NEW YORK (AP) -- THE QUARTER: Tax preparation company H&R Block Inc. reported a third-quarter loss from continuing operations of 37 cents per share. Revenue climbed to $137.3 million mostly because of a strong tax season in Australia. Analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast a loss of 41 cents per share on revenue of $129.6 million.
THE BACKGROUND: H&R Block usually reports a loss in the August-to-October period because it takes in most of its revenue during the U.S. tax season.
HIGH HOPES: The company is gearing up for the busy U.S. tax season, with CEO Bill Cobb saying in a statement that it's "on pace to deliver significant earnings and margin expansion in fiscal 2013."
