裁员近半，股价暴涨27%！Block“拥抱AI”赢得华尔街喝彩

Core Viewpoint - Block announced a significant workforce reduction, cutting over 4,000 employees, which is approximately half of its total workforce, in a move aimed at restructuring for long-term growth [1][2]. Group 1: Workforce Reduction - The company will reduce its employee count from over 10,000 to less than 6,000, resulting in more than 4,000 employees leaving or entering negotiation processes [1]. - This decision aligns with Block's fourth-quarter earnings report, which showed an adjusted earnings per share of $0.65 and revenue of $6.25 billion, meeting analyst expectations [1]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Block anticipates restructuring costs of approximately $450 million to $500 million due to the layoffs, primarily related to severance, employee benefits, and non-cash expenses associated with equity vesting [1]. - The company expects most of these restructuring costs to be incurred in the first quarter [1]. Group 3: Future Outlook - For the upcoming year, Block projects an adjusted earnings per share of $3.66, exceeding analyst expectations of $3.22 [1]. - The CFO stated that the layoffs are intended to establish a solid foundation for the company's next phase of long-term growth [1][2]. Group 4: Industry Context - Other companies, such as Pinterest, CrowdStrike, and Chegg, have also announced layoffs, attributing these changes to the restructuring of workforce dynamics due to AI [2]. - The CEO expressed a belief that many companies will undergo similar structural adjustments in the coming year as they seek greater efficiency through streamlined teams and automation [2].