Before we hit the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Indices:.DJI) losers, let’s look at this week’s best-performing component. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), with a gain of 0.77%, was the only Dow stock that rose this past week. As gold, silver, and platinum rise, the value of the mining equipment Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) makes also rises, and if prices can sustain their current levels, we’re likely to see increased orders for its machinery as more people try to dig gold out of the ground.
The big losers
Shares of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) fell 3.95% this past week, after the company held its three-day D23 fan convention last weekend. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) hinted at the gathering that the company’s theme parks may gain a Star Wars expansion, but management was tight-lipped about the upcoming Star Wars movie and its plot. The company also recently became one of the most shorted Dow components based on the number of days it would take to cover all the shares that have been sold short. One of the reasons investors are losing confidence in the company is increased competition to The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)’s extremely profitable ESPN franchise from newcomer Fox Sports 1.
The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) came in as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Indices:.DJI)’s second worst loser this past week, as shares fell 4.55%, most likely because of rising interest rates. Since The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is closely tied to the housing market, the company may experience slower revenue growth if higher interest rates affect housing sales. But as I mentioned earlier this week, that thesis has a lot of caveats built into it. Investors who believe in The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)’s business and its ability to outperform the competition shouldn’t worry too much about how interest rates may affect the company in the short term.
Finally, the Dow’s biggest loser of the week was Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), which lost 6.83%. Wednesday night’s earnings report met Wall Street’s expectations, but the company lowered its guidance for the remainder of the year and announced plans to reduce its workforce in response to potentially lower revenues in the coming months. The job cuts sank the stock, and my colleague Rick Munarriz asked a great question yesterday: How does the company plan to meet its objectives for business and product growth if it’s laying people off? That’s a question investors are likely to bring up in the future if Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) continues to miss projected growth rates.
The other Dow losers this week:
(For more information on a stock fell lower this past week, click on the appropriate link.)
- 3M, down 2.04%
- Alcoa, down 1.22%
- American Express, down 0.44%
- AT&T, down 1.78%
- Bank of America, down 0.21%
- Boeing, down 1.77%
- Chevron, down 2.14%
- DuPont, down 2.44%
- ExxonMobil, down 3.1%
- General Electric, down 1.24%
- Hewlett-Packard, down 1.31%
- Intel, down 2.62%
- IBM, down 1.32%
- Johnson & Johnson, down 3.24%
- JPMorgan Chase, down 2.26%
- McDonald’s, down 2.65%
- Merck, down 1.43%
- Microsoft, down 2.75%
- Pfizer, down 2.88%
- Procter & Gamble, down 2.13%
- Coca-Cola, down 2.76%
- Travelers, down 1.22%
- United Technologies, down 2.4%
- UnitedHealth Group, down 2.06%
- Verizon, down 3.26%
- Wal-Mart, down 3.63%
The article Last Week’s Worst Performing Dow Components originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Matt Thalman.
Fool contributor Matt Thalman owns shares of Bank of America, Apple, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Walt Disney, and Johnson & Johnson. Check back Monday through Friday as Matt explains what caused the Dow’s winners and losers of the day, and every Saturday for a weekly recap. Follow Matt on Twitter @mthalman5513.
The Motley Fool recommends 3M, American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Chevron, Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, UnitedHealth Group, and Walt Disney and owns shares of Apple, Bank of America, General Electric, Intel, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, McDonald’s, Microsoft, and Walt Disney.
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