4 Stocks That Punished Shareholders Last Week

This was the third week of trading for 2016, and many shareholders were affected this week as we saw broad markets and China crumble. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 felt an impact from China’s semiconductor issues, but some companies absolutely destroyed shareholders, for multiple reasons, and the broad markets help give that extra push down.

While these were not the four biggest absolute losers of the week, of the active stocks, these all issued news or had news that took place and pushed the stocks down. 24/7 Wall St. has tracked four companies that punished shareholders last week.

Alkermes

Less than favorable trial results absolutely tanked Alkermes PLC (NASDAQ: ALKS) early Thursday morning. The company announced preliminary top-line results from the first two of three Phase 3 efficacy studies (Forward-3 and Forward-4) for ALKS 5461.

Neither of these two studies met the prespecified primary efficacy endpoint, but in this type of clinical trial statistical analysis is not always on point. The company did note in its release that “Negative trials due to significant placebo effect are not uncommon in the study of major depressive disorder.”

Over the course of the week, the stock dropped roughly 42%, and it is down 54.4% year to date. Shares of Alkermes were trading at $36.16 at the end of Friday’s session, with a consensus analyst price target of $58.00 and a 52-week trading range of $32.41 to $80.71.
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Seadrill

Following a downgrade by Merrill Lynch, shares of Seadrill Ltd. (NYSE: SDRL) tanked on Wednesday. Considering the recent weakness in oil prices, a downgrade from one of the top investment banks is absolutely detrimental to the investor sentiment. Merrill Lynch dropped its rating to Underperform from Neutral. Despite the recovery in oil prices at the end of the week, there is still potential for oil to dive even lower, which could ruin this company.

Last week, the stock dropped 13%, and it is down 40% year to date. Seadrill shares closed at $2.04 on Friday, with a consensus price target of $6.29 and a 52-week range of $1.60 to $15.44.

SolarCity

Falling oil prices were to blame for the decline in SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) over the course of the week. Solar stocks are inherently tied to oil prices as an alternative source of energy, and with oil prices hitting a new low in the middle of the week. it’s almost expected to see a drop in SolarCity. While assuming a relationship between oil and solar might be an oversimplification by investors, it is still real enough to trade. However the stock made a slight recovery toward the end of the week, with rising oil prices and its first securitization of distributed solar loan assets.

Last week the stock dropped nearly 9%, and it is down 37% year to date. Shares of SolarCity were changing hands at $32.04 as Friday’s session came to a close, within a 52-week range of $24.07 to $63.79. The consensus analyst target is $68.88.

Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers International Inc. (NYSE: WTW) has been an absolute bear since the new year began and it appears that the “Oprah Effect” is wearing off. This stock absolutely skyrocketed when Oprah announced a stake in the company, as well as an endorsement deal and seat on the board. The stock more than doubled in this time. But the wind is coming out of the sails, and by the looks of it, New Year’s resolutions to diet and lose weight have fallen to the wayside.

The stock dropped roughly 16% over the course of the week, and it is down nearly 50% year to date. Shares were trading at $11.52 on Friday’s close. The consensus price target is $20.60, and the 52-week range is $3.67 to $28.05.