The S&P 500 showcased a dramatic divide in 2024, with stocks in sectors such as technology and energy soaring, while others like retail and healthcare faced significant declines. According to Yahoo Finance, here are the biggest gainers and losers that shaped the market in 2024.
Biggest Winners of 2024
- Palantir Technologies ($PLTR)
- YTD Return: +340.48%
- Key Drivers: Palantir’s advancements in AI-driven analytics secured large government and commercial contracts, making it the top performer of 2024.
- Vistra Corp ($VST)
- YTD Return: +258%
- Highlights: Vistra benefited from surging demand for clean energy solutions, supported by favorable regulatory tailwinds.
- Nvidia ($NVDA)
- YTD Return: +171.17%
- Growth Factors: Nvidia capitalized on the AI boom with its cutting-edge GPUs, solidifying its leadership in the semiconductor industry.
- United Airlines ($UAL)
- YTD Return: +135.34%
- Reason: Increased post-pandemic travel demand and strategic operational improvements boosted airline stocks.
- GE Vernova ($GEV)
- YTD Return: +133.33%
- Sector Leadership: As a newcomer to the index, GE Vernova thrived in renewable energy solutions.
Other notable winners included Axon Enterprise ($AXON) (+130.06%), Texas Pacific Land ($TPL) (+110.55%), Broadcom ($AVGO) (+107.7%), Targa Resources ($TRGP) (+105.44%), and Howmet Aerospace ($HWM) (+102.12%).
Biggest Losers of 2024
- Walgreens Boots Alliance ($WBA)
- YTD Return: -64.27%
- Key Issues: Declining foot traffic, increasing competition, and weak earnings placed Walgreens as the worst-performing S&P 500 stock.
- Intel ($INTC)
- YTD Return: -60.1%
- Struggles: Challenges in catching up to rivals in chip manufacturing caused Intel’s market position to falter.
- Moderna ($MRNA)
- YTD Return: -58.19%
- Decline Reasons: Falling demand for COVID-19 vaccines and slow diversification efforts hurt Moderna’s performance.
- Celanese ($CE)
- YTD Return: -55.47%
- Industry Challenges: Rising costs and weak demand for chemical products weighed on the stock.
- Estée Lauder ($EL)
- YTD Return: -48.75%
- Downfall: The luxury cosmetics company faced sluggish recovery in key international markets.
Other stocks in the red included Enphase Energy ($ENPH) (-48.02%), Dollar Tree ($DLTR) (-47.24%), Dollar General ($DG) (-44.24%), Humana ($HUM) (-44.6%), and CVS Health ($CVS) (-43.15%).
Sector Highlights
- Technology: Led the charge with AI and semiconductor companies driving growth. Nvidia and Palantir were standout performers.
- Energy: Renewables gained traction with GE Vernova and Targa Resources benefiting from the shift toward green energy.
- Healthcare and Retail: Faced significant headwinds, with Walgreens and CVS struggling under declining revenues and increased competition.
The S&P 500 in 2024 highlighted stark contrasts across sectors, with AI and renewable energy stocks delivering stellar gains, while traditional healthcare and retail faced mounting pressures. As 2025 begins, investors will closely watch whether these trends persist or new market dynamics emerge. Data sourced from Yahoo Finance.
