For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – August 20, 2009 – Zacks.com releases the latest Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks featured in this week’s analysis include Maidenform (MFB), Warnaco Group (WRC), True Religion (TRLG), Polo Ralph Lauren (RL), Hanesbrands (HBI) and Jones Apparel (JNY).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by Charles Rotblut, CFA, Senior Market Analyst for Zacks.com.

This week: Analysts Too Negative On Apparel Makers

Given that we're in back-to-school season, it is somewhat timely that Textile-Apparel Manufacturing appeared on my radar screen. The group has a strong revisions ratio, a sign that positive estimate revisions significantly outnumber negative revisions.

Behind the positive revisions are relatively better forecasts. Last week, Maidenform (MFB) and Warnaco Group (WRC) both raised their full-year EPS guidance. The week prior, True Religion (TRLG) gave a brighter forecast, while Polo Ralph Lauren (RL)

...

Given that we're in back-to-school season, it is somewhat timely that Textile-Apparel Manufacturing appeared on my radar screen. The group has a strong revisions ratio, a sign that positive estimate revisions significantly outnumber negative revisions.

Behind the positive revisions are relatively better forecasts. Last week, Maidenform (MFB) and Warnaco Group (WRC) both raised their full-year EPS guidance. The week prior, True Religion (TRLG) gave a brighter forecast, while Polo Ralph Lauren (RL) predicted a less severe decline in sales than many had expected.

The revisions are notable because they suggest that business conditions are not as bad as feared. Since stocks are valued based on future profits, any increase in earnings estimates should lead to higher stock prices. In the case of the aforementioned stocks, several analysts have raised profit forecasts - a positive change.

Revisions Are Relative

Though the trend in earnings estimate revisions

...

Sara Lee Corp. (SLE) shares rose sharply this morning on reports that the company was looking to sell its European household unit for more than $2 billion to focus more on the core food and beverage business.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal said the company has hired Goldman Sachs to examine possible bidders for the business that accounts for about 15% of its sales. Sara Lee spokesman Mike Cummins declined to comment on what he called speculation.

The Downers Grove, Illinois-based company swung to a loss in the latest second quarter as a stronger dollar weighed on its international sales and consumer spending continued to slump amid the global economic downturn. Sara Lee, which spun off apparel maker Hanesbrands in 2006, has been looking to streamline operations since then.

The Journal pointed to Unilever (UN), Reckitt Benckiser and

...

Maverick CapitalMaverick Capital Management Holdings AnalysisThis post is being written as part of HedgeFundBlogger.com's Investment Securities Tool which analyzes the holdings of hedge fund managers.Lee Ainslie started Maverick Capital back in 1993 with $38 million. Nowadays, the fund is worth $10 billion. Ainslie, like many of the other fund managers I've profiled, has a background rooted in learning from legendary great Julian Robertson at Tiger Management. So, due to the fact that these proteges learned from the best and have had great success running their own hedge funds, I continually try to find a reason not to follow these funds. And, needless to say I'm never successful. Some contacts over at Maverick have explained that their hedge fund strategy is straight up stock picking, both long and short. They made ...