Shares of H&R Block Inc. fell 0.5% in premarket trading Monday, after the tax preparer provided an upbeat full-year profit outlook and said it achieved its largest market share gains in over a decade, but provided downbeat revenue guidance. The company said it expects adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2021, which ended in April, of $3.36 to $3.39, which is above the current FactSet consensus of $3.18. Revenue is expected to rise to $3.40 billion to $3.42 billion from $2.64 billion a year ago, but that would come up shy of the FactSet consensus of $3.48 billion. The company said it estimates that it gained about 0.3% of total market share this past tax season, and gains about 0.7% in the assisted category. “The industry shift back to Assisted, as well as our share gains within the category, validate that taxpayers need help and our multi-year efforts to improve client trajectory and return to growth are working,” said Chief Executive Jeff Jones. “Digital engagement from our assisted clients increased more than 50%, and the number of DIY clients accessing human help grew at a similar rate.” The stock has run up 62.2% year to date through Friday, while the S&P 500 has gained 10.6%.
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