Worst Stocks Of The First Quarter

After an early-2016 swoon, the S&P 500 has now fully recovered and will likely finish Q1 up about 1 percent. However, not all stocks enjoyed such a nice bounce off of February lows.

Here are the five worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 in Q1.

5. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc REGN

It doesn’t take long to identify the biotech theme in the 2016 worst performers list. The downfall of Valeant and the intense political and media scrutiny on drug pricing has put the biotech sector under tremendous pressure in recent months. Regeneron’s stock is down 33.7 percent in Q1.

4. ENSCO PLC ESV

As the global oil market continues the bottoming and recovery phases of its cycle, stock performance in the space will likely continue to diverge. Top names will lead the recovery, while others that were crippled by the price collapse will be left behind. So far, ENSCO falls into that second category. Despite a bounce in oil prices, the stock is down 33.7 percent in Q1.

Related Link: Best Stocks Of The First Quarter

3. Williams Companies Inc WMB

The huge spread between Williams’ share price it’s potential buyout price proposed by Energy Transfer Equity LP ETE shows that the market is growing increasingly skeptical that the deal will go through. Wiliams’ stock is down 36.8 percent in Q1.

2. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated VRTX

Vertex is yet another victim of the extremely challenging environment for biotech stocks. Vertex is down 37.6 percent in Q1.

1. Endo International plc – Ordinary Shares ENDP

Not only is Endo in the wrong sector in 2016, the company’s weak revenue guidance provided in its Q4 earnings report gave the market all the reason it needed to sell the stock. Endo’s massive 53.3 percent decline in Q1 makes it the worst-performing stock in the entire S&P 500 so far in 2016.

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.