KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) today announced it will include Tax Pro Review services at no additional cost in its paid DIY online tax products for new clients through February 15. This offer supports digital-first filers while leveraging the company's 70-year legacy of professional tax expertise. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other 2025 tax code changes introduce a greater level of complexity. H&R Block is well-positioned to provide expert guidance at each s ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Payments behemoth Fiserv’s Clover unit dominates the small restaurant point-of-sale card processing market with an estimated 20% share, including 175,000 locations, based on an analysis by the financial firm Baird. Fintech Toast follows with an estimated 17% stake, including 145,000 locations, according to the Jan. 7 report from the firm’s research ar ...

Core Viewpoint - Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. has increased the size of its private placement offering due to strong investor demand, aiming to raise C$32 million to fund its 2026 capital program and expedite activities across its portfolio [1][4]. Offering Details - The offering consists of 33,684,300 Units priced at C$0.95 each, with each Unit comprising one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant [1][3]. - The warrants will allow holders to purchase one common share at an exercise price of C$1.20 for up to 36 months from the closing of the offering [3]. - The offering is expected to close around January 19, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals [11]. Use of Proceeds - Net proceeds from the offering will be allocated to various activities, including: - Conducting production tests at the Kavango West 1X well, which will involve testing up to eight hydrocarbon-bearing intervals [4][5]. - Advancing the appraisal well location and permitting for the Kavango structure to facilitate a final investment decision [6]. - Accelerating geochemical sampling in Angola and commencing permitting for a potential 2D seismic program [7]. - Re-processing seismic data at the Loba discovery in Gabon to progress towards a resource report [9]. Corporate Update - The company is committed to minimal habitat disturbance and adheres to international environmental and social best practices in its operations across the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin [18].

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2026) - Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (FSE: 0XD) (NSX: REC) (the "Company" or "ReconAfrica" or "Recon") announces an overnight marketed, listed issuer financing exemption private placement offering (the "Offering") of units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.95 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$20,000,000. The Offering is led by Research Capital Corporation as the lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, on ...

KBW将Block的目标价从90美元下调至85美元。 ...

Core Insights - The fintech sector is undergoing significant transformation driven by innovations in digital payments, credit underwriting, and user experience, with Block, Inc. and Upstart Holdings emerging as key players due to their disruptive business models and strategic growth initiatives [2][3]. Block's Case - Block is developing a comprehensive fintech platform through its Square, Cash App, and Afterpay ecosystems, providing end-to-end solutions across various financial services [4]. - In Q3 2025, Block's net revenues increased by 2.3% year-over-year, with gross profit rising by 18.3%, driven by Cash App's growth of 24.3% and Square's increase of 9.2% [4][9]. - New product introductions, such as Cash App Pools and enhancements to Square's AI assistant, are aimed at deepening user engagement and expanding service offerings [5]. - Block is aggressively investing in partnerships to enhance its market position, including collaborations with Thrive and Blackbird Bakery to improve service delivery [6]. - Despite its growth, Block faces challenges from shifts in consumer spending and increasing competition from peers like PayPal and Shopify [7]. Upstart's Case - Upstart operates as an AI-driven lending marketplace, connecting consumers with over 100 banks and credit unions, and reported a 71% revenue increase year-over-year in Q3 2025, with loan originations climbing by 80% [8][9]. - The company has diversified its offerings beyond personal loans into auto lending, HELOCs, and small-dollar loans, which accounted for nearly 12% of total originations in Q3 2025 [10]. - Upstart's AI automation powered 91% of loans in Q3 2025, enhancing scalability and reducing approval times [12]. - The company continues to expand its lending partnerships, aiming to increase its market reach [11]. - However, Upstart's reliance on AI-driven models poses risks, particularly in economic downturns, though management has initiated upgrades to mitigate volatility [13]. Comparative Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Block's 2025 sales implies a modest growth of 0.8%, with EPS expected to decline by 28.2% [14]. - In contrast, Upstart's 2025 sales are projected to grow by 62.8%, with positive trends in EPS estimates over the past 60 days [16][17]. Valuation and Performance - Over the past month, Block and Upstart shares have increased by 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively, outperforming the S&P 500 [19]. - Block is trading at a forward Price/Sales (P/S) ratio of 1.48X, while Upstart's P/S ratio stands at 3.64X, both below their one-year medians [19]. Conclusion - Block has a strong payments ecosystem but faces short-term challenges from consumer spending and competition, while Upstart shows clearer operating leverage and growth potential through AI-driven innovations [21].

PHOENIX, Dec. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Block & Leviton LLP and Pomerantz LLP announce that the United States District Court for the District of Arizona has approved the following announcement of a certified class action that would benefit purchasers of Nikola Corporation Securities (OTCMKTS: NKLAQ): UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTDISTRICT OF ARIZONA Daniel Borteanu, Individually and on Behalf ofAll Others Similarly Situated,                                    Plaintiff,            v.Nikola Corporation, ...

Core Insights - Tocvan has initiated trenching material for the Pilot Mine feed at the Gran Pilar South Block, receiving local community approval and starting site preparation for a fully permitted 50,000-tonne facility [1] Group 1: Pilot Mine Advancement - The company has begun trenching material for the Pilot Mine feed at the Gran Pilar South Block [1] - Local community approval has been secured for the project [1] - Site preparation activities have commenced, including clearing for heap leach pad and containment ponds [1] Group 2: Infrastructure and Exploration Progress - Dozer cuts for channel sampling and ground leveling for processing equipment and access roads are currently underway [1] - These activities align with recent positive surface sampling results [1] - Ongoing maiden drilling in the North Block indicates encouraging gold and silver potential [1]

Core Insights - H&R Block (HRB) has a Growth Score of A, indicating strong growth quality and sustainability [1][8] - Earnings are projected to increase by 6% in 2025 and 7.9% in 2026, while revenues are expected to grow by 3.3% in 2025 and 2.4% in 2026 [1][8] Revenue Growth Drivers - Revenue growth is driven by higher volumes in U.S. assisted tax preparation, an increase in net average charge (NAC), and higher company-owned tax return volumes [2][8] - The company generated $204 million in total revenues in Q1 of fiscal 2026, reflecting a 5% year-over-year growth [2] Client Engagement Initiatives - The Second Look offering enhances customer relationships by reviewing clients' past three years' tax returns for missed refund opportunities [2] - The mobile banking platform, Spruc, supports year-round financial wellness, with approximately 476,000 sign-ups and $1.75 billion in customer deposits by the end of fiscal 2025 [3] - Integration of AI-powered technology into DIY tax preparation tools like MyBlock, AI TaxAssist, and TaxProReview improves customer experience without additional charges [4] Risk Factor - H&R Block reported a current ratio of 0.76, which is below the industry average of 0.82, indicating potential challenges in meeting short-term obligations [5]

Core Insights - Square has expanded its partnership with Thrive to enhance inventory management for sellers, allowing seamless integration between in-store and e-commerce platforms like Shopify [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership and Integration - The new Thrive integration enables retailers to create and edit products in Square, with automatic updates reflected on Shopify, helping to avoid overselling and automate re-ordering [1][4] - The integration is designed to simplify channel management for retailers using both Square and Shopify, allowing them to focus more on customer engagement rather than manual reconciliation [3][4] Group 2: Importance of Inventory Management - A reliable inventory management system is crucial for local businesses, especially during busy periods like the holiday season, as 50% of Square retail sellers operate across multiple channels [2][4] - The Thrive integration helps retailers maintain accurate stock levels and improve customer satisfaction by reducing manual oversight and errors [2][4] Group 3: Key Features of Thrive Integration - Unified catalog management allows for consistent product listings by syncing catalog items created in Square to Shopify [6] - Real-time inventory updates prevent overselling and stock discrepancies by adjusting stock quantities bi-directionally between Square and Shopify [6] - Square serves as the source of truth for catalog data, ensuring accurate reporting and analytics across all channels [6] Group 4: Target Audience - The integration is aimed at sellers operating both in-store via Square POS and online via Shopify, as well as businesses with multiple Square locations wanting to centralize operations [7] - Local retail sellers looking to save time on manual purchasing and stocking processes can benefit significantly from this integration [7] Group 5: Additional Information - Thrive also offers integrations for other platforms like Woo Commerce, BigCommerce, Meta, and Google Listings, expanding its utility for various storefront channels [8] - Thrive, founded in 2013, focuses on providing small business owners with tools for effective inventory and catalog management [9]