Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, July 28, 2010
Tue, July 27, 2010 
CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Zacks.com releases details on a group of stocks that are currently members of the exclusive Zacks #5 Rank List a" Stocks to Sell Now. These stocks are currently rated as a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell): Seagate Technology (NYSE: [ STX ])and Hancock Holding Co (Nasdaq: [ HBHC ]). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Myers Industries, Inc. (NYSE: [ MYE ]) and International Speedway Corp. (Nasdaq: [ ISCA ]). To see the full Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now visit: [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=92 ]
"Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions"
Since inception in 1988, the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Rank List of Stocks to Sell Now by 80% annually (+2% vs. +10%). While the rest of Wall Street continued to tout stocks during the market declines of the last few years, Zacks told investors which stocks to sell or avoid.
Here is a synopsis of why STX and HBHC have a Zacks Rank of #5 (Strong Sell) and should most likely be sold or avoided for the next one to three months. Note that a #5 Strong Sell rating is applied to 5% of all the stocks in the Zacks Rank universe:
Seagate Technology (NYSE: [ STX ]) announced a fourth-quarter profit of 70 cents per share on July 20, which was 8 cents short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. For 2011, the average forecast slipped 85 cents to $2.41 per share in the last 7 days as 20 out of 23 analysts reduced estimates. In that time span, next yeara™s forecast dipped 76 cents to $2.52 per share.
Hancock Holding Co (Nasdaq: [ HBHC ]) posted second-quarter earnings of 22 cents per share on July 20 while analysts projected a profit of 45 cents. Earnings slid 48% on a year-over-year basis. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2010 fell 34 cents to $1.48 per share over the past week as 7 analysts out of 10 cut back on expectations. The following yeara™s forecast decreased 46 cents to $2.08 per share during that time.
Here is a synopsis of why MYE and ISCA have a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and should also most likely be sold or avoided for the next one to three months. Note that a #4 Sell rating is applied to 15% of all the stocks ranked by Zacks;
Myers Industries, Inc. (NYSE: [ MYE ]) reported second-quarter earnings of 1 cent per share on July 22, which slumped 88% year over year. This apart, earnings came in 90% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast dropped 17 cents to a profit of 41 cents per share in the last 7 days as all of the 3 covering analysts revised downward.
International Speedway Corpa™s (Nasdaq: [ ISCA ]) second-quarter earnings per share of 22 cents, posted on July 8, came in 7 cents worse than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year declined 12 cents to $1.51 per share over the past month as all of the 5 covering analysts slashed projections. Next yeara™s estimate moved down 8 cents to $1.69 per share in the same period.
Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report; aZacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisionsa is available to provide this insightful background. Download a free copy now to prosper in the years to come at [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=93 ]
About the Zacks Rank
Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank Stocks have generated an average annual return of +27%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have significantly underperformed the S&P 500 (-0.9% versus +9%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.
Visit [ http://www.zacks.com/performance ] for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Zacks aProfit from the Prosa e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks Rank Buy stocks and highlights those stocks poised to outperform the market. Subscribe to this free newsletter today by visiting [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=94 ]
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=95 ]
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