key ways that we return value to our investors," Ernst said. "In the past year, the company has re-acquired $530 million, or 11.3 million of its shares, another measure of our confidence in the company's future."

Tax Services

Tax services' fourth quarter revenues increased 6.1 percent to $1.7 billion. Fiscal year revenues rose 7.6 percent to $2.4 billion.

Pretax income for tax services' fourth quarter increased 4.9 percent to $845.7 million. For the fiscal year, pretax income was up 4 percent to $663 million.

Clients served in retail offices declined 0.1 percent for the tax season, compared with a 3.2 percent decline the prior year. Digital tax solutions clients decreased 6.3 percent.

"This year's retail location expansion is part of a multi-year plan to more aggressively compete and reclaim market share," Ernst said. "The expansion contributed to a significant increase in early season clients, reversing a two-year trend of declining client traffic. In addition, the expansion combined with client service improvements made H&R Block more convenient for clients, reduced their wait time, and generated significant increases across all measures of client satisfaction, a strong indication that the changes we're making are working. We plan to continue our expansion program, adding approximately 500 to 700 new offices to our company-owned and franchised network in fiscal 2006.

"While we're disappointed in our digital tax solutions results, we are encouraged by increasing consumer use of our services that blend digital technology with tax professional assistance," Ernst said. "We recognize that digital services are an important and growing client channel, and work has already begun to compete more aggressively and capture a larger market share in the coming tax season."

Mortgage Services

Mortgage services, which include Option One Mortgage Corp. and H&R Block Mortgage Corp., reported a record $9.3 billion in loan originations for the fourth quarter, driving total originations for the year to $31 billion, an increase of 33.3 percent over fiscal year 2004.

Fourth quarter revenues increased 8.8 percent to $382.8 million, compared with the fourth quarter last year. Fiscal year revenues declined 5.8 percent to $1.2 billion from the prior year.

Mortgage services' pretax income for the fourth quarter decreased 4.8 percent to $166 million. For the fiscal year, pretax income was $495.2 million, a 27.5 percent decline from the prior year.

"As our fourth quarter results indicate, we're successfully positioning our mortgage business for the coming year, increasing the number of sales associates, improving their productivity, and lowering our cost of origination," Ernst said. "These efforts led to a significant increase in loan production, while bringing us closer to our target cost structure.

"We have structured the business to compete more effectively both in the retail and non-prime markets," Ernst said, "and we'll continue to make improvements that will further enhance our operations."

The mortgage segment's total gain on sales was $821 million for the current year, compared to $913.7 million in fiscal year 2004. The decrease in gain on sales is due primarily to aggressive market pricing for loans, which was partially offset by growth in loan originations.

Included within these results, H&R Block Mortgage Corp., the company's retail mortgage subsidiary, originated 29.6 percent more loans during the year than the prior year. Loans made to retail clients of other H&R Block businesses represent 35 percent of its total loan production.

Option One's mortgage servicing business increased the number of loans serviced 34.2 percent to 435,290. The servicing portfolio at year-end increased 50.1 percent to $68 billion, compared with last year's portfolio.

The segment's residual interests continued to perform better than expected, primarily due to lower than modeled credit losses and favorable prepayment speeds, partially offset by the effect of increased interest rates. Consequently, the company realized a net write-up to residual balances of $95.9 million during fiscal year 2005, including a net write-down of $2.8 million in the fourth quarter, which was recorded in other comprehensive income on the balance sheet, net of deferred taxes.

Business Services

RSM McGladrey Business Services Inc. reported fourth quarter revenues of $202.3 million, a 12.8 percent increase over the prior year's quarter. Revenues for the fiscal year rose 14.8 percent to $573.3 million.

Pretax income for the fourth quarter increased 45.6 percent to $39 million from the year ago quarter. For the fiscal year, pretax income rose 55 percent to $29.9 million.

"RSM McGladrey and its related businesses finished what can only be viewed as an outstanding year," Ernst said. "Not only are we capitalizing on the potential to serve mid-sized businesses, but we are on the path to being recognized as the premier firm serving this market."

Investment Services

Investment services' fourth quarter revenues increased 12.5 percent to $69.8 million from the prior year's fourth quarter. Fiscal year revenues rose 4.3 percent to $239.2 million.

The fourth quarter pretax loss improved 44.6 percent to $12.9 million, compared with the prior year's quarter. For the fiscal year, the pretax loss improved 0.7 percent to $68.1 million.

"We've taken a number of actions to dramatically restructure this business, moving to more closely align its costs with its near-term revenue potential," Ernst said. "We've also stepped up our efforts to enhance our advisors' productivity, focusing on programs that will create stronger partnerships with our U.S. tax professionals.

"Our focus in the upcoming year is on reducing costs as well as attracting and retaining productive advisors," Ernst said. "We'll prudently review all expenditures, measuring them against the segment's performance to achieve a profitable business environment. We expect fiscal 2006 results to show significant improvement."

Other

The company will host a conference call for analysts and institutional investors at 5 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. CDT) June 8. Ernst and Jeff Yabuki, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Bill Trubeck, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Bob Dubrish, president and chief executive officer of Option One Mortgage Corp., will discuss the quarter and year-end results and future expectations, as well as respond to analysts' questions. To access the call, please dial the number approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time:

U.S./Canada: 888-425-2715

International: 706-679-8257

The call will be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and public. The link to the webcast can be obtained at www.hrblock.com. Supplemental slides will be available in connection with the webcast, or can be accessed directly on H&R Block's Investor Relations website at www.hrblock.com/about/investor following market close.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at 7 p.m. EDT June 8 until midnight EDT June 17, by dialing 800-642-1687 (U.S./Canada) or 706-645-9291 (International). The replay access code is 5013059. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the company's website at www.hrblock.com through June 30.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements based upon current information and expectations. Such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such forward-looking statements.

Such differences could be caused by a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the uncertainty that the company will achieve or exceed its revenue, earnings, and earnings-per-share growth goals or expectations for fiscal year 2006; the uncertainty of the impact and effect of the company's restatement of its financial statements; the uncertainty of the company's ability to purchase shares of its common stock pursuant to the board's authorization; the uncertainty of the effect of any share repurchases upon the company and its shareholders; changes in interest rates; changes in economic, political or regulatory environments; changes in competition; litigation involving the company and its subsidiaries; and risks described from time to time in reports and registration statements filed by H&R Block Inc. and its subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers should take these factors into account in evaluating such forward-looking statements.

About H&R Block

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2005, H&R Block is the world's largest tax services provider, having served more than 400 million clients since 1955. The sixth largest retailer in the world, H&R Block has more than 12,000 locations serving taxpayers primarily in the United States, Canada and Australia.

H&R Block's subsidiaries deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage services, and business accounting and consulting services. H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc. offers investment services and securities products. With approximately 1,000 financial advisors serving clients at approximately 260 locations, H&R Block Financial Advisors is a member NYSE, SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer and is not a registered investment advisor. H&R Block Mortgage Corp. offers a full range of retail mortgage services. Option One Mortgage Corp. provides mortgage services and offers wholesale mortgages through large financial institutions and a network of approximately 34,000 independent mortgage brokers. RSM McGladrey Business Services Inc. and its subsidiaries serve mid-sized businesses and their owners with tax, accounting and business consulting services, as well as personal wealth management services. H&R Block Small Business Resources is a new business currently operating in 14 U.S. cities that serves the tax, financial and business needs of small business owners. H&R Block Small Business Resources is not a licensed CPA firm. For more information about the company, visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com.

H&R BLOCK
KEY OPERATING RESULTS
Preliminary and unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data

                                          Three months ended April 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              2005          2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Restated
                                                        --------------

Revenues                                    $2,357,272     $2,199,466
                                          ------------- --------------
Income before taxes                          1,006,838        949,402

Net income                                    $616,474       $576,871
                                          ============================
Basic earnings per share                         $3.73          $3.31
                                          ============================
  Basic shares outstanding                     165,385        174,300

Diluted earnings per share                       $3.66          $3.24
                                          ============================
  Diluted shares outstanding                   168,416        178,194
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Year ended April 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              2005          2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Restated
                                          ----------------------------
Revenues                                    $4,416,715     $4,243,176
                                          ----------------------------
Income before taxes                          1,023,822      1,163,716

Net income before change in accounting
 principle                                     634,965        715,444

Cumulative effect of change in accounting
 principle, net of taxes                             -         (6,359)

Net income                                    $634,965       $709,085
                                          ============================
Basic earnings per share:

  Before change in accounting principle          $3.83          $4.04

  Net income                                     $3.83          $4.00
                                          ============= ==============
  Basic shares outstanding                     165,806        177,076

Diluted earnings per share:

  Before change in accounting principle          $3.76          $3.96

  Net income                                     $3.76          $3.92
                                          ============= ==============
  Diluted shares outstanding                   168,813        180,802
----------------------------------------------------------------------
H&R BLOCK
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Unaudited

During our fiscal year 2005 closing process, we determined a
restatement of our quarterly 2005 and fiscal year 2004 and 2003
financial statements was warranted. We determined a restatement was
necessary as the cumulative adjustment required to correct the items
was too large to record in fiscal year 2005. The restatement
encompasses corrections for the following:

--  Accounting for acquisitions, primarily Olde Financial Corporation
    in fiscal year 2000;
--  Gain on sale of residual interests in fiscal year 2003;
--  Accounting for leases;
--  Provision for income taxes, arising from a previously reported
    series of control weaknesses in our corporate tax accounting
    function;
--  Incentive compensation accrual at April 30, 2004; and
--  Overstatement of capitalized branch office costs.

Financial results referred to in this release reflect preliminary
restatement adjustments. We have not completed our analysis of
restatement adjustments, and accordingly, the effects of the items
noted above are preliminary and subject to change. Because the
restatement adjustments have not yet been audited by our registered
public accounting firm, all results presented in this release are
unaudited. We will file amendments to our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission to reflect the impact of restatement on our
previously issued audited annual and unaudited interim financial
statements and related disclosures.

On October 26, 2004, we issued $400.0 million in 5.125% Senior Notes,
due in 2014. The proceeds from the notes were used to repay our $250.0
million in 6 3/4% Senior Notes, which were due on November 1, 2004.
The remaining proceeds were used for working capital, capital
expenditures, repayment of other debt and other general corporate
purposes.

We adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-21, "Revenue
Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables" (EITF 00-21) as of May 1,
2003. As a result of the adoption of EITF 00-21, we recorded a
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $6.4 million,
net of tax benefit of $4.0 million.

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of
shares outstanding. The dilutive effect of potential common shares is
included in diluted earnings per share except in those periods with a
loss.

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to
conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications
had no effect on the results of operations or stockholders' equity as
previously reported.

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, we redefined our reportable
segments. The previously reported International Tax Operations and
U.S. Tax Operations segments are now reported as the Tax Services
segment.

H&R BLOCK
SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS
Preliminary and unaudited, amounts in thousands

                                 Three months ended April 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Revenues             Income (loss)
                         ----------------------- ---------------------
                            2005        2004       2005       2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Restated               Restated
                                     -----------            ----------
Tax Services             $1,702,654  $1,604,417   $845,659   $806,500
Mortgage Services           382,834     352,020    165,957    174,301
Business Services           202,295     179,394     38,996     26,777
Investment Services          69,798      62,027    (12,879)   (23,260)
Corporate                      (309)      1,608    (30,895)   (34,916)
                         ----------------------- ---------------------
                         $2,357,272  $2,199,466  1,006,838    949,402
                         =======================
Income taxes                                       390,364    372,531
                                                 ---------------------
Net income                                        $616,474   $576,871
                                                 =====================
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                     Year ended April 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Revenues             Income (loss)
                         ----------------------- ---------------------
                            2005        2004       2005       2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Restated               Restated
                         ----------------------- ---------------------
Tax Services             $2,358,293  $2,191,177   $663,035   $637,387
Mortgage Services         1,242,714   1,319,005    495,248    683,249
Business Services           573,316     499,210     29,948     19,321
Investment Services         239,244     229,470    (68,109)   (68,573)
Corporate                     3,148       4,314    (96,300)  (107,668)
                         ----------------------- ---------------------
                         $4,416,715  $4,243,176  1,023,822  1,163,716
                         =======================
Income taxes                                       388,857    448,272
                                                 ---------------------
Net income before change in accounting principle   634,965    715,444
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
 principle, net of taxes                                 -     (6,359)
                                                 ---------------------
Net income                                        $634,965   $709,085
                                                 =====================
----------------------------------------------------------------------
H&R BLOCK
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Preliminary and unaudited, amounts in thousands, except share data

                                               ----------- -----------
                                                April 30,   April 30,
                                                  2005        2004
                                               ----------- -----------
                    ASSETS                                  Restated
                                                           -----------
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $1,100,213  $1,072,745
  Cash and cash equivalents -- restricted         516,909     545,428
  Receivables from customers, brokers, dealers
   and clearing organizations, net                590,226     625,076
  Receivables, net                                418,788     329,219
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets       443,180     371,209
                                               ----------- -----------
    Total current assets                        3,069,316   2,943,677
                                               ----------- -----------
  Residual interests in securitizations --
   available-for-sale                             205,936     210,973
  Beneficial interest in Trusts -- trading        215,367     153,818
  Mortgage servicing rights                       166,614     113,821
  Property and equipment, net                     331,202     272,714
  Intangible assets, net                          286,769     325,829
  Goodwill, net                                 1,108,798   1,086,318
  Other assets                                    305,914     301,811
                                               ----------- -----------
Total assets                                   $5,689,916  $5,408,961
                                               =========== ===========

     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt               $25,545    $275,669
  Accounts payable to customers, brokers and
   dealers                                        950,684   1,065,793
  Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other    563,460     454,606
  Accrued salaries, wages and payroll taxes       319,238     281,147
  Accrued income taxes                            336,427     390,216
                                               ----------- -----------
    Total current liabilities                   2,195,354   2,467,431
                                               ----------- -----------

Long-term debt                                    923,073     545,811
Other noncurrent liabilities                      495,518     477,452
                                               ----------- -----------
      Total liabilities                         3,613,945   3,490,694
                                               ----------- -----------
Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock, no par, stated value $.01 per
   share                                            2,179       2,179
  Additional paid-in capital                      600,568     545,065
  Accumulated other comprehensive income           73,666      69,118
  Retained earnings                             3,283,437   2,791,461
  Less cost of 52,324,925 and 44,849,128
   shares of common stock in treasury          (1,883,879) (1,489,556)
                                               ----------- -----------
      Total stockholders' equity                2,075,971   1,918,267
                                               ----------- -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $5,689,916  $5,408,961
                                               =========== ===========
H&R BLOCK
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Preliminary and unaudited, amounts in thousands

                                               -----------------------
                                                Year ended April 30,
                                               -----------------------
                                                  2005        2004
                                               ----------- -----------
                                                      Restated
                                               -----------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net income                                      $634,965    $709,085
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                  176,709     172,038
   Accretion of residual interests in
    securitizations                              (135,421)   (186,359)
   Impairment of residual interests in
    securitizations                                13,350      30,661
   Additions to trading securities - residual
    interests in securitizations                 (115,657)   (327,996)
   Proceeds from net interest margin
    transactions                                   98,743     310,358
   Realized gain on sale of previously
    securitized residuals                         (15,396)    (40,689)
   Additions to mortgage servicing rights        (137,510)    (84,274)
   Amortization of mortgage servicing rights       84,717      69,718
   Net change in beneficial interest in Trusts    (61,549)    (17,222)
   Other net changes in working capital, net
    of acquisitions                               (27,345)    217,169
                                               ----------- -----------
   Net cash provided by operating activities      515,606     852,489
                                               ----------- -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
 Cash received from residual interests in
  securitizations                                 136,045     193,606
 Cash received from sale of previously
  securitized residuals                            16,485      53,391
 Purchases of property and equipment, net        (189,697)   (123,852)
 Payments made for business acquisitions, net
  of cash acquired                                (37,621)   (280,865)
 Other, net                                        14,565      30,308
                                               ----------- -----------
   Net cash used in investing activities          (60,223)   (127,412)
                                               ----------- -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
 Repayments of commercial paper                (5,191,623) (4,618,853)
 Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper     5,191,623   4,618,853
 Repayments of Senior Notes                      (250,000)          -
 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt         395,221           -
 Payments on acquisition debt                     (25,664)    (59,003)
 Dividends paid                                  (142,988)   (138,397)
 Acquisition of treasury shares                  (530,022)   (519,862)
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock           136,102     119,956
 Other, net                                       (10,564)     31,681
                                               ----------- -----------
   Net cash used in financing activities         (427,915)   (565,625)
                                               ----------- -----------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          27,468     159,452
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the
 year                                           1,072,745     913,293
                                               ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year   $1,100,213  $1,072,745
                                               =========== ===========
Supplementary cash flow data:
 Income taxes paid                               $437,427    $331,635
 Interest paid                                     82,535      84,551
H&R BLOCK
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
Preliminary and unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data

                       ----------------------- -----------------------
                         Three Months Ended
                              April 30,         Year Ended April 30,
                       ----------------------- -----------------------
                          2005        2004        2005        2004
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                                    Restated          Restated
                                   ----------- -----------------------
Revenues:
 Service revenues      $1,725,576  $1,586,338  $2,920,586  $2,639,367
 Other revenues:
   Gains on sales of
    mortgage assets,
    net                   256,010     241,495     820,960     913,699
   Product and other
    revenues              313,622     308,400     478,443     460,421
   Interest income         62,064      63,233     196,726     229,689
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                        2,357,272   2,199,466   4,416,715   4,243,176
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating expenses:
 Cost of service
  revenues                874,308     796,660   1,997,476   1,791,724
 Cost of other
  revenues                143,575     129,431     452,807     383,165
 Selling, general and
  administrative          323,663     311,745     908,072     843,207
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                        1,341,546   1,237,836   3,358,355   3,018,096
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Operating income        1,015,726     961,630   1,058,360   1,225,080
Interest expense           13,467      17,607      62,367      71,218
Other income, net           4,579       5,379      27,829       9,854
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Income before taxes     1,006,838     949,402   1,023,822   1,163,716
Income taxes              390,364     372,531     388,857     448,272
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Net income before
 cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 principle                616,474     576,871     634,965     715,444
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 principle for multiple
 deliverable revenue
 arrangements, less
 income tax benefit of
 $4,031                         -           -           -      (6,359)

Net income               $616,474    $576,871    $634,965    $709,085
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Basic earnings per
 share:
 Before change in
  accounting principle      $3.73       $3.31       $3.83       $4.04
 Cumulative effect of
  change in accounting          -           -           -       (0.04)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                            $3.73       $3.31       $3.83       $4.00
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========
 Basic shares
  outstanding             165,385     174,300     165,806     177,076

Diluted earnings per
 share:
 Before change in
  accounting principle      $3.66       $3.24       $3.76       $3.96
 Cumulative effect of
  change in accounting          -           -           -       (0.04)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                            $3.66       $3.24       $3.76       $3.92
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========
 Diluted shares
  outstanding             168,416     178,194     168,813     180,802
H&R BLOCK
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
Unaudited
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  ------------ -----------------------
Mortgage Services                  Year ended    Three months ended
                                  ------------ -----------------------
                                    4/30/2005   4/30/2005   4/30/2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Volume of loans originated
 (thousands):
Wholesale (non-prime)             $26,977,810  $8,090,274  $5,410,469

Retail:  Prime                      1,018,746     380,946     312,923
         Non-prime                  3,005,168     807,269     523,438
                                  ------------ ----------- -----------
                                    4,023,914   1,188,215     836,361
                                  ------------ ----------- -----------

Total                             $31,001,724  $9,278,489  $6,246,830
                                  ============ =========== ===========
Loan characteristics:
Average loan size (thousands)            $159        $158        $150
Weighted average interest rate
 (WAC) (1)                               7.36%       7.45%       7.06%
Weighted average FICO score (1)           614         618         607

Loan sales (thousands)            $30,975,523  $9,322,150  $6,294,346
                                  ============ =========== ===========
Servicing portfolio:
Number of loans serviced              435,290     435,290     324,364
Servicing portfolio (billions)          $68.0       $68.0       $45.3

----------------------------------------------------------------------

H&R BLOCK
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
Unaudited
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       -------------------------------
Mortgage Services                            Three months ended
                                       -------------------------------
                                       % change   1/31/2005  % change
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Volume of loans originated
 (thousands):
Wholesale (non-prime)                      49.5% $7,378,071       9.7%

Retail: Prime                              21.7%    238,867      59.5%
        Non-prime                          54.2%    776,797       3.9%
                                       --------- ----------- ---------
                                           42.1%  1,015,664      17.0%
                                       --------- ----------- ---------

Total                                      48.5% $8,393,735      10.5%
                                       ========= =========== =========
Loan characteristics:
Average loan size (thousands)               5.3%       $164      -3.7%
Weighted average interest rate
(WAC) (1)                                  0.39%       7.30%     0.15%
Weighted average FICO score (1)                         615

Loan sales (thousands)                     48.1% $8,348,537      11.7%
                                       ========= =========== =========
Servicing portfolio:
Number of loans serviced                   34.2%    387,619      12.3%
Servicing portfolio (billions)             50.1%      $59.0      15.3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  Represents non-prime production only.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
            ---------- -----------------------------------------------
Investment
 Services   Year ended               Three months ended
            ---------- -----------------------------------------------
            4/30/2005  4/30/2005 4/30/2004 % change 1/31/2005 % change
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Customer
 trades (2)   885,796   241,327   259,470     -7.0%  245,612     -1.7%
Customer
 daily
 average
 trades         3,529     3,892     4,119     -5.5%    3,899     -0.2%
Average
 revenue per
 trade (3)    $123.33   $127.73   $121.58      5.1%  $120.62      5.9%

Customer
 accounts:
 (4)
Traditional
 brokerage    431,749   431,749   463,736     -6.9%  431,902      0.0%
Express IRAs  380,539   380,539   366,040      4.0%  295,676     28.7%
            ---------- --------- ---------         ----------
              812,288   812,288   829,776     -2.1%  727,578     11.6%
            ========== ========= =========         ==========

Ending
 balance
 of assets
 under
 admin-
 istration
 (billions)     $27.8     $27.8     $26.7      4.1%    $28.4     -2.1%
Average
 assets per
 traditional
 brokerage
 account      $63,755   $63,755   $57,204     11.5%  $65,339     -2.4%

Average
 customer
 margin
 balances
 (millions)      $597      $603      $600      0.5%     $596      1.2%
Average
 payables to
 customers
 (millions)      $975      $936    $1,046    -10.5%     $989     -5.4%
Advisors        1,010     1,010     1,009      0.1%    1,013     -0.3%
---------------------- --------- --------- ---------------------------
(2) Includes only trades on which revenues are earned ("revenue
    trades"). Revenues, defined as trading revenues, are earned on
    both transactional and annuitized trades.

(3) Calculated as trading revenues divided by revenue trades.

(4) Includes only accounts with a positive period-end balance.

CONTACT: H&R Block Inc.
Media Relations:
Linda McDougall, 816-932-7542
lmcdougall@hrblock.com
or
Investor Relations:
Pam Kearney, 816-932-1967
pkearney@hrblock.com
SOURCE: H&R Block Inc.