Four Toxic Stocks To Discard Or Sell Short For Solid Gains

Accurate identification of correctly-priced stocks is the key to successful investing. However, in practice, overpriced toxic stocks and the rightly-priced stocks are intermixed in such a manner that it is tough to distinguish between the two.

Generally, overhyped toxic stocks are susceptible to external shocks. Moreover, these stocks are burdened with a large amount of debt. The price of these stocks is artificially inflated. Nonetheless, the higher price of toxic stocks is only temporary in nature as it is higher than its true intrinsic value.

Investors are likely to benefit from correct identification of toxic stocks with the help of an investing strategy called short selling. This strategy allows investors to sell a stock first and then buy it when price falls.

While short selling excels in bear markets, it typically loses money in bull markets.

So, precisely identifying toxic stocks and abandoning or short selling those at the right time is the key to protect your portfolio from big losses.

Screening Criteria

Here is a winning strategy that will help you to identify overpriced toxic stocks:

Most recent Debt/Equity Ratio greater than the median industry average: High debt/equity ratio implies high leverage. High leverage indicates a huge level of repayment that the company has to make in connection with the debt amount.

P/E using 12-month forward EPS estimate greater than 50: A very high forward P/E implies that a stock is highly overvalued.

% Change in F (1) and F (2) Estimate (12 Weeks) less than 0: Negative EPS estimate revision for this and the next fiscal year during the past 12 weeks points to analysts’ pessimism.

Zacks Rank more than or equal to #3 (Hold): We have not considered Buy-rated stocks that generally outperform the market.

Here are four of the 20 toxic stocks that showed up on the screen:

Vancouver, Canada-based First Majestic Silver Corp. (AG - Free Report) is engaged in the production, development, exploration, and acquisition of silver mines in Mexico. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-quarter loss per share has remained unchanged at 4 cents. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3.

Wilmington, DE-based Incyte Corporation (INCY - Free Report) is a drug discovery company. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings per share has declined from $2.12 to $2.03. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Covanta Holding Corporation (CVA - Free Report) is a Morristown, NJ-based alternative energy company that provides waste and energy services in the United States and Canada. In the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings per share has declined from 10 cents to 5 cents. At present, the company has a Zacks Rank #3.

Frederick, MD-based U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (SLCA - Free Report) is a producer of industrial minerals, including sand proppants, whole grain silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay, and aplite clay. Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-quarter loss per share has widened from 2 cents to 6 cents. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3.