The S&P 500 Index achieved consecutive annual gains, with a 23.3% rise in 2024 and a 24.2% increase in 2023. However, the cumulative growth since the end of 2021 is only 23.4% due to a 19.4% drop in 2022. Not all sectors and stocks shared in this growth. The materials sector was the only one to decline in 2024, while healthcare and real estate sectors have been down since the end of 2021.
Approximately 34% of S&P 500 stocks fell in 2024, with 96 stocks dropping over 10% and 57 stocks falling more than 20%. Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA, Financial) and Intel (INTC) were among the biggest losers, with declines of about 64% and 60%, respectively. Walgreens struggled with unmet performance expectations and fierce competition, while Intel faced intense competition and market share loss in the semiconductor industry.
