Revenue Performance - Total revenues increased by 10.0million,or5.4193.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the prior year[36] - U.S. assisted tax preparation revenues rose by 3.7million,or9.44.3 million, or 7.1%, primarily due to higher tax return volumes in Australia and favorable foreign currency exchange rates[38] Operating Expenses - Total operating expenses rose by 32.0million,or8.25.7 million, or 9.1%, due to higher tax professional wages[38] - Marketing and advertising expenses surged by 4.5million,or81.9171.4 million, compared to a loss of 162.9millionintheprioryear,reflectinganincreaseof8.5 million, or 5.2%[36] - Basic and diluted loss per share for continuing operations was (1.23),comparedto(1.11) in the prior year, representing a decrease of 10.8%[36] - Adjusted diluted loss per share from continuing operations was (1.17)forthethreemonthsendedSeptember30,2024,comparedto(1.05) in the prior year[56] Cash Flow and Financing Activities - Cash used in operating activities totaled 328.6millionforthethreemonthsendedSeptember30,2024,comparedto335.0 million in the prior year[45] - Cash used in financing activities increased to 284.5million,upfrom195.2 million in the prior year, primarily due to higher repurchases of common stock[45] Tax and Dividends - The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was 26.2%, compared to 23.3% in the prior year[40] - Dividends paid totaled 44.7millionforthethreemonthsendedSeptember30,2024,comparedto43.0 million for the same period in 2023, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.95%[46] Share Repurchase and Capital Expenditures - The company repurchased 209.6millionofitscommonstockatanaveragepriceof63.51 per share during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to 132.0millionatanaveragepriceof40.43 per share in the prior year period, indicating a significant increase in repurchase activity[46] - Capital expenditures increased to 18.7millionforthethreemonthsendedSeptember30,2024,upfrom12.9 million in the same period of 2023, representing a 45% increase[47] Acquisitions and Commitments - The company acquired franchisee and competitor businesses totaling 5.9millionduringthethreemonthsendedSeptember30,2024,comparedto6.9 million in the prior year period[47] - The company has a remaining commitment to purchase additional federal Investment tax credits (ITCs) estimated to be 74.0million,withthefinalpaymentanticipatedbyJune30,2025[48]CashPosition−AsofSeptember30,2024,thecompanyheldcashandcashequivalentsof415.9 million, including $183.5 million held by foreign subsidiaries[48]