20 Most Hated Dividend Stocks From The Services Sector

Most sold short services dividend stocks originally published at "long-term-investments.blogspot.com". The services sector is a big part of the economy and the financial markets. Roughly 850 companies have a relationship to the sector – That’s around 13.3 percent of the overall market by number of constituents.

Today I like to show you which services dividend stocks are most hated within the financial industry. Investors hate such stocks by selling them short. They believe in a falling stock price and want to profit from it.

My screen includes only mid- and large capitalized companies with a float short ratio of more than 5 percent.

The 20 most hated stocks have a float short ratio between 8.79 and 29.31 percent. Gamestop is the most sold company. Seven of the results have a current buy or better rating by brokerage firms.

Stock Earnings Review For January 06, 2012

Earnings season continues and earnings releases still matter. Earnings are of a huge importance for stock investors. If they beat the expectations or disappoint, the market needs to correct the current valuation. Earnings are also a good indicator for the health of the whole economy, sector and industry. Here are the earnings highlights of the recent trading day:

Yesterday’s major earnings results in review

AZZ Inc. (AZZ) is acting within the “Metal Fabrication” industry and has a market capitalization of 566.15 Million. Quarter sales of AZZ Inc. grew 13.2% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.79 per share. Analysts expected AZZ Inc. to have an EPS of $0.79. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $0.77. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow -8.25% percent and 13.85% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed -1.55% and closed at $45.04.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: 14.96,
Price/Sales: 1.31,
Price/Book: 2.09,

6-Month Chart of AZZ Inc. (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

Commercial Metals (CMC) is acting within the “Steel & Iron” industry and has a market capitalization of 1.73 Billion. Quarter sales of Commercial Metals grew 11.9% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.20 per share. Analysts expected Commercial Metals to have an EPS of $0.35. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $0.01. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 23.24% percent and 6.33% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed 3.95% and closed at $14.99.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: -,
Price/Sales: 0.22,
Price/Book: 1.49,

6-Month Chart of Commercial Metals (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

Greenbrier Comp (GBX) is acting within the “Railroads” industry and has a market capitalization of 690.49 Million. Quarter sales of Greenbrier Comp grew 100.2% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.48 per share. Analysts expected Greenbrier Comp to have an EPS of $0.36. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $-0.16. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 15.31% percent and 10.50% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed 8.37% and closed at $25.89.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: 235.36,
Price/Sales: 0.56,
Price/Book: 1.80,

6-Month Chart of Greenbrier Comp (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

IHS (IHS) is acting within the “Information & Delivery Services” industry and has a market capitalization of 5.68 Billion. Quarter sales of IHS grew 26.6% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.99 per share. Analysts expected IHS to have an EPS of $0.92. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $0.81. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 3.38% percent and 16.68% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed 2.56% and closed at $87.43.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: 38.01,
Price/Sales: 4.52,
Price/Book: 4.20,

6-Month Chart of IHS (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

Imperial Sugar (IPSU) is acting within the “Confectioners” industry and has a market capitalization of 40.27 Million. Quarter sales of Imperial Sugar grew -12.5% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $-2.73 per share. Analysts expected Imperial Sugar to have an EPS of $-0.89. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $-0.19. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 657.24% percent and - for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed -6.53% and closed at $3.29.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: -,
Price/Sales: 0.05,
Price/Book: 0.20,

6-Month Chart of Imperial Sugar (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

PriceSmart (PSMT) is acting within the “Discount, Variety Stores” industry and has a market capitalization of 1.81 Billion. Quarter sales of PriceSmart grew 24.0% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.47 per share. Analysts expected PriceSmart to have an EPS of $0.58. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $0.50. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 24.99% percent and 12.00% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed -14.10% and closed at $60.63.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: 29.29,
Price/Sales: 1.06,
Price/Book: 4.83,

6-Month Chart of PriceSmart (Source: finance.yahoo.com)

Robbins & Myers (RBN) is acting within the “Diversified Machinery” industry and has a market capitalization of 2.24 Billion. Quarter sales of Robbins & Myers grew 68.6% year-over-year. In addition, the company announced a quarter result of $0.77 per share. Analysts expected Robbins & Myers to have an EPS of $0.68. A year ago, quarter earnings amounted to $0.44. For the full fiscal year EPS is expected to grow 118.30% percent and 8.00% for the upcoming 5-years. The stock price changed -2.48% and closed at $48.83.

Here are the current price ratios of the company:
P/E ratio: 25.04,
Price/Sales: 2.72,
Price/Book: 1.95,

6-Month Chart of Robbins & Myers (Source: finance.yahoo.com)