HGIC Harleysville Grp. Inc. (MM)

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 IPCC and HGIC 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:

Infinity Property and Casualty Corp (IPCC)announced second-quarter profit of 44 cents per share on August 4 that missed analysts? expectations by 48.84%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year slid to $2.35 per share from $3.61 per share in the last 60 days as next year?s estimate dipped 72 cents per share to $3.14 per share in that time span.

Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC) posted a second-quarter loss of 43 cents per share on August 8, which came in 1 cent wider than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year fell to of $1.21 per share from $1.29 per share over the past two months. For 2012, analysts expect a profit of $2.74 per share, compared to last two month?s projection for a profit of $2.95 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why CMP and MGA 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;

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) second-quarter profit of 42 cents per share, posted on July 28, lagged analysts? projections by 12.50%. Estimate for current year slid 45 cents per share to $4.95 per share over two months as next year?s estimate dipped 53 cents per share to $5.89 per share in that time span.

Magna International Inc. (MGA) reported a second-quarter profit of $1.11 per share on August 5 that fell 18.38% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The full-year average forecast is currently $4.64 per share,compared with last month?s projection of $4.80 per share. Next year?s forecast dropped to $5.02 per share from $5.18 per share in the same period.
 
COMPASS MINERLS (CMP): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
HARLEYSVILLE GP (HGIC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
INFINITY PPTY (IPCC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
MAGNA INTL CL A (MGA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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