Best and Worst Performing S&P 500 Stocks This Earnings Season

While more than 80% of S&P 500 companies beat their earnings estimates this earnings season, the average one-day performance on report days for these stocks was -0.04%. Below we provide a list of the 25 best and worst performing S&P 500 stocks on their report days this earnings season.

As shown, Amazon.com (AMZN) did the best on its earnings report with a huge gain of 26.8%. The New York Times (NYT) was the second best performer with a gain of 22.51%. Other notables on the list of big winners include Motorola (MOT), SanDisk (SNDK), and Ford (F). With such positive reactions to their Q3 earnings reports, these names will definitely be on traders' watchlists during the off-season.

MBIA (MBI) was the worst performing S&P 500 stock on its report day with a decline of 26.67%. CVS (CVS) was the second worst at -20.14%, and Goodyear (GT), Apollo Group (APOL), and Boston Scientific (BSX) round out the top five. Wynn Reports (WYNN), AK Steel (AKS), U.S. Steel (X), MetLife (MET), and Fluor (FLR) are other notable names on the list of big losers. While these stocks did poorly this earnings season, at least expectations will be low heading into their next reports, setting the stage for a big bounceback if they end up posting good numbers.

Comments

[Mark Bern:]

I really don't care whether they beat or missed expected earnings. What I think wouldbe interesting is whether their earnings are up or down compared to last year. That's the first cut in assessing a companies earnings, in my way of thinking. Are earnings growing or declining? If earnings are declining, then perhaps the stock should be trading significantly below where it was a year ago. After all, we are paying for future earnings. That would imply that the price paid a year ago was too high and if results are worse now why would we expect the stock to go up? I like to pay for performance and I want a management team that can stay ahead of the crowd. Otherwise, I feel that I am paying a premium for a laggard.

Nov 13 04:05 PM

[Mayascribe:]

Mark: Agreed. The trick of the pony tail will be next earnings season. This time of year, last year, the stock market was dropping precipitously. When this quarter begins reporting in January, any stock that has less earnings same quarter YOY, is not worth owning.

Nov 13 04:32 PM