Shelve These Consumer Staples Stocks

Investors tout consumer staples as the most recession-resistant industry because, after all, it's hard to live without those products. And nowhere are these can't-do-without items more on display than in supermarkets.

But TheStreet.com Ratings' quantitative-evaluation model identifies the pair of supermarket chains in the accompanying table as consumer staples retailers whose shares should be avoided.

The model gives a "sell" rating to Winn-Dixie Stores(WINN Quote) and Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea(GAP Quote), based on their overall grades of "D" on a scale ranging from A-plus to E-minus. TheStreet.com Ratings' marks are determined by an objective measurement of a company's valuation metrics, current financial situation and analysts' consensus expectations of future growth. ...