Zacks Sell List Highlights: Georgia Gulf, Checkpoint Systems, Fred's, and QLT.

CHICAGO -- 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): Georgia Gulf Corp. (NYSE: GGC) and Checkpoint Systems Inc. (NYSE: CKP). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Fred's Inc. (NASDAQ: FRED) and QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI). To see the full Zacks #5 Rank List - Stocks to Sell Now visit: http://at.zacks.com/?id=92

Since inception in 1988, the S&P 500 has outperformed the Zacks #5 Rank List Co Stocks to Sell Now by 129.7% annually (11.9% vs. 5.2% respectively). 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 GGC and CKP 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:

Georgia Gulf Corp. (NYSE: GGC) has seen this year's earnings estimates drop 34 cents per share over the past two months. The company reported a 23% drop in third-quarter profit -- prompting a spate of analyst downgrades. GGP said higher material costs and lower vinyl resins sales contributed to the disappointing results.

Checkpoint Systems Inc. (NYSE: CKP) has experienced a drop in analyst estimates. Earnings estimates for this year stand 84 cents per share, down nine cents from 60 days ago. The company said its third-quarter profit dropped 15%, weighed down by restructuring charges and lower revenue.

Here is a synopsis of why FRED and QLTI 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:

Fred's Inc. (NASDAQ: FRED) has been the target of increasing bearishness by analysts. Over the past month, this year's estimates have declined two cents. The new consensus estimate calls for 75 cents per share next year. The company said it will fall short of its prior profit forecast for the third quarter by two cents to three cents a share, due to a decline in October sales.

QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year. The current 2006 consensus estimate of 32 cents per share is four cents below the forecast of a month ago. The company reported a third-quarter loss on and reduced its outlook for the year, mainly due to lower sales of its anti-blindness treatment Visudyne in the United States.

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About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." A $10,000 investment in the Zacks Rank list made in 1988 would now be worth $1.8 million - equivalent to a 32.4% annualized return! 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 underperformed the S&P 500 by 145.8% annually (+4.7% vs. +11.6%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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