XL GROUP PLC (XL) - Profit Tracks

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 AB and XL 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:

AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB) announced fourth-quarter profit of 7 cents per share on February 10 that missed analysts? expectations by 66.67%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $1.03 per share from $1.12 per share in the last 30 days as next year?s estimate dipped 8 cents per share to $1.18 per share in that time span.

XL Group plc (XL) posted a fourth-quarter loss of 25 cents per share on February 7, which came in 41 cents wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to $1.88 per share from $2.22 per share over the past month. For 2013, analysts expect a profit of $2.18 per share, compared to last month?s projection for a profit of $2.45 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why BGC and MWV 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;

General Cable Corporation?s (BGC) fourth-quarter profit of 30 cents per share, posted on February 8, lagged analysts? projections by 18.92%. Estimate for current year slid 33 cents per share to $2.70 per share over a month as next year?s estimate dipped 42 cents per share to $3.51 per share in that time span.

MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV) reported a fourth-quarter profit of 26 cents per share on January 25 that fell 10.34% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $1.78 per share, compared with last month?s projection of $1.98 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $2.15 per share from $2.23 per share in the same period.
 
ALLIANCEBERNSTN (AB): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GENL CABLE CORP (BGC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
MEADWESTVACO CP (MWV): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
XL GROUP PLC (XL): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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