Zacks Sell List Highlights Applebee's International, Big Lots, Inc., Compuware Corp. and Liz Claiborne

Business Wire, March 7, 2006

CHICAGO -- 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): Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) and Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BLI). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Compuware Corp. (Nasdaq:CPWR) and Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE:LIZ). 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 155.5% annually (11.8% vs. 4.6% respectively). 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 APPB and BLI 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 Zacks ranked stocks:

Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) recently reported February sales. System-wide domestic comparable sales increased 0.1% and comparable sales for domestic franchise restaurants increased 0.7%. However, comparable sales for company restaurants decreased 1.5%. In early February, APPB announced fourth-quarter earnings of 27 cents per share, matching the consensus estimate but underperforming the year-prior result. Following the release of the earnings report, 11 of the 16 covering analysts lowered their 2006 forecasts to $1.29 per share. One month ago, the consensus estimate was $1.41 per share.

Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BLI) recently released its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter. Earnings per share were below the previous year's total and missed analysts' expectations by 25%. The company anticipates fiscal 2006 earnings of 38-43 cents per share. Three of the five covering analysts cut their projections within the past month, causing the consensus estimate to drop seven cents to 36 cents per share.

Here is a synopsis of why CPWR and LIZ 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:

Compuware Corp. (Nasdaq:CPWR) delivered fiscal third-quarter earnings of 10 cents per share in late January. The result matched the consensus estimate but was less than last year's 11 cents. Analysts have been issuing downward revisions of earnings estimates for the year ending March 2006. Current projections of 34 cents per share are below two-months ago levels by three cents, or approximately 8%. Fourth quarter results will be available in mid-May.

Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE:LIZ) topped fourth-quarter expectations, but issued disappointing guidance. The company earned 74 cents, three cents above analysts' projections. Looking forward, the company guided for 2006 earnings of $2.58-$2.73 per share; analysts had been forecasting profits of $3.01 per share. Following the release of the new guidance, two of the three covering analysts cut their projections. The new consensus estimate is $2.76 per share.

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About the Zacks Rank

For over 17 years, 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 33%. 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 155.5% annually ( 4.6% vs. 11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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