Zacks Sell List Highlights: Avery Dennison Corp., Astoria Financial Corp., Tupperware Brands Corp. and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

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): Avery Dennison Corp. (NYSE: AVY) and Astoria Financial Corp. (NYSE: AF). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE: TUP) and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD). To see the full Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=92

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 AVY and AF 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:

Avery Dennison Corp. (NYSE: AVY) missed Wall Street expectations on its fourth-quarter profit and forecast a weak 2009. Its quarterly income was $43 million, or 40 cents a share, while analysts were looking for 43 cents. Assuming sales volumes will remain low through the current year, Avery sees earnings of $2 per share. The consensus estimate for the full year is more bearish at $1.69.

Astoria Financial Corp. (NYSE: AF) saw its fourth-quarter profit fall by a third due to an increase in bad loans. Before items, its operating earnings fell to $22.1 million, or 24 cents a share, while the consensus estimate was looking for earnings of 45 cents. The average consensus forecast on the bank’s 2009 profit has dropped to $1.04 per share. Two months ago, the projection was $1.76 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why TUP and APD 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;

Tupperware Brands Corp. (NYSE: TUP) saw declining sales in most segments in the latest fourth quarter and guided to a 2009 profit that fell short of market expectations. The company sees full-year earnings of $1.98 to $2.08 and sales falling by 9% to 11%. The consensus estimate has been adjusted to $1.94 a share from $2.50 a couple months ago.

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD) reported a 74% drop in quarterly profit due to falling demand and guided to a weak year ahead. In the first fiscal quarter, APD earned $68.6 million, or 32 cents a share. Excluding items, its profit of 97 cents fell a penny shy of the average forecast. The consensus estimate on APD’s 2009 earnings has been cut by 3 cents per share to $4.10.

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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 +28%. 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 underperformed the S&P 500 by 80% annually (+2% versus +10%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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