The Worst Stock Ideas Of November

After a strong 8.3 percent gain in the month of October, the S&P 500 traded mostly flat throughout the month of November. After a mid-month dip as low as 2019, the S&P closed out the month at around the 2080 level.

The month brought some huge stock moves in both directions, as Q3 earnings reports and news of M&A deals poured in throughout November. Here’s a list of the five worst performing S&P 500 stocks in the past month.

5. Macy’s, Inc. M

In a month that has historically been associated positively with the retail giant, Macy’s shares paraded decidedly lower this November. On November 11, Macy’s cut its full-year sales and profit forecasts, sending shares falling 15 percent. The stock finished the month down 21.3 percent.

Related Link: The Best Stock Ideas Of November

4. GameStop Corp. GME

A report by NPD Group released on November 13 disclosed a 3.0 percent annual decline in October software sales, news that sent GameStop’s stock plummeting 15 percent. An earnings miss and analyst downgrades compounded the problem, and GameStop finished the month down 23.3 percent.

3. Chesapeake Energy Corporation CHK

Chesapeake reported $4.69 billion in net losses for Q3, as the weak oil price environment continued to drag on. WTI crude prices fell just 15 percent in November, but Chesapeake shares declined 240 percent.

2. Fossil Group Inc FOSL

Fossil’s shares plummeted more than 26 percent on November 13 following a massive Q3 earnings miss. The company’s earnings were nearly cut in half compared to Q3 of 2014. The stock finished November down 27.4 percent.

1. Freeport-McMoRan Inc FCX

It should come as no surprise that, in a month that saw copper, oil and gold prices under particularly heavy pressure, Freeport-McMoRan was the worst performing stock in the S&P 500. The stock continued is abysmal performance throughout the entire month, finishing down 29.6 percent.

Despite a 16.5 percent gain in November, coal and natural gas company CONSOL Energy Inc. CNX remains the worst-performing S&P 500 stock of 2015, down 76.5 percent on the year.

Disclosure: The author owns shares of CONSOL.