Financial software company Intuit (INTU 0.87%) has seen its stock rise 34% in the past twelve months, more than doubling the S&P 500's gain of about 14% during the same period. The stock's rise comes amid Intuit's double-digit increases in revenue and adjusted earnings per share, and soaring growth in QuickBooks Online (QBO) subscribers.
For investors interested in Intuit stock, the company's most recent earnings report is worth looking over. Here are some of the most notable metrics from the fiscal 2018 second-quarter earnings release.
QuickBooks Online. Image source: Intuit.
Revenue increased 15%
Intuit's second-quarter revenue climbed 15% year over year to $1.165 billion. The increase was within Intuit's guidance range for revenue of $1.160 billion to $1.180 billion. Notably, a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue marked an acceleration from Intuit's first-quarter revenue of 14%.
Intuit's revenue was driven by a 19% increase in small-business and self-employed revenue and a 12% boost to consumer revenue. Strategic partner revenue, which accounts for just 8% of total revenue, fell 4% year over year.
QBO subscribers jumped 51%
Intuit's 19% year-over-year growth in small-business and self-employed revenue was primarily driven by a 51% increase in QBO subscribers. U.S. subscribers were up 47% year over year to 2.2 million. International subscribers climbed 69% year over year to 630,000 subscribers.
QBO subscribers are expected to hit 3.3 million this year
By the end of fiscal 2018, Intuit expects to have between 3.275 million and 3.375 million QBO subscribers globally, representing 37% to 42% year-over-year growth.
QBO Self-Employed subscribers soared 172%
A significant portion of the growth in Intuit's QBO subscribers has been driven by year-over-year growth in QBO Self-Employed subscribers, since Intuit benefited from a bundled package last tax season that gave TurboTax customers access to QBO Self-Employed. Of Intuit's 956,000 year-over-year increase in QBO subscribers during the quarter, 310,000 were QBO Self-Employed subscribers. Total QBO Self-Employed subscribers in Q2 were 425,000, up 172% from 180,000 in the year-ago quarter.
Notably, management said that when it backs out increases in QBO Self-Employed subscribers, year-over-year growth rates in QBO subscribers are actually accelerating.
Intuit spent $83 million repurchasing shares
As Intuit's stock price has risen, management has been less aggressive about share repurchases. The company spent $83 million repurchasing shares in Q2, down from $170 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and $198 million in the year-ago quarter. Nevertheless, Intuit's repurchases are helping earnings per share, as Intuit's total shares outstanding have decreased from 260 million in the year-ago quarter to 256 million in Q2.
QuickBooks Online. Image source: Intuit.
Intuit expects third-quarter revenue to rise about 11%
Looking ahead, management doesn't anticipate maintaining its second-quarter trend of accelerating revenue growth. Intuit is guiding for third-quarter revenue to rise 10% to 12% year over year. Similarly, management expects further deceleration for full-year results, guiding for revenue during the period to increase 9% to 11%.
With Intuit's forecast for full-year revenue growth is somewhat soft compared to its recent growth, investors may want to keep an eye on Intuit's growth rates, since decelerating growth may moderate going into fiscal 2019.
