5 Worst Sectors to Avoid This Week

by Portfolio Grader | August 27, 2013 9:30 am

For the week, the worst sectors according to Portfolio Grader[1] are the Metals and Mining, Energy Services, Computer and Personal Electronics, Oil and Gas, and Technology Equipment sectors.

With 77% of its stocks (72 out of 94) rated “sell,” the Metals and Mining sector is struggling this week. Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF[2]), Walter Energy (NYSE:WLT[3]), and Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (NYSE:TC[4]) are pushing the sector down with F grades. Walter Energy is the worst performer in this sector, with a 78% decline in the last 12 months.

The Energy Services sector looks weak, with 63% of its stocks (35 out of 56) rated a “sell”. GulfMark Offshore, Inc. Class A (NYSE:GLF[5]), Key Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE:KEG[6]), and Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR[7]) are all currently earning F’s. Over the last 12 months, Key Energy Services, Inc. is the worst performer in this sector, with a 48.8% decline.

The Computer and Personal Electronics sector is trailing behind others this week, with 62% of its stocks (13 out of 21) rated a “sell”. Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE:DBD[8]), QLogic Corporation (NASDAQ:QLGC[9]), and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ[10]) are dragging down the sector overall, each earning a low grade of F. Overall, Hewlett-Packard Company is the poorest performer in this sector. Its share price has dropped 10.9% in the last 12 months.

The Oil and Gas sector is lagging this week with 59% of its stocks (122 out of 206) rated a “sell”. Out of the Oil and Gas stocks, Enerplus Corporation (NYSE:ERF[11]), Swift Energy Company (NYSE:SFY[12]), and Newfield Exploration Company (NYSE:NFX[13]) are near the bottom with F’s. The worst performer in this sector is Swift Energy Company, which saw its price sink 59.5% in the last 12 months.

The Technology Equipment sector is dragging, with 56% of its stocks (31 out of 55) rated a “sell”. Among Technology Equipment stocks, TTM Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTMI[14]), FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FARO[15]), and ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCSC[16]) are lingering near the bottom with grades of F.

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].

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/08/5-worst-sectors-to-avoid-this-week-dbd-qlgc-hpq-glf-keg-nbr-erf-sfy-nfx-clf-wlt-tc-ttmi-faro-scsc-9/

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