What's Next For Stocks After S&P 500 Wraps Roughest Year Since 2008?

Zinger Key Points
  • The S&P 500 dropped 19.2% in 2022, its worst performance since 2008.
  • Analysts expect S&P 500 companies to report a 2.8% earnings decline in the fourth quarter.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY 500 declined for the fourth consecutive week as the stock market completed its worst year in more than a decade.

The S&P 500 dropped 19.2% in 2022, its worst performance in any year since it declined 38.4% during the global financial crisis in 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished 2022 down 8.5% on the year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 33%.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) and Constellation Energy Corp CEG were the two best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 in 2022, gaining 114.8% and 106.6%, respectively. Generac Holdings Inc. GNRC and Match Group Inc MTCH were the two worst-performing S&P 500 stocks of the year, each declining more than 68%.

Related Link: Nightmare Almost Over? Southwest Expects Operations To Normalize By Dec. 30: Report

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it plans to investigate Southwest Airlines Co LUV after a severe winter storm disrupted the airline industry over the holiday weekend and forced Southwest to cancel 70% of its flights on Monday. Southwest canceled thousands of flights throughout the week and told investors Thursday the operational debacle would "certainly" have an impact on the airline's fourth-quarter numbers.

On Wednesday, Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk wrote a letter to Tesla employees urging them not to be "too bothered by stock market craziness." Tesla's stock price dropped more than 69% in 2022, its worst year since the company went public back in 2010.

Related Link: Elon Musk Tells Employees Tesla Will Be 'Most Valuable Company On Earth' Long Term As He Rallies Support For Big Quarter-End Push

Positive Outlook: On Thursday, biotechnology company Outlook Therapeutics Inc OTLK reported third-quarter financial results and said it anticipates a potential regulatory approval of its wet age-related macular degeneration treatment ONS-5010 in 2023, news that sent the stock higher by 15% on the week.

In the week ahead, investors will get more quarterly reports from Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc WBA, Conagra Brands Inc CAG, Constellation Brands, Inc. STZ and Lamb Weston Holdings Inc LW on Thursday.

Analysts expect S&P 500 companies to report a 2.8% earnings decline in the fourth quarter, according to FactSet.

Economic Numbers: Following the Monday market holiday, investors will get key economic updates on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve releases its latest meeting minutes and on Friday when the U.S. Labor Department releases its December jobs report.

Photo via Shutterstock. 

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