Chevron, Exxon, Hess Lead As Tech Giants Stumble In Q1 2025

The S&P 500 had a rough start to 2025, sinking 6.53% over the first quarter, but not every sector suffered the same fate.

While energy stocks lit up the leaderboard with a scorching 9.31% gain, consumer discretionary and technology stocks took a beating, plunging 14.23% and 13.1%, respectively.

Energy's Power Play

Oil and gas stocks came out swinging, with Hess Corp HES leading the charge, soaring 21.34% over the past three months. EQT Corp EQT followed closely, rising 19.61%, while Devon Energy Corp DVN and Coterra Energy (CTRA) also posted double-digit gains.

The biggest energy players, Chevron Corp CVX and Exxon Mobil Corp XOM, delivered solid performances as well, gaining 15.34% and 10.57%, respectively.

Read Also: Chevron Hits 52-Week High – Warren Buffett’s 5th Largest Holding Is on Fire, But Should You Buy?

Consumer Discretionary's Divide

It was a brutal quarter for consumer discretionary, but not all stocks in the sector were drowning. Auto parts retailers proved surprisingly resilient, with O'Reilly Automotive Inc ORLY accelerating 17.64% and AutoZone Inc AZO climbing 16.33%. Yum! Brands Inc YUM, the parent company of Taco Bell and KFC, also managed a 15.18% gain, proving that fast food remains a winning bet even in choppy markets.

Tech's Tough Quarter—But Some Shined

Tech stocks had a miserable run, but a few managed to buck the trend. VeriSign Inc VRSN surged 23.03%, leading the charge, while Intel Corp INTC and Roper Technologies Inc ROP gained 11.87% and 11.21%, respectively. IBM IBM also posted a solid 9.53% gain, and Palantir Technologies Inc PLTR continued its momentum, adding 8.56%.

What's Next?

With the second quarter underway, investors will be watching if Energy can keep its momentum or if beaten-down sectors like Tech and Consumer Discretionary stage a comeback.

For now, it’s clear: Energy stocks ruled the first quarter, while Tech and Discretionary stocks got left in the dust.

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