The Untradeables: These Stocks Are Too Terrible to Buy, Hold, or Even Short

If you've been following my new service, Zenith Trading Circle, you know that I apply a series of four very specialized Stress Tests to uncover toxic stocks.

Right now we're targeting a handful of the worst stocks in the world with trades designed to make money as these stocks inevitably collapse. (Subscribers, go here now to see how our trades are doing this week.)

But as I've sifted through all the garbage out in the equity markets, I've found several stocks that absolutely qualify as toxic, fail all my tests, but I cannot in good conscience recommend anyone put their money into trying to trade them.

Look, I'm convinced these stocks are going to fail, but for a variety of reasons, they don't meet my trading criteria (for instance, the stocks have already dropped too far, the options are too illiquid, or there are no options available).

However, one thing that we can all do is get far, far away from them.

If you own any one of these three firebombs, drop it now and back away slowly.

Here's why...

These Stocks Are Only Good Enough for the Trash Bin

First, my Stress Tests indicate that each one of these companies has about a 94.5% chance of bankruptcy in the near future.

Most of my tests are fairly self-explanatory, but for those who haven't yet subscribed to Zenith Trading Circle, I wanted to give you a brief look at the Z-Score (a bankruptcy predictor tool developed by NYU Stern Finance Professor Edward Altman). It's an equation that adds these calculations together to reach a final, low score of zero.

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When a company's Z-score = zero, that stock is in trouble, big time. It can't generate a profit, it makes very few sales, its assets are declining in value, it has poor liquidity, and it relies very heavily on debt.

stocks

Keep in mind that this is just the first indicator I use to determine whether a stock is toxic. Next, I check to see whether it has a dangerous current ratio below 1, a foolish price-to-sales ratio (above 4), and a flatlining net income (less than 10% growth).

Now, here are the three "untradeable" stocks that I won't recommend actually trading (not enough volume, low share price, no options, etc.). However, I do recommend that you dump them as quickly as humanly possible...

Kadmon Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KDMN) is a small cap in the biopharmaceutical industry that went public at $12/share in July but has already fallen by half to around $6/share, and you only have to look at the numbers below to see that it doesn't have much time left as a public entity, and that's a good thing.

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toxic stocks

I won't recommend trying to trade KDMN's collapse, because the volume is too low, there are no options contracts available, and there's a possibility of a buyout from a bigger player who wants its drug portfolio.

China BAK Battery Inc. (Nasdaq: CBAK) entered the market around 2001 as one of the first lithium battery producers and now makes electric vehicle batteries as well. Unfortunately the company's financials are a disgrace.

worst stocks

Small wonder CBAK is down 97% from its all-time high 10 years ago (from $62/share to $2/share today). It doesn't have much farther to fall, and it has very few options available, making it an unattractive trade. Instead, just make sure you don't own it.

Abraxas Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq: AXAS) is a small-cap energy company based in Texas with a 40-year history of buying, developing, and operating oil and gas properties in the United States. It was hit hard by the energy sector downturn. Look at this mess.

worst stock

At less than $2/share now, AXAS, likewise, is untradeable, and your only move is to get far away from it.

I hope you take this warning to heart.

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About the Author

Prominent money manager. Has built  top-ranked credit and hedge funds, managed billions for institutional and high-net-worth clients. 29-year career.

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