These Were The Best (And Worst) Stocks To Own As Trump's Tariffs Shuffled Markets

Core Insights - The stock market has experienced significant volatility following President Trump's announcement of severe tariffs, with a majority of stocks remaining in the red despite a subsequent pause on some levies [1][2]. Market Performance - The S&P 500 index recorded a 6% loss from April 2 through 2:45 p.m. EDT on the following Friday, marking both its largest daily percentage gain since 2008 and its steepest daily percentage loss since 2020 during this period [2][3]. - Approximately 90% of the 500 stocks listed on the S&P have declined since the tariff announcement, reflecting concerns over a potential recession and international business dealings [3]. Sector Analysis - Healthcare stocks have shown resilience, with UnitedHealth Group leading gains at 15%, driven by an unexpected increase in Medicare Advantage plans [4]. - Other healthcare companies like Elevance Health and CVS Health also saw stock increases of 3% and 2%, respectively [4]. - Non-healthcare stocks that performed well include discount retailers such as Ross Stores (up 7%), TJX (up 3%), and Walmart (up 3%), as well as defense contractors like General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, which saw increases ranging from less than 1% to 5% [5][6]. Underperformers - The worst-performing stocks since April 2 include Charles River Laboratories (down 34%), Warner Bros. Discovery (down 25%), and several energy companies like APA Corporation and Devon Energy, which saw declines of 30% and 26% respectively [7]. - Among companies valued at $100 billion or more, energy giants Chevron and ConocoPhillips, along with Texas Instruments, Bank of America, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, also faced significant losses [7]. Volatility and Market Sentiment - The S&P has experienced at least 1.5% movement in six of the seven trading days following the tariff announcement, indicating heightened volatility [8]. - The "magnificent seven" tech stocks, including Apple and Tesla, have largely declined, with Apple and Tesla both down 12%, attributed to their reliance on revenue from China [9]. - Market volatility is characterized by an average intraday move of 5% for the S&P, positioning April among the four most volatile months in the last 46 years [10].