20 Stocks With the Potential to Drop
20 Stocks with the Potential to Drop

It's the basic question when investing in a stock: is it on the way up or down? The street has developed numerous ways of attempting to predict what will happen, estimating various attributes tied to stock performance in order to determine what the future holds for a company's valuation. After dissecting the data, analysts following a particular stock produce a price target of where they believe the stock is headed. With data from Thomson Reuters, CNBC.com grouped stocks in the S&P 500 with aver Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba | AFP Creative | Getty Images

It's the basic question when investing in a stock: is it on the way up or down?



The street has developed numerous ways of attempting to predict what will happen, estimating various attributes tied to stock performance in order to determine what the future holds for a company's valuation.



After dissecting the data, analysts following a particular stock produce a price target of where they believe the stock is headed. With data from Thomson Reuters, CNBC.com grouped stocks in the S&P 500 with average consensus estimates farthest below their stock prices.



In the S&P 500, the average short interest (as a % of float) stands at 3.68, while some companies included in this list have short interest as high as 34.56. The prices and analysts’ estimates presented here are as of the market close on March 21, 2012.



So, which stocks are analysts expecting to have the biggest drops? Click ahead to find out!



By Giovanny Moreano& Paul Toscano

Posted 21 March 2012

20. Cerner Corp (CERN)

Potential to Drop: -0.42% Mean Price Target: $75.94 Closing Price (3/21): $76.26 Short interest (as % of float): 7.77 Number of Analysts: 16 High Estimate: $85 Low Estimate: $45 Photo: Cerner

Potential to Drop: -0.47%

Mean Price Target: $75.94

Closing Price (3/21): $76.30

Short interest (as % of float): 7.77



Number of Analysts: 16

High Estimate: $85

Low Estimate: $45



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19. Zions Bancorp (ZION)

Potential to Drop: -1.42% Mean Price Target: $21.89 Closing Price (3/21): $22.20 Short interest (as % of float): 9.71 Number of Analysts: 27 High Estimate: $27 Low Estimate: $13 Photo: Tom Smart | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -0.82%

Mean Price Target: $21.89

Closing Price (3/21): $22.07

Short interest (as % of float): 9.71



Number of Analysts: 27

High Estimate: $27

Low Estimate: $13



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18. Autonation (AN)

Potential to Drop: -1.85% Mean Price Target: $34.50 Closing Price (3/21): $35.15 Short interest (as % of float): 16.64 Number of Analysts: 9 High Estimate: $41 Low Estimate: $29 Photo: Autonation

Potential to Drop: -2.46%

Mean Price Target: $34.50

Closing Price (3/21): $35.37

Short interest (as % of float): 16.64



Number of Analysts: 9

High Estimate: $41

Low Estimate: $29



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17. Whirlpool Corp (WHR)

Potential to Drop: -2.70% Mean Price Target: $75.33 Closing Price (3/21): $77.42 Short interest (as % of float): 9.17 Number of Analysts: 3 High Estimate: $85 Low Estimate: $60 Photo: Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -2.83%

Mean Price Target: $75.33

Closing Price (3/21): $77.52

Short interest (as % of float): 9.17



Number of Analysts: 3

High Estimate: $85

Low Estimate: $60



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16. Gap (GPS)

Potential to Drop: -3.88% Mean Price Target: $25.12 Closing Price (3/21): $26.13 Short interest (as % of float): 7.50 Number of Analysts: 22 High Estimate: $35 Low Estimate: $18 Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -3.61%

Mean Price Target: $25.12

Closing Price (3/21): $26.06

Short interest (as % of float): 7.50



Number of Analysts: 22

High Estimate: $35

Low Estimate: $18



Get GPS Real-Time Quote

15. Lennar Corp (LEN)

Potential to Drop: -3.47% Mean Price Target: $25.51 Closing Price (3/21): $26.43 Short interest (as % of float): 18.50 Number of Analysts: 18 High Estimate: $32 Low Estimate: $20 Photo: Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -4.17%

Mean Price Target: $25.51

Closing Price (3/21): $26.62

Short interest (as % of float): 18.50



Number of Analysts: 18

High Estimate: $32

Low Estimate: $20



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14. PulteGroup (PHM)

Potential to Drop: -3.13% Mean Price Target: $8.92 Closing Price (3/21): $9.21 Short interest (as % of float): 10.69 Number of Analysts: 16 High Estimate: $14 Low Estimate: $7 Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -5.01%

Mean Price Target: $8.92

Closing Price (3/21): $9.39

Short interest (as % of float): 10.69



Number of Analysts: 16

High Estimate: $14

Low Estimate: $7



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13. Diamond Offshore (DO)

Potential to Drop: -5.72% Mean Price Target: $66.87 Closing Price (3/21): $70.93 Short interest (as % of float): 14.74 Number of Analysts: 30 High Estimate: $81 Low Estimate: $52 Photo: AP

Potential to Drop: -5.18%

Mean Price Target: $66.87

Closing Price (3/21): $70.52

Short interest (as % of float): 14.74



Number of Analysts: 30

High Estimate: $81

Low Estimate: $52



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12. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)

Potential to Drop: -5.64% Mean Price Target: $389.60 Closing Price (3/21): $412.87 Short interest (as % of float): 7.71 Number of Analysts: 20 High Estimate: $450 Low Estimate: $277 Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -6.37%

Mean Price Target: $389.60

Closing Price (3/21): $416.11

Short interest (as % of float): 7.71



Number of Analysts: 20

High Estimate: $450

Low Estimate: $277



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11. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)

Potential to Drop: -6.67% Mean Price Target: $7.52 Closing Price (3/21): $8.06 Short interest (as % of float): 10.46 Number of Analysts: 27 High Estimate: $12 Low Estimate: $4 Photo: Norbert Millauer | AFP | Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -6.47%

Mean Price Target: $7.52

Closing Price (3/21): $8.04

Short interest (as % of float): 10.46



Number of Analysts: 27

High Estimate: $12

Low Estimate: $4



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10. Computer Sciences Corp (CSC)

Potential to Drop: -7.81% Mean Price Target: $28.09 Closing Price (3/21): $30.47 Short interest (as % of float): 5.45 Number of Analysts: 11 High Estimate: $34 Low Estimate: $19 Photo: csc.com

Potential to Drop: -8.98%

Mean Price Target: $28.09

Closing Price (3/21): $30.86

Short interest (as % of float): 5.45



Number of Analysts: 11

High Estimate: $34

Low Estimate: $19



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9. Fastenal (FAST)

Potential to Drop: -7.30% Mean Price Target: $49 Closing Price (3/21): $52.86 Short interest (as % of float): 6.86 Number of Analysts: 6 High Estimate: $55 Low Estimate: $36 Photo: Fastenal

Potential to Drop: -9.14%

Mean Price Target: $49

Closing Price (3/21): $53.93

Short interest (as % of float): 6.86



Number of Analysts: 6

High Estimate: $55

Low Estimate: $36



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8. Cincinnati Financial Corp (CINF)

Potential to Drop: -11.43% Mean Price Target: $35.19 Closing Price (3/21): $31.17 Short interest (as % of float): 5.65 Number of Analysts: 6 High Estimate: $34 Low Estimate: $27 Photo: cinfin.com

Potential to Drop: -11.20%

Mean Price Target: $31.17

Closing Price (3/21): $35.10

Short interest (as % of float): 5.65



Number of Analysts: 6

High Estimate: $34

Low Estimate: $27



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7. ETRADE Financial (ETFC)

Potential to Drop: -11.73% Mean Price Target: $9.94 Closing Price (3/21): $11.26 Short interest (as % of float): 2.9 Number of Analysts: 11 High Estimate: $11 Low Estimate: $8 Photo: Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -11.73%

Mean Price Target: $9.94

Closing Price (3/21): $11.26

Short interest (as % of float): 2.9



Number of Analysts: 11

High Estimate: $11

Low Estimate: $8



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6. TripAdvisor (TRIP)

Potential to Drop: -13.99% Mean Price Target: $29.32 Closing Price (3/21): $34.09 Short interest (as % of float): 8.66 Number of Analysts: 14 High Estimate: $36 Low Estimate: $21 Photo: tripadvisor.com

Potential to Drop: -13.18%

Mean Price Target: $29.32

Closing Price (3/21): $33.77

Short interest (as % of float): 8.66



Number of Analysts: 14

High Estimate: $36

Low Estimate: $21



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5. Masco Corp (MAS)

Potential to Drop: -14.36% Mean Price Target: $11.66 Closing Price (3/21): $13.61 Short interest (as % of float): 5.51 Number of Analysts: 8 High Estimate: $16 Low Estimate: $7 Photo: deltafaucet.com

Potential to Drop: -17.30%

Mean Price Target: $11.66

Closing Price (3/21): $14.10

Short interest (as % of float): 5.51



Number of Analysts: 8

High Estimate: $16

Low Estimate: $7



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4. Netflix (NFLX)

Potential to Drop: -16.64% Mean Price Target: $95.88 Closing Price (3/21): $115.02 Short interest (as % of float): 20.04 Number of Analysts: 24 High Estimate: $140 Low Estimate: $45 Photo: Ryan Anson | AFP | Getty Images

Potential to Drop: -20.17%

Mean Price Target: $95.88

Closing Price (3/21): $120.10

Short interest (as % of float): 20.04



Number of Analysts: 24

High Estimate: $140

Low Estimate: $45



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3. Federated Investors Inc. (FII)

Potential to Drop: -22.43% Mean Price Target: $17.86 Closing Price (3/21): $23.03 Short interest (as % of float): 18.35 Number of Analysts: 11 High Estimate: $20 Low Estimate: $16 Photo: federatedinvestors.com

Potential to Drop: -23.02%

Mean Price Target: $17.86

Closing Price (3/21): $23.20

Short interest (as % of float): 18.35



Number of Analysts: 11

High Estimate: $20

Low Estimate: $16



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2. Washington Post Co (WPO)

Potential to Drop: -30.03% Mean Price Target: $275 Closing Price (3/21): $393.05 Short interest (as % of float): 13.39 Number of Analysts: 1 High Estimate: $275 Low Estimate: $275 Photo: washingtonpost.com

Potential to Drop: -29.11%

Mean Price Target: $275

Closing Price (3/21): $387.94

Short interest (as % of float): 13.39



Number of Analysts: 1

High Estimate: $275

Low Estimate: $275



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1. Sears Holdings (SHLD)

Potential to Drop: -74.69% Mean Price Target: $20.25 Closing Price (3/21): $80 Short interest (as % of float): 34.56 Number of Analysts: 4 High Estimate: $29 Low Estimate: $7 Photo: Getty Images