Similar to wise buying decisions, exiting certain underperformers at the right time helps maximize portfolio returns. Selling off losers can be difficult, but if both the share price and estimates are falling, it could be time to get rid of the security before more losses hit your portfolio.

One such stock that you may want to consider dropping is Memorial Production Partners LP (MEMP), which has witnessed a significant price decline in the past four weeks, and it has seen negative earnings estimate revisions for the current quarter and the current year. A Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) further confirms weakness in MEMP.

A key reason for this move has been the negative trend in earnings estimate revisions. For the full year, we have seen 2 estimates moving down in the past 30 days, compared with no upward revision. This trend has caused the consensus estimate to trend lower, going from a gain of $1.67 a share a month ago to its current loss of 20 cents.

Also, for the current quarter, Memorial Production Partners has seen 4 downward estimate revisions versus no revision in the opposite direction, dragging the consensus estimate down to 37 cents a share from 53 cents over the past 30 days.

The stock also has seen some pretty dismal trading lately, as the share price has dropped 24.4% in the past month.

So it may not be a good decision to keep this stock in your portfolio anymore, at least if you don’t have a long time horizon to wait.

If you are still interested in the Oils-Energy sector, you may instead consider some better-ranked stocks including Sandridge Mississippian Trust II (SDR), Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (ARP) and Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG). While Sandridge Mississippian holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), both Atlas Resource Partners and Cheniere Energy carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and may be better selections at this time.

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MEMORIAL PRODUCTION PARTNERS LP (MEMP): Free Stock Analysis Report


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