CHICAGO, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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): The Timberland Company (NYSE: TBL) and The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: AAON, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAON) and Mercer International Inc. (Nasdaq: MERC). To see the full Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=92

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Since inception in 1988, the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Rank List of Stocks to Sell Now by 80% annually (+2% vs. +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 TBL and SAM 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:

The Timberland Company (NYSE: TBL) reported a first-quarter profit of 35 cents per share earlier this month, which fell 41% short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This apart earnings missed last year's results by 12 cents. The full-year average forecast dropped 21 cents to $2.16 per share over the past month as 3 out of the 4 covering analysts slashed expectations. During that time, next year's estimate declined 10 cents to $2.43 per share.

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) posted first-quarter earnings of 28 cents per share on May 4, while analysts projected a profit of 45 cents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the full year slipped 28 cents to $2.54 per share in the last 30 days as all the 4 covering analyst reduced expectations. The following year's forecast decreased 2 cents to a profit of $4.12 per share in a span of a week.

Here is a synopsis of why AAON and MERC 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;

AAON, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAON) announced a first-quarter profit of 22 cents per share on May 10, which was 5 cents wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. For 2011, the average forecast fell 2 cents from $1.52 in the last 30 days.

Mercer International Inc. 's (Nasdaq: MERC) first-quarter earnings of 56 cents per share, posted on May 5, came in 2 cents lower than the average forecast. The Zacks Consensus Estimate 2012 is pegged at a profit of $2.48 per share, a 11 cents wider than last month's projection as 3 out of the 6 covering analysts reduced forecasts

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." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank Stocks have generated an average annual return of +28%. 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 significantly underperformed the S&P 500 (2.8% versus +9.7%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

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