Block, Inc. (SQ): history, ownership, mission, how it works & makes money

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Block, Inc. (SQ) Information


A Brief History of Block, Inc.

Block, Inc. (formerly known as Square, Inc.) is a financial services and mobile payment company founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey. Initially, the company gained recognition for its innovative point-of-sale (POS) system that allowed small businesses to accept card payments through mobile devices. Over the years, Block has expanded its services significantly, incorporating a range of financial products including Cash App, a popular peer-to-peer payment service, and Square's suite of business tools.

Evolution of Services

In 2013, Block launched Cash App, which quickly became a staple for personal finance management, allowing users to send, receive, and invest money. By 2024, Cash App had evolved to include features such as direct deposit, Bitcoin trading, and stock purchases, significantly expanding its user base and functionality.

Financial Performance and Growth

As of September 30, 2024, Block reported a net income of $941.8 million, a significant recovery from a net loss of $103.1 million in the same period the previous year. The company's revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was approximately $5.6 billion, reflecting an increase in both transaction-based and subscription services revenue.

Key Financial Metrics

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change (%)
Net Income $941.8 million $(103.1 million) +1015.5%
Revenue $5.6 billion $5.0 billion +12%
Gross Payment Volume (GPV) $62.5 billion $60.1 billion +4%
Adjusted EBITDA $807.5 million $477.5 million +68.9%

Market Position and Strategic Acquisitions

Block has strategically acquired several companies to enhance its service offerings, including Afterpay in 2021, a buy-now-pay-later service that has integrated into Block's ecosystem. This acquisition has positioned Block favorably in the rapidly growing financial technology sector.

Liquidity and Capital Management

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. reported total liquidity of approximately $10.7 billion, which includes $9.9 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The company maintains a robust capital structure, emphasizing shareholder returns through a significant share repurchase program, which was recently increased to a total authorization of $4 billion.

Stock Performance

Block's stock has shown resilience, with a market capitalization of approximately $19.7 billion as of late September 2024. The company continues to focus on long-term growth strategies while navigating market volatility.



A Who Owns Block, Inc. (SQ)

Ownership Structure

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. has a total of 617,617 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and 60,072 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. The total stockholders' equity attributable to common stockholders is approximately $19.9 billion.

Major Shareholders

The following table summarizes the major shareholders of Block, Inc. as of 2024:

Shareholder Class of Shares Shares Owned Percentage Ownership
Jack Dorsey Class B 60,072 9.7%
Institutional Investors Class A Approx. 40% of total shares Approx. 40% of total shares
Vanguard Group Class A Approx. 8.5 million Approx. 12.5%
BlackRock Class A Approx. 7.5 million Approx. 11.5%
Other Institutional Investors Class A Approx. 15 million Approx. 23%

Recent Stock Performance

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. has repurchased a total of approximately $1.1 billion in Class A common stock under its share repurchase program, with an additional $2.9 billion remaining authorized for future repurchases.

Financial Overview

Block, Inc. reported total net revenue of approximately $5.98 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and $18.09 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 6% and 12%, respectively.

Bitcoin Holdings

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. holds approximately 8,363 bitcoins, valued at approximately $529.6 million.

Conclusion on Ownership and Financial Health

Block, Inc. has a diverse ownership structure with significant holdings by institutional investors. The company continues to perform well financially, with strong revenue growth and substantial investments in bitcoin.



Block, Inc. (SQ) Mission Statement

Block, Inc. (SQ) aims to empower individuals and businesses through innovative financial technology solutions. The company's mission is to make financial services accessible and inclusive, fostering economic empowerment. Block, Inc. focuses on providing seamless payment solutions, financial services, and tools that enable users to manage their finances effectively.

Financial Performance Overview (2024)

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. reported a total net revenue of $5.98 billion, marking a 6% increase from the same period in 2023. The following table outlines the revenue breakdown:

Revenue Source Q3 2024 (in thousands) Q3 2023 (in thousands) Change (in thousands) % Change
Transaction-based revenue $1,712,421 $1,658,668 $53,753 3%
Subscription and services-based revenue $1,797,933 $1,492,900 $305,033 20%
Hardware revenue $36,839 $42,341 ($5,502) NM
Bitcoin revenue $2,428,608 $2,423,584 $5,024 NM
Total net revenue $5,975,801 $5,617,493 $358,308 6%

Key Financial Metrics

Block, Inc. has demonstrated strong financial performance in 2024. Below is a summary of key financial metrics for the third quarter:

Metric Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
Gross Payment Volume (GPV) $62,492 million $60,076 million $2,416 million
Gross Profit $2,249,685 $1,898,449 $351,236
Operating Income $323,000 ($9,900) $332,900
Net Income $283,754 ($88,738) $372,492

Investment and Shareholder Returns

Block, Inc. has prioritized returning capital to shareholders. As of September 30, 2024, the company had repurchased $1.1 billion of its Class A common stock under an authorized $4 billion share repurchase program. The details of the repurchase program are as follows:

Authorization Date Amount Authorized (in billions) Amount Repurchased (in billions)
October 2023 $1.0 $1.1
July 25, 2024 $3.0 N/A

Liquidity Position

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. reported a total liquidity of approximately $10.7 billion, including cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable securities. The breakdown of liquidity sources is shown below:

Liquidity Source Amount (in thousands)
Cash and Cash Equivalents $8,299,804
Short-term Restricted Cash $630,933
Long-term Restricted Cash $69,915
Investments in Short-term Debt Securities $504,986
Investments in Long-term Debt Securities $432,176
Revolving Credit Facility $775,000
Total Liquidity $10,712,814

Conclusion

Block, Inc.'s mission statement emphasizes empowering businesses and individuals through technology-driven financial solutions. The company's strong financial performance and commitment to shareholder returns position it well for future growth.



How Block, Inc. (SQ) Works

Overview of Business Model

Block, Inc. operates primarily through two segments: Cash App and Square. Cash App offers financial services including peer-to-peer payments, bitcoin trading, and stock investments, while Square provides payment processing solutions, point-of-sale systems, and various financial services for merchants.

Revenue Breakdown

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. reported the following revenue figures (in thousands):

Revenue Source Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Transaction-based revenue $1,712,421 $1,658,668 $53,753 3%
Subscription and services-based revenue $1,797,933 $1,492,900 $305,033 20%
Hardware revenue $36,839 $42,341 ($5,502) NM
Bitcoin revenue $2,428,608 $2,423,584 $5,024 NM
Total net revenue $5,975,801 $5,617,493 $358,308 6%

Gross Payment Volume (GPV)

Block, Inc. reported Gross Payment Volume (GPV) for the three months ended September 30, 2024, of $62,492 million, an increase from $60,076 million in the same period of 2023, representing a growth of 4% year-over-year.

Cost Structure

Block, Inc.'s cost of revenue for Q3 2024 was as follows (in thousands):

Cost Category Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Transaction-based costs $1,011,476 $984,658 $26,818 3%
Subscription and services-based costs $271,286 $259,262 $12,024 5%
Hardware costs $62,091 $78,338 ($16,247) NM

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were detailed as follows (in thousands):

Expense Category Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change ($) Change (%)
Product development $710,983 $713,788 ($2,805) NM
Sales and marketing $511,755 $479,381 $32,374 7%
General and administrative $475,855 $480,885 ($5,030) NM

Net Income and Comprehensive Income

Block, Inc. reported a net income of $281,136 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $93,544 thousand in Q3 2023. Total comprehensive income for Q3 2024 was $623,593 thousand.

Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. reported cash flows as follows (in thousands):

Cash Flow Activity Q3 2024
Net cash provided by operating activities $1,693,550
Net cash provided by investing activities $973,108
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $1,245,092

Liquidity Position

As of September 30, 2024, Block, Inc. had $10.7 billion in available liquidity, which included:

  • $9.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
  • $775 million available under a revolving credit facility

Share Repurchase Program

Block, Inc. has authorized a share repurchase program totaling $4 billion. As of September 30, 2024, $1.1 billion of Class A common stock had been repurchased.



How Block, Inc. (SQ) Makes Money

Revenue Streams

Block, Inc. generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily categorized into transaction-based revenue, subscription and services-based revenue, hardware revenue, and bitcoin revenue. The following table summarizes the net revenue disaggregated by these sources for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023 (in thousands):

Revenue Source Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Transaction-based revenue $1,712,421 $1,658,668 $4,936,597 $4,719,027
Subscription and services-based revenue $1,797,933 $1,492,900 $5,268,120 $4,320,621
Hardware revenue $36,839 $42,341 $112,300 $124,714
Bitcoin revenue $2,428,608 $2,423,584 $7,771,475 $6,978,219
Total net revenue $5,975,801 $5,617,493 $18,088,492 $16,142,581

Transaction-Based Revenue

Transaction-based revenue is derived from the processing of payments through Block's Square platform. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, this segment reported $1,712.4 million, reflecting a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The nine-month figure was $4,936.6 million, up 5%.

This growth is attributed to an increase in Gross Payment Volume (GPV), which was $62.5 billion in Q3 2024, compared to $60.1 billion in Q3 2023.

Subscription and Services-Based Revenue

Subscription and services-based revenue encompasses various services, including Cash App's financial products and Square's banking solutions. In Q3 2024, revenue from this segment reached $1,797.9 million, representing a strong 20% increase year-over-year. For the nine months, this revenue was $5,268.1 million, a 22% increase from 2023.

Key offerings within this category include the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform, which alone generated $317.6 million for Q3 2024, compared to $257.9 million in Q3 2023.

Hardware Revenue

Hardware revenue consists mainly of sales from point-of-sale devices and other related hardware. For Q3 2024, this segment generated $36.8 million, a decrease from $42.3 million in Q3 2023. The nine-month figure was $112.3 million, down from $124.7 million.

Bitcoin Revenue

Bitcoin revenue is generated from the sale of bitcoin to customers through Cash App. For Q3 2024, bitcoin revenue was $2,428.6 million, slightly up from $2,423.6 million in Q3 2023. Over the nine-month period, bitcoin revenue increased to $7,771.5 million from $6,978.2 million, reflecting a growth of 11%.

Bitcoin revenue accounted for approximately 41% of total revenue in Q3 2024.

Cost Structure

The costs associated with generating revenue include transaction-based costs, subscription and services-based costs, hardware costs, and bitcoin costs:

Cost Type Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Transaction-based costs $1,011,476 $984,658 $2,884,696 $2,755,968
Subscription and services-based costs $271,286 $259,262 $832,755 $802,577
Hardware costs $62,091 $78,338 $181,185 $211,208
Bitcoin costs $2,364,077 $2,378,906 $7,559,416 $6,838,914
Total cost of revenue $3,726,116 $3,719,044 $11,510,854 $10,663,447

Profitability Metrics

Block, Inc. reported a gross profit of $2,249.7 million for Q3 2024, representing a 19% increase year-over-year. The nine-month gross profit was $6,577.6 million, up from $5,479.1 million in the same period of 2023.

Net income for Q3 2024 was $281.1 million, compared to a net loss of $93.5 million in Q3 2023. For the nine months, net income totaled $941.8 million, up from a net loss of $103.1 million in the prior year.

Cash Flow Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net cash provided by operating activities was $1,693.6 million, compared to $898.9 million in the same period of 2023. The increase reflects improved operational efficiency and profitability.

Investing activities yielded $973.1 million, primarily from consumer receivables. Financing activities saw a net inflow of $1,245.1 million.

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Resources:

  1. Block, Inc. (SQ) Financial Statements – Access the full quarterly financial statements for Q3 2024 to get an in-depth view of Block, Inc. (SQ)' financial performance, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. SEC Filings – View Block, Inc. (SQ)' latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory reports, annual and quarterly filings, and other essential disclosures.