CEPH Cephalon (MM)

Since inception in 1988, the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now by 80% annually (+2% versus +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 SHLD and CTB 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:

Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD)announced second-quarter profit of 38 cents per share on August 18 that missed analysts? expectations by 5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $1.54 per share from $1.55 per share in the last 60 days as next year?s estimate dipped 6 cents per share to $1.73 per share in that time span.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (CTB) posted a second-quarter profit of 18 cents per share on August 4, which came in 28 cents wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to $1.17 per share from $1.59 per share over the past two months. For 2012, analysts expect a profit of $1.73 per share, compared to last two month?s projection for a profit of $2.03 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why SMG and CEPH 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;

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG) third-quarter profit of $1.91 per share, posted on August 8, lagged analysts? projections by 12.79%. Estimate for current year slid 20 cents per share to $2.78 per share over a month as next year?s estimate dipped 12 cents per share to $3.24 per share in that time span.

Cephalon, Inc. (CEPH) reported a second-quarter profit of $1.62 per share on August 2 that fell 22.12% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $8.06 per share, compared with last month?s projection of $8.11 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $5.23 per share from $5.27 per share in the same period.
 
CEPHALON INC (CEPH): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
COOPER TIRE (CTB): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SEARS HLDG CP (SHLD): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
SCOTTS MIRCL-GR (SMG): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Zacks Investment Research