Zacks Tags Block 'Bear of the Day'

Zacks Equity Research, Chicago, has made H&R Block its "Bear of the Day" -- a stock expected to underperform the markets over the next three to six months -- for June 13.Block is the parent of Option One Mortgage Corp., and recently reported earnings of $490.4 million ($1.49 per share) for its fiscal year, down from $623.9 million ($1.88 per share) for the prior year. Earnings for the quarter and the year were hurt by an after-tax charge of $6.4 million ($0.02 per share) for a restructuring of the mortgage operations. In a brief statement, Zacks said, "as expected, earnings in fiscal year 2006 were at the low end of previous guidance. Competition remains intense in the tax business, while fundamentals in the mortgage business continue to deteriorate." Zacks can be found online at http://www.zacks.com.