Guru Stocks at 52-Week Low: Valero Energy Corp, FBL Financial Group Inc, Sterling Financial Corp, Neenah Paper Inc, IDT Corp.

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May 12, 2008
The market was down about 1.91 percent last week. Last week’s to five stocks that reached their 52-week lows were Valero Energy Corp, FBL Financial Group Inc, Sterling Financial Corp, Neenah Paper Inc, and IDT Corp.


The banking industry is still the top out of favor industry. 56 stocks in the banking industry have reached their 52-week lows, while 4 have reached their 52-week highs, giving the banking industry a low/high ratio of 14. 7 stocks in the Media industry have reached their 52-week lows, while 1 has reached its 52-week high, giving the Media industry a low/high ratio of 7.


For full details about guru stocks at 52-week low and more information, click here: http://www.gurufocus.com/52weeklow.php.


Valero Energy Corp. (VLO, Financial) Reached the 52-Week Low of $44.56


The prices of Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $44.56, which is 42.9% lower than its 52-week high of $78.68. Valero Energy Corp. is owned by 4 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 2 have initiated positions in the company and 2 increased their positions.


Valero Energy Corporation operates as a crude oil refining and marketing company all over the world. The company has a market cap of $23.71 billion; its shares were traded at around $44.56 with a P/E ratio of 5.87 and P/S ratio of 0.24. The dividend yield of Valero Energy Corp. stocks is 1.3%.


Rising crude oil prices recently hurt VLO and caused the company, along with others such as Tesoro to plunge. Valero lost about 1/2 of a percent, while oil prices reach their highest point in history.


T Boone Pickens bought 99,372 shares in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2007 . David Dreman bought 14,120 shares in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2007 . Robert Olstein owns 415,700 shares as of 12/31/2007 , an increase of 3279.67% from the previous quarter. Kenneth Fisher owns 32,917 shares as of 12/31/2007 .


Director Irl F. Engelhardt bought 10,300 shares of VLO stock on 05/02/2008 at the average price of $49.07; the price of the stock has decreased by 9.19% since.


FBL Financial Group Inc. (FFG, Financial) Reached the 52-Week Low of $22.99


The prices of FBL Financial Group Inc. (FFG) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $22.99, which is 38.7% lower than its 52-week high of $42.5. FBL Financial Group Inc. is owned by 3 Gurus we are tracking. All have reduced their positions during the past quarter.


FBL Financial Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, sells individual life insurance and annuity products in the United States . It has a market cap of $693.24 million, a P/E ratio of 8.09 and a P/S ratio of 0.90. The dividend yield of FBL Financial Group Inc. stocks is 1.8%.


Third Avenue Management owns 507,000 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Richard Pzena owns 623,275 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Bruce Sherman owns 266,432 shares as of 12/31/2007 , a decrease of 28.33% of from the previous quarter.


Director Paul E. Larson bought 4,000 shares of FFG stock on 03/06/2008 at the average price of $27.96; the price of the stock has decreased by 17.78% since.


Sterling Financial Corp. (STSA, Financial) Reached the 52-Week Low of $10.71


The prices of Sterling Financial Corp. (STSA) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $10.71, 65.0% lower than its 52-week high of $30.87. Sterling Financial Corp. is owned by 3 Gurus. Among them, 1 initiated his positions in the company, 1 increased his positions, and 1 reduced his positions.


Sterling Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Sterling Savings Bank, which provides various banking products and services to businesses and individuals. The company has a market cap of $555.45 million; its P/E ratio is 7.56 and its P/S ratio of 1.41. The dividend yield of Sterling Financial Corp. stocks is 3.7%.


STSA recently announced that its 1 st quarter profit would most likely be far below what analysts had expected. The company estimated an estimated income of 4-6 cents per share, while analysts expected it to be 36 cents a share.


Kenneth Fisher bought 728,375 shares in the quarter that ended on 12/31/2007 . David Dreman owns 646,265 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Bruce Sherman owns 4,015,547 shares as of 12/31/2007 .


Vice President-Sterling Sav. P James L. Kirschbaum bought 7,500 shares of STSA stock on 12/12/2007 at the average price of $18.79; the price of the stock has decreased by 43% since.


Neenah Paper Inc. (NP, Financial) Reached the 52-Week Low of $20.02


The prices of Neenah Paper Inc. (NP) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $20.02, 56.5% lower than its 52-week high of $45.5599. Neenah Paper Inc. is owned by 3 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 2 have added to their positions during the past quarter. 1 reduced their positions.


Neenah Paper, Inc. produces premium fine papers and technical products, as well as bleached kraft pulp in the United States , Canada , and Europe . The company has a market cap of $299.3 million; its shares were traded at around $20.02 with a P/E ratio of 29.70, a P/S ratio of 0.30, and a dividend yield of 2%.


NP recently announced that its quarterly dividend for the 1 st quarter 2007 will be 10 cents a share. The company said that it will pay the dividend June 3 to shareholders of record May 9.


Robert Olstein owns 906,800 shares as of 12/31/2007 , an increase of 10.72% from the previous quarter. John Keeley owns 1,140,000 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Arnold Schneider owns 114,989 shares as of 12/31/2007 , a decrease of 25.97% of from the previous quarter. T


IDT Corp. (IDT, Financial) Reached the 52-Week Low of $3.35


The prices of IDT Corp. (IDT) shares have declined to close to the 52-week low of $3.35, which is 74.5% lower than its 52-week high of $13.08. IDT Corp. is owned by 4 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 3 reduced their positions in the company and 1 left them unchanged.


IDT Corporation provides telecommunications services. It was founded in 1990 and is currently headquartered in New Jersey . The company has a market cap of $252.59 million; its shares were traded at around $3.35 with a P/S ratio of 0.13.


IDT has been upgraded by Stanford Research from a sell to a hold.


Mason Hawkins owns 10,289,860 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Third Avenue Management owns 3,610,200 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Irving Kahn owns 119,400 shares as of 12/31/2007 . Bruce Berkowitz owns 6,736,500 shares as of 12/31/2007 .


CEO and Vice Chairman, Director James A Courter bought 240,000 shares of IDT stock on 03/14/2008 at the average price of $3.81; the price of the stock has decreased by 12.07% since.