Zacks Sell List Highlights: Isle of Capri, Retail Ventures, Six Flags and Cost Plus.

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): Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (NASDAQ:ISLE) and Retail Ventures Inc. (NYSE:RVI). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Six Flags Inc. (NYSE:SIX) and Cost Plus Inc. (NASDAQ:CPWM). 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 -- 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 ISLE and RVI 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:

Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (NASDAQ:ISLE) has seen this year's earnings estimates drop 11 cents per share over the past two months. Next year's estimates have dropped 41 cents per share. The company's fiscal first-quarter profit fell short of Wall Street expectations. Earnings per share of 17 cents were 54% below the consensus estimates of 37 cents per share. Company officials blamed the shortfall on higher costs stemming from increased insurance premiums, stock compensation expenses, corporate office relocation expenses, and lease termination costs.

Retail Ventures Inc. (NYSE:RVI) has experienced a drop in analyst estimates. Earnings estimates for this year stand at 30 cents per share, down five cents from a week ago. The company's Value City chain recorded same-store sales shrinkage of 2.2 percent, as total sales fell 3.6 percent to $290.4 million. Fiscal first-quarter profits missed analyst expectations by 264%.

Here is a synopsis of why SIX and CPWM 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:

Six Flags Inc. (NYSE:SIX) has been the target of increasing bearishness by analysts. Over the past month, full year estimates have declined by 80 cents per share. The new consensus estimate calls for a loss of $1.95 per share this year. The company said attendance at its parks fell 14 percent during the quarter to 9.6 million during its latest quarter.

Cost Plus Inc. (NASDAQ:CPWM) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year. The current 2006 consensus estimate of eight cents per share is 42 cents below the forecast of two months ago. The company swung to a net loss in the second quarter on a hefty markdown charge and lower same-store sales. For the third quarter, the company projected a loss of 38 cents per share to 46 cents per share, on revenue between $213 million and $221 million.

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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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