Markets were a bit of a mess this Friday. If you’ve been looking at your portfolio today, January 17, 2026, and seeing more red than a Valentine’s Day aisle, you aren't alone. Between a weirdly quiet corporate earnings season and some political drama surrounding the Federal Reserve, the "biggest stock losers of the day" aren't just names on a screen—they’re a signal that the 2026 bull market might be hitting a speed bump.
Honestly, it’s been a confusing week. We have the S&P 500 hovering near its all-time high (around 6,940), but the vibe is tense. The Dow dropped about 83 points, and the Nasdaq basically flatlined. But the real story is in the individual stocks that got hammered.
Why Energy and Health Care are Tanking
If you’re holding utility or green energy stocks, today was rough. Like, really rough. Constellation Energy (CEG) and Vistra Corp (VST) are leading the pack of decliners. Constellation plummeted nearly 10%, while Vistra dropped over 7%.
Why? It’s mostly political.
There’s a lot of chatter coming out of Washington about a push to lower electricity prices. When the government starts talking about intervening in energy markets, investors tend to freak out and sell first, ask questions later. It’s a classic "policy risk" move. People are scared that existing lucrative deals for nuclear and high-end power generation might get nerfed.
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In the healthcare space, West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) took a 7% dive. When a staple like that drops, it usually means something is up with the supply chain or a bigger player is shifting their weight around. Even Humana (HUM) and CVS Health (CVS) weren't safe, both sliding over 3%.
The Fed Drama is Making Everyone Twitchy
You've probably heard the name Kevin Hassett a dozen times today. Basically, President Trump hinted that Hassett—who everyone thought was a lock for the Federal Reserve Chair position—might just stay in his current role at the National Economic Council instead.
Markets hate uncertainty.
The moment that news broke, the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.23%. That’s the highest it’s been since September. When yields go up, stocks—especially tech and growth stocks—usually go down. It's like a see-saw. Today, the see-saw tipped, and it left a lot of traders feeling pretty salty about their positions.
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A Closer Look at Today's Biggest Decliners
It wasn't just the big names. Some of the mid-caps and specialty stocks got absolutely crushed. Look at Amcor plc (AMCR). They were down over 7.2% today. They just finished a reverse stock split, and usually, that's supposed to help, but the market didn't buy it.
Then you have the high-flyers like AppLovin (APP), which dropped 6.3%. After the insane run AI-related stocks have had over the last two years, people are looking for any excuse to take profits.
- Constellation Energy (CEG): Down 9.82% ($307.71)
- Vistra Corp (VST): Down 7.54% ($166.60)
- Amcor (AMCR): Down 7.29% ($40.94)
- West Pharmaceutical (WST): Down 7.02% ($259.79)
- AppLovin (APP): Down 6.30% ($568.76)
It’s worth noting that even "safe" stocks like State Street (STT) fell about 6%. They actually reported decent earnings recently, but the broader market volatility and a decrease in quarterly profit margins have investors acting skittish.
Is the AI Bubble Finally Popping?
Economists like Dean Baker have been sounding the alarm for a while now, calling this an "AI bubble." Whether he's right or just another "prophet of doom" is up for debate. But when you see Palantir (PLTR) dropping 3.4% and Nvidia (NVDA) struggling to keep its head above water, you have to wonder if the hype is finally meeting reality.
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The fourth-quarter earnings season is just starting. If these tech giants don't post absolutely perfect numbers, the list of biggest stock losers of the day is going to get a lot longer.
What You Should Actually Do Now
Don't panic-sell just because you see a -10% next to a ticker. That’s how you lose money. Instead, check the why behind the drop. If a stock like Constellation Energy is down because of a tweet or a rumor about government policy, that might be a buying opportunity if the fundamentals are still solid.
However, if you're holding stocks that are dropping because of missed earnings or structural shifts in their industry, it might be time to re-evaluate.
Watch the bond market. If that 10-year yield keeps climbing past 4.25%, expect more red days for the S&P 500. Keep an eye on the Fed leadership news next week, especially with the Lisa Cook legal battle heading to the Supreme Court. That’s going to be the real catalyst for where we go from here.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Review your energy exposure: If you're heavy on utilities, check if your specific holdings are directly impacted by the new pricing proposals.
- Check your stop-losses: In a volatile market like this, having an exit plan isn't being "weak"—it's being smart.
- Wait for the dust to settle: The market usually overreacts on Friday afternoons. See if these losers bounce back on Monday morning before making any massive trades.