TARO Yuck 3 May- Bear Says "Hold" (TARO) Reit Peer Peform Taro missed badly in the first quarter. The company reported $0.37 and paid no taxes vs. our estimate of $0.52 assuming a 14.5% tax rate. Revenues were six millions light, and spending was slightly higher. Without question the majority of the shortfall was ElixSure sales where reorders did not materialize after roughly $6 million in 4Q sales. A $6 million revenue shortfall of a high margin product (and no taxes) results in about a $0.15 hit to earning. Additionally, operating expenses were about $2.5 million higher than our forecasts. Operating income thus declined 42%. The company had a tax rate benefit due to a loss recorded in the US.