close
close

These Are the 5 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 as 2024 Is Almost Over

These Are the 5 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 as 2024 Is Almost Over

This list might be a good place to start looking for bargains.

2024 has been an exceptionally good year for stocks overall. S&P 500 Index The index hit another all-time high on Wednesday and is up as much as 24% year to date.

However, as in any market, there are laggards. Here’s a look at the five worst-performing S&P 500 stocks for 2024. Are any of these failed companies worth buying at these levels?

Five veterans

The bottom five are (in order from steepest to narrowest price declines): Walgreens Boot Alliance (VBA -4.16%), Estee Lauder (EL -3.92%), dollar tree (DLTR -6.53%), Intel (INTC 7.42%)And Moderna (MRNA -2.78%). Here is the table of indicators.

Stock Sector Price reduction since the beginning of the year
Walgreens Boot Alliance Healthcare 64.6%
Estee Lauder Cosmetics 56.7%
dollar tree Retail 56.1%
Intel Technology 50.3%
Moderna Healthcare 47.8%

Data source: Slickcharts.com. Note. Prices have declined since the beginning of the year as of market close on November 6th.

The only repeat in the sector column is healthcare, indicating that these horrendous declines are not industry-specific (many healthcare segments are actually thriving these days). Instead, we have a bunch of formerly ambitious people who are now trying to cope with the heavy pressure on their businesses.

Intel, once the leader in PC processors, has been hit by falling PC sales and continues to stumble in its trying to reinvent himself. Walgreens and Dollar Tree remain strong retailers in an era dominated by online shopping. The impact of inflation on consumer spending also hit the latter company.

As for the rest, sentiment towards Estée Lauder has suffered due to protracted succession issues, not to mention aggressive policies dividend cut. Meanwhile, investors are looking forward to Moderna’s next triumph after its Spikevax vaccine became a popular vaccine at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Worth considering

The only stock in this quintet that I think could be a bargain right now is Moderna, which continues to develop vaccines and drugs using the very promising mRNA technology behind Spikevax. Biotechnology It will take time and resources to create new products, and I think Moderna will develop more advanced drugs and reward investors who are patient enough to wait.

Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and Moderna and recommends the following options: Intel short $24 November 2024 calls. The Motley Fool has disclosure policy.