September 9, 2024
Block reports better-than-expected earnings for second quarter
Block, formerly known as Square, reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter even as revenue missed estimates.

Dado Ruvic | Reuters

Block beat on profit in its second-quarter earnings report on Thursday. The stock rose in extended trading.

Here’s how the company did, compared with analysts’ consensus estimates from LSEG.

  • Earnings per share: 93 cents adjusted vs. 84 cents expected
  • Revenue: $6.16 billion vs. $6.28 billion expected

Block, formerly known as Square, posted $2.23 billion in gross profit, up 20% from a year ago. Analysts tend to focus on gross profit as a more accurate measurement of the company’s core transactional businesses.

The company reported net income of $195.3 million, or 31 cents per share, up 91% from $102 million, or 17 cents per share, a year earlier.

The Cash App business, the company’s popular mobile payment platform and a significant contributor to overall profitability, reported $1.3 billion in gross profit, a 23% year-over-year jump. Block, run by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, said its Cash App Card monthly active users increased 13% year-over-year to more than 24 million in June.

Block has slimmed down operations in the last year. In January, Dorsey reportedly said in a note to staffers that the company had laid off a “large number” of workers. This followed a round of layoffs in December.

The company raised its full-year guidance for gross profit, adjusted earnings and adjusted operating income.

Dorsey also announced that Afterpay CEO and co-founder Nick Molnar would be expanding his role at Block and will lead a “centralized sales function across Block, inclusive of Square.” The position will report directly into the Block CEO.

CNBC’s Stephen Desaulniers contributed to this report.