For the week, the worst sectors according to Portfolio Grader are the Gas Utilities, Metals and Mining, Independent Utilities, Shipping and Logistics, and Communications Equipment sectors.
The Gas Utilities sector is lagging this week with 81% of its stocks (13 out of 16) rated a “sell”. At the bottom of the Gas Utilities stocks, New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR) and South Jersey Industries (NYSE:SJI) currently have F’s. WGL Holdings (NYSE:WGL) also has a weak D. Overall, New Jersey Resources is the poorest performer in this sector. Its share price has dropped 16.8% in the last 12 months. This is worse than the S&P 500, which has seen a 14% increase over the same period.
With 70% of its stocks (61 out of 87) rated “sell,” the Metals and Mining sector is struggling this week. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF), Molycorp (NYSE:MCP), and Companhia Siderurgica Naciona (NYSE:SID) are dragging down the sector overall, each earning a low grade of F. Overall, Molycorp is the poorest performer in this sector. Its share price has dropped 76.6% in the last 12 months.
The Independent Utilities sector looks weak, with 70% of its stocks (7 out of 10) rated a “sell”. With an overall grade of F, TransAlta (NYSE:TAC), AES (NYSE:AES), and Dynegy Inc. (NYSE:DYN) are weighing down the sector. TransAlta is the worst performer in this sector, with a 26.7% decline in the last 12 months.
The Shipping and Logistics sector is trailing behind others this week, with 63% of its stocks (5 out of 8) rated a “sell”. With a grade of D, UTi Worldwide (NASDAQ:UTIW) andForward Air (NASDAQ:FWRD) are weighing down the sector. Expeditors International of Washington (NASDAQ:EXPD) also ranks a low F.
The Communications Equipment sector is dragging, with 63% of its stocks (20 out of 32) rated a “sell”. Acme Packet (NASDAQ:APKT), Adtran (NASDAQ:ADTN), and Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) are pushing the sector down with F grades. Alcatel-Lucent is the worst stock in its sector, with the company’s share price falling 46.8% in the last 12 months.
Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader 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.
