Below is a list of the 10 worst performing stocks in the S&P 500 year to date. All but one have fallen by more than 20% in 2014.
Two companies that stand out from the list are Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFM) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN). Those two companies have been consistent leaders throughout the bull market. It’s strange to see them here at the bottom of the pack. Others on this list, like Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS), Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) and Avon (NYSE:AVP) have been long time laggards.
Common Trait
Notably, eight of the ten worst stocks are companies that sell products to consumers. Six are retailers. It’s typically not a good sign for the economy when consumer stocks begin to lag the rest of the market.