Zacks Sell List Highlights Fossil, New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Cumulus Media, and Energy East.

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): Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOSL) and New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:NXL). Further, Zacks announced #4 Rankings (Sell) on two other widely held stocks: Cumulus Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMLS) and Energy East Corporation (NYSE:EAS). 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 143.5% annually (12% vs. 4.9% 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 FOSL and NXL 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 Zacks ranked stocks:

Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOSL) generated second-quarter profits of 13 cents per share, a penny below expectations. Domestic sales of watches declined 1%. The company also reported declines in gross and operating margins, citing shifts in product mix and higher payroll, rent, and depreciation and amortization expenses. FOSL cut its guidance for the second half of the 2005 by 17 cents to a combined 85 cents for the third and fourth quarter. Sales growth is likely to be slower and gross margins are likely to be lower than previously forecast because of a great proportion of revenues from mass market watch and domestic accessory sales. In response, estimates from all covering analysts have been reduced for third-quarter, fourth-quarter, and full-year earnings.

New Plan Excel Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:NXL) recently reported second-quarter funds from operations (FFO) of 53 cents per share. The results matched expectations. The consensus estimate for full year earnings was revised lower, however, because a previously announced plan by NXL to restructure some of its portfolio. As a result, the trust anticipates 2005 FFO to be in the range of $1.69-$1.73 per share. Over the past 30 days, the consensus estimate for full year FFO has fallen from $2.12 per share to $1.79 per share.

Here is a synopsis of why CMLS and EAS 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:

Cumulus Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMLS) missed second-quarter expectations by 24% with pro forma earnings of 13 cents per share. Net revenues rose 1.1%, but national advertising revenue plunged 17.7%. The company anticipates revenue growth of 2% in third quarter, which will be partially offset by similar growth in operating expenses. As a result, eight analysts cut their estimates. The current third-quarter consensus estimate of 13 cents is four cents below the level of 30 days ago.

Energy East Corporation (NYSE:EAS) generated adjusted second-quarter earnings of 21 cents per share, matching expectations. The company said that expectations for the remainder of the year remain "materially unchanged", but analysts were less optimistic. Three of the four analysts providing estimates cut their expectations for the remainder of the year. The new 2005 consensus estimate for earnings of $1.81 per share is three cents lower than the forecast of a month ago.

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About the Zacks Rank

For over 17 years, 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 +33%. 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 143.5% annually (+4.9% vs. +12%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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