S&P 500 Losers: From Lululemon To MGM — What Went Wrong?

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During the week ending September 5, the S&P 500 was essentially unchanged, slipping 0.12%. In contrast, several notable S&P 500 stocks fell sharply, driven by a mix of earnings outlook revisions, regulatory risk, downgrades, demand concerns, and leadership changes.

Macroeconomic data pointed to a softer labor market, with nonfarm payrolls rising by just 22,000 in August—well below the 75,000 forecast—while the unemployment rate increased to 4.3%. These readings reinforce expectations that the Federal Reserve will proceed with its widely anticipated interest rate cut later this month. See an important current market context – S&P 500 Index To Crash 8%?

We break down the top movers below. If you want upside with less volatility than single-stock positions, consider the High Quality Portfolio. It has comfortably outpaced its benchmark—a blend of the S&P 500, Russell, and S&P MidCap indexes—and has delivered returns above 91% since its inception.

LULU stock plunged 17% after management cut full-year revenue and EPS guidance despite beating earnings estimates for the quarter. The guidance reset—rather than quarterly performance—sparked the latest selloff. U.S. same-store sales dropped 4%, offset by robust 17% growth in China and 12% elsewhere internationally. Now, the stock trades at just 1.8x trailing revenues, dramatically below its five-year average P/S ratio of 6.9, though persistent domestic softness and near-term headwinds may keep investors cautious for now.

KVUE stock fell 10% following reports that the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary may link its Tylenol brand to autism risk when used by pregnant women. Tylenol generates nearly 10% of Kenvue’s sales, so new litigation momentum could be significant. The stock is now valued at 2.6x trailing revenues, matching its recent 2-year average, and reflects uncertainty hanging over the legal landscape for this 2023 Johnson & Johnson spin-off.

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3. TransDigm (NYSE: TDG): Ratings Downgrades and Aftermarket Uncertainty

TDG stock declined 9% as research firms downgraded the shares, citing risks around normalization in its profitable aftermarket aerospace business and a lackluster recent quarter. Despite the selloff, TDG still trades at a premium 9.5x trailing revenues—above its 5-year average P/S of 7.9—which may reflect both confidence in long-term growth and heightened expectations after a strong run.

Constellation Brands (STZ) dropped 8% after projecting lower fiscal 2026 sales and earnings due to weakening beer demand in its key Hispanic American market. At $150 per share, STZ trades at 2.7x trailing revenues, well below its five-year average of 4.7x, but it could well be a value trap unless trends in beer consumption reverse.

MGM stock lost 8% after the announcement that longtime COO Corey Sanders will exit as Las Vegas visitation declines continue—a trend now seven months running, with July visitor counts down 12% year-over-year. The stock trades at just 0.6x trailing sales, far below its 1.6x five-year average. However, continued margin pressures and demand softness may justify the discounted valuation.

Remember, there is always meaningful risk when investing in a single stock, or just a handful of names. Consider the Trefis High-Quality (HQ) Portfolio, which, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4-year period. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.