10 Worst Performing 2015 S&P Stocks Drop at Least 50%

January 2, 2016 by Douglas A. McIntyre

The S&P 500 stock index was essentially flat for 2015. However, the 10 worst performing stocks dropped over 50%, and some by 75% or more. Dividends are included in calculations.

10. Energy oil company Murphy Oil Corp. (NYSE: MUR) shares fell 53.9% to $22.45. Like many of the worst performing stocks in the S&P, oil and gas prices ruined their sales and earnings.

9. Marathon Oil Corp.’s (NYSE: MRO) stock dropped 54.1% to $12.59. It is unlikely that its performance will improve much until the price of crude does.

8. NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) shares fell 57.2% to $11.77.

7. Shares of Micron Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) dropped 59.6% to $14.16, as the prices the company could get for its DRAM products collapsed.


6. The share price of Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE: KMI), another energy company, fell 62.7% to $14.92.

5. The stock price of Fossil Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) dropped 66.8% to $36.56. The company competes in the wearable smartwatch business, against rivals such as Apple and Samsung.

4. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) shares collapsed 70.1%. It is one of the world’s copper-producing giants and another victim of falling commodities prices. The price of copper is below any period in the past five years.

3. Southwestern Energy Co. (NYSE: SWN) shares fell 73.8% to $7.11, another victim of energy prices.

2. Shares of CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) plummeted 76.9% to $7.90.

1. Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) fell 76.8% to $34.33, another energy drop victim.

With most of the stocks on this list in the commodities industry, their fates in 2016 will be based almost completely on one factor, which is the recovery in prices, particularly crude. Many analysts believe that low demand from major importers, primarily China, as well as Saudi Arabia’s decision to keep production high, will result in another very tough year.

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