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 AM and CECO 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:

American Greetings Corporation (AM) announced third-quarter profit of 50 cents per share on December 22 that missed analysts? expectations by 38.27%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $2 per share from $2.65 per share in the last 30 days as next year?s estimate dipped 80 cents per share to $2.10 per share in that time span.

Career Education Corp. (CECO) posted a third-quarter profit of 31 cents per share on November 9, which came in 3 cents wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to $2.15 per share from $2.18 per share over the past month. For 2012, analysts expect a profit of 97 cents per share, compared to last month?s projection for a profit of $1.04 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why GES and WDFC 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;

Guess?, Inc. (GES) third-quarter profit of 71 cents per share, posted on November 30, lagged analysts? projections by 2.74%. Estimate for current year slid 1 cent per share to $3.07 per share over a month as next year?s estimate dipped 9 cents per share to $3.39 per share in that time span.

WD-40 Company (WDFC) reported a first-quarter profit of 42 cents per share on January 9 that fell 22.22% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $2.31 per share, compared with last month?s projection of $2.35 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $2.53 per share from $2.56 per share in the same period.
 
AMER GREETINGS (AM): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
CAREER EDU CORP (CECO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GUESS INC (GES): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
WD 40 CO (WDFC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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