Zacks Sell List Highlights: True Religion, Haverty Furniture, NTL and Triad Hospitals

Business Wire, Nov 14, 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): True Religion Apparel Inc. (NASDAQ: TRLG) and Haverty Furniture Companies Inc. (NYSE: HVT). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: NTL Inc. (NASDAQ: NTLI) and Triad Hospitals Inc. (NYSE: TRI). 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 Co Stocks to Sell Now by 143.6% annually (11.8% vs. 4.8% 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 TRLG and HVT 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:

True Religion Apparel Inc. (NASDAQ: TRLG) has seen next year's earnings estimates drop 14 cents per share over the past week. The current consensus estimate is $1.12 per share. The company last week reported both third-quarter results and 2006 guidance that missed Wall Street expectations.

Haverty Furniture Companies Inc. (NYSE: HVT) has experienced a drop in analyst estimates. Earnings estimates for this year stand 74 cents per share, down 18 cents from 30 days ago. The company said October same-store sales dropped 10.1%. Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least one year, is a widely used industry gauge of performance. Total sales in October fell 7.6% to $63.5 million.

Here is a synopsis of why NTLI and TRI 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:

NTL Inc. (NASDAQ: NTLI) has been the target of increasing bearishness by analysts. Over the past three months, this year's estimates have declined 53 cents per share. The new consensus estimate calls for a loss of $2.41 per share this year. The company posted a wider third-quarter loss as costs and restructuring expenses pulled down earnings.

Triad Hospitals Inc. (NYSE: TRI) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year. The current 2006 consensus estimate of $2.51 per share is 38 cents below the forecast of a month ago. The company said its third-quarter profit slipped 14% due to increased debt on unpaid accounts and a stock-based compensation charge.

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 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." A $10,000 investment in the Zacks Rank list made in 1988 would now be worth $1.77 million - equivalent to a 31.8% annualized return! 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 143.6% annually ( 4.8% vs. 11.8%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter offers continuous coverage of Zacks #1 Rank 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.

Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.

(a) The S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500") is a well-known, unmanaged index of the prices of 500 large-company common stocks selected by Standard & Poor's. The S&P 500 includes the reinvestment of all dividends, no transaction costs, and represents the gross returns before management fees.