Zacks Sell List Highlights: Alon USA Energy, Inc., Curtiss-Wright Corp., Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

2009-11-24 23:08:03 -

Zacks.com releases details on a group of stocks that are currently members of the exclusive Zacks #5 Rank List – Stocks to Sell Now. These stocks are currently rated as a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell): Alon USA Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ALJ : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) and Curtiss-Wright Corp. (NYSE: CW : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ).
Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings

(Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ).

To see the full Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now visit: at.zacks.com/?id=92 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..

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 ALJ and CW 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.



Alon USA Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ALJ : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) swung to a third-quarter loss of 56 cents per share on Nov 4, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents. In the year-ago quarter the company earned a profit of 52 cents per share. Sales fell 34% to $1.25 billion. The full-year average forecast now stands at a loss of $1.04 per share, wider than last month’s projection of a loss of 41 cents. Four out of 6 analysts cut back on estimates during that time.


Curtiss-Wright Corp. (NYSE: CW : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) lowered its full-year earnings guidance to a range of $2.05 to $2.15 per share from a prior view of $2.35 to $2.45. Analysts now expect the company to post earnings of $2.07 per share. Last month, Curtiss-Wright reported third-quarter earnings of 51 cents per share, which came in 19% below analysts’ expectations. This apart, earnings fell 15% on a year-over-year basis.

Here is a synopsis of why RAH and EBS 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;


Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.14 per share on Nov 10 while the Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at $1.24. The company’s earnings fell 39%, in contrast to last year’s figures. The average forecast for the full year declined 17 cents to $4.76 per share in the last 30 days as 6 out of 10 analysts lowered estimates.


Emergent BioSolutions Inc.’s (NYSE: EBS : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) third-quarter profit of 3 cents per share, reported earlier this month, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 50%. EPS results marked a 91% decrease year over year. Revenues dipped to $43.3 million, compared with $56.6 million in the prior-year quarter. The 2009 average forecast fell 2 cents to 98 cents per share in the last month as 1 out of 2 covering analysts pulled back on expectations.

Truly taking advantage of the Zacks Rank requires the understanding of how it works. The free special report; “Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions” is available to provide this insightful background. Download a free copy now to prosper in the years to come at at.zacks.com/?id=93 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fat. ..



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 www.zacks.com/performance : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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Zacks.comMichael Vodicka312-265-9226Email: pr@zacks.com : mailto:pr@zacks.com Visit:
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