5 Worst Sectors to Avoid This Week

by Portfolio Grader | November 13, 2012 4:18 pm

For the week, the worst sectors according to Portfolio Grader[1] are the Metals and Mining, Energy Services, Semiconductor, Communications Equipment, and Technology Equipment sectors.

The Metals and Mining sector is trailing behind others this week, with 70% of its stocks (62 out of 88) rated a “sell”. Mechel (NYSE:MTL[2]), Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF[3]), and Walter Energy Inc. (NYSE:WLT[4]) are pushing the sector down with F grades. Overall, Cliffs Natural Resources is the poorest performer in this sector. Its share price has dropped 33.9% in the last 12 months.

With 66% of its stocks (33 out of 50) rated “sell,” the Energy Services sector is struggling this week. Baker Hughes (NYSE:BHI[5]), Precision Drilling (NYSE:PDS[6]), and Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR[7]) are all currently earning F’s. Precision Drilling is the worst stock in its sector, with the company’s share price falling 41.8% in the last 12 months.

The Semiconductor sector looks weak, with 65% of its stocks (49 out of 75) rated a “sell”. International Rectifier (NYSE:IRF[8]), Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS[9]), and Intersil (NASDAQ:ISIL[10]) are dragging down the sector overall, each earning a low grade of F. Over the last 12 months, International Rectifier is the worst performer in this sector, with a 32.4% decline.

The Communications Equipment sector is lagging this week with 65% of its stocks (22 out of 34) rated a “sell”. With an overall grade of F, Acme Packet (NASDAQ:APKT[11]), Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU[12]), and Finisar (NASDAQ:FNSR[13]) are weighing down the sector. Alcatel-Lucent is the worst performer in this sector, with a 45.5% decline in the last 12 months.

The Technology Equipment sector is dragging, with 64% of its stocks (29 out of 45) rated a “sell”. Among Technology Equipment stocks, AVX (NYSE:AVX[14]), Aeroflex (NYSE:ARX[15]), and Coherent Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR[16]) are lingering near the bottom with grades of F. Aeroflex is performing worst overall in the sector, with a 23.6% decline over the last 12 months.

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader[1] stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here[17].

Endnotes:

  1. Portfolio Grader: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/
  2. MTL: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=MTL
  3. CLF: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=CLF
  4. WLT: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=WLT
  5. BHI: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=BHI
  6. PDS: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=PDS
  7. NBR: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=NBR
  8. IRF: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=IRF
  9. RMBS: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=RMBS
  10. ISIL: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=ISIL
  11. APKT: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=APKT
  12. ALU: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=ALU
  13. FNSR: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=FNSR
  14. AVX: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=AVX
  15. ARX: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=ARX
  16. COHR: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?t=COHR
  17. here: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/11/5-worst-sectors-to-avoid-this-week-bhi-pds-nbr-apkt-alu-fnsr-avx-arx-cohr-mtl-clf-wlt-irf-rmbs-isil/