Block, Inc. (SQ 0.71%), a leading e-commerce and personal financial services and digital payments company, posted first-quarter profit and revenue that beat Wall Street expectations.
The company after the close of trading on Thursday reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.85, topping the average analyst estimate of $0.72. Net income more than quadrupled to $742 million, or $0.74, from $98.3 million, or $0.16, in the year-earlier quarter.
Revenue of $5.96 billion also beat the $5.83 billion prediction, rising 19% from year-earlier revenue of $4.99 billion. The company attributed the gains to cost cutting and the strength of its Cash App personal finance app and its buy now, pay later platform.
The company also raised its outlook for full-year gross profit.
| Metric | Q1 2024 Actual | Estimate | Q1 2023 Actual | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EPS | $0.85 | $0.72 | N/A | N/A |
| Total Net Revenue | $5.96 billion | $5.83 billion | $4.99 billion | 19% |
| Gross Profit | $2.09 billion | N/A | $1.71 billion | 22% |
Data source: Company results from company. Analyst estimates from FactSet.
Understanding Block
Block, once known for its Square and Cash App brands, has expanded into commerce solutions, financial services, and cryptocurrency engagement. The company even changed its name from Square to Block to emphasize the importance of crypto for its future direction.
Block has intensified its focus on product expansion and market penetration. Innovations such as Bitcoin Conversions for Square sellers and the Paid in Bitcoin feature for Cash App users exemplify Block's commitment to cryptocurrency as a cornerstone of its growth strategy.
Quarterly highlights
A closer examination of Block's Q1 results reveals significant strides in financial performance and strategic execution:
The company's 19% revenue increase reflects rising demand for its payment and financial services solutions, particularly within Cash App, which continues to draw in users with its evolving feature set.
Block's strategic investment in Bitcoin yields ancillary benefits beyond direct financial gains. Despite allocating less than 3% of its resources to Bitcoin-related projects, the initiatives contribute positively to its gross profit streams.
Block is pursuing innovations such as its Bitkey and enterprise-grade Bitcoin mining equipment. These advancements not only reinforce Block's stake in the Bitcoin ecosystem but also underline its role in shaping future financial technologies.
The 22% year-over-year growth in gross profit underscores operational efficiency and market adaptability. This profitability surge, coupled with expense management, resulted in an uptick across all profitability measures.
Looking forward
Looking to the future, Block's management remains optimistic. The company projected continued gross profit growth with expectations set for a significant uptick in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and a bright outlook on the Rule of 40 (meaning revenue growth rate and profit margin combined add up to 40% or more) attainment by 2026.
Investors are encouraged to monitor Block's product and market expansion endeavors, paying particular attention to its cryptocurrency strategies and regulatory advancements. At the same time the company reported earnings, it raised its 2024 outlook for gross profit, which it now estimates will be $8.78 billion, up from an earlier estimate of $8.65 billion.
Through strategic focus on technological innovation, ecosystem integration, and responsive market strategies, Block not only remains poised for continued growth but also stands as a testament to the evolving dynamics of the financial services industry. With an eye on broadening its market reach and deepening product penetrations, Block's trajectory suggests it's making progress.
