NFG National Fuel Gas Co

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 NFG and UGI 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:

National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) announced first-quarter profit of 73 cents per share on February 3 that missed analysts? expectations by 14.12%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $2.49 per share from $2.77 per share in the last 30 days as next year?s estimate dipped 23 cents per share to $2.87 per share in that time span.

UGI Corp (UGI) posted a first-quarter profit of 77 cents per share on January 25, which came in 28 cents wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to $2.17 per share from $2.45 per share over the past month. For 2013, analysts expect a profit of $2.55 per share, compared to last month?s projection for a profit of $2.58 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why GEF and ATR 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;

Greif, Inc.?s (GEF) fourth-quarter profit of 64 cents per share, posted on December 7, lagged analysts? projections by 8.57%. Estimate for current year slid 1 cent per share to $3.61 per share over a month as next year?s estimate dipped 1 cent per share to $4.24 per share in that time span.

AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) reported a fourth-quarter profit of 57 cents per share on February 9 that fell 5% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $2.91 per share, compared with last month?s projection of $2.99 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $3.25 per share from $3.35 per share in the same period.
 
APTARGROUP INC (ATR): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GREIF INC (GEF): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
NATL FUEL GAS (NFG): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
UGI CORP (UGI): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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