Compass Minerals, K12 are stocks to short - Barron's

* Compass Minerals and K12 could be hurt by budget cuts

* Recession is seen impacting Middleby

NEW YORK, July 5 (Reuters) - A specialty salts maker, an online educational company and a commercial-kitchen equipment maker are among the stocks recommended to short in the latest edition of weekly business publication Barron's.

Specialty salts and fertilizer maker Compass Minerals International Inc (CMP.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which depends on the severity of winter for the sale of its de-icing salt that clears snow, could be hurt as high costs and state and local budget may crimp demand, Barron's said citing Short Alert, a small North Carolina research firm.

Nat Guild, managing partner of Short Alert, said the stock is worth about $12, much less than the current $55.40.

Short Alert also suggested betting against technology-based company K12 Inc (LRN.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which offers online educational services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, amid the government's budget cuts.

The company has been recently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 50, but if revenue shrank and the price-to-earnings ratio fell, the stock could drop sharply.

The worst recession in decades could also take its toll on Middleby, the maker of commercial-kitchen equipment, as a decline in new restaurants slowed demand for its products.

In addition, Guild recommended shorting the stocks of J2 Global Communications Inc (JCOM.O: Quote, Profile, Research), as the company makes 80 percent of its revenue from transmitting electronic faxes, a business that is in decline. He said the stock could fall more than 50 percent from the current $21.29 to below $10.