In a turbulent week for Wall Street, several large-cap stocks experienced sharp declines, with automotive giant Stellantis N.V. leading the pack as the biggest loser among major companies. From February 2 to February 6, 2026, the market saw heightened volatility driven by earnings reports, forward guidance, and analyst adjustments, affecting investor sentiment across various sectors. According to financial news outlet Benzinga, Stellantis shares tumbled 26.24%, marking the most significant drop among the top 10 large-cap underperformers.
The downturn for Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA), the multinational automaker behind brands like Jeep, Fiat, and Peugeot, came on the heels of a stark warning from the company about its financial outlook. Executives at Stellantis issued a cautionary statement regarding a projected full-year net loss, citing challenges such as supply chain disruptions, rising production costs, and softening demand in key markets like Europe and North America. This news, reported widely on February 4, prompted investors to sell off shares aggressively, erasing billions in market value over the trading sessions that followed.
Analysts tracking the automotive sector pointed to broader industry pressures as contributing factors. "The warning from Stellantis underscores the ongoing struggles in the global auto market, where electric vehicle transitions and economic uncertainties are weighing heavily on profitability," said one automotive expert quoted in industry reports. The company's stock, which had been trading around $20 per share at the start of the week, closed Friday below $15, reflecting a loss of over a quarter of its value in just five days.
Not far behind Stellantis was Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT), a leading provider of research and advisory services in information technology, which saw its shares plummet 25.41%. The decline was triggered by the release of Gartner's fourth-quarter financial results on February 5, which, while meeting some expectations, included guidance for fiscal year 2026 that fell short of Wall Street's optimistic forecasts. According to Benzinga, the company projected slower revenue growth amid concerns over enterprise spending cuts in a high-interest-rate environment.
Compounding the pressure, multiple analysts from firms like JPMorgan and Barclays lowered their price targets on Gartner stock in the days following the earnings call. One analyst noted, "Gartner's FY26 outlook reflects a more cautious stance on IT budgets, which could signal broader tech sector headwinds." The stock, a staple in many institutional portfolios, dropped from above $450 to under $340 by week's end, raising questions about the sustainability of its recent growth trajectory.
Social media platform Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT) also faced a rough patch, with shares slumping 23.10% during the same period. Benzinga reported that the drop was largely attributed to a wave of analyst downgrades, as experts reassessed the company's monetization potential in a crowded digital advertising landscape. Reddit, which went public in March 2024, has been navigating challenges in converting its massive user base into consistent revenue streams, particularly with competition from platforms like TikTok and X.
"Analysts are tempering expectations for Reddit's ad revenue growth, citing slower user engagement metrics and macroeconomic pressures," Benzinga summarized in its analysis. The stock's volatility was evident as it traded in a wide range, opening the week near $60 and closing below $47, prompting retail investors—who form a significant portion of Reddit's shareholder base—to voice concerns on the platform itself about the company's direction.
Other notable decliners included Novo Nordisk A/S, the Danish pharmaceutical powerhouse known for its diabetes and obesity treatments like Ozempic, which reportedly fell among the top 10 large-cap losers, though exact percentages were not detailed in initial reports. Sources indicated the drop was linked to regulatory scrutiny over drug pricing and potential competition from generic alternatives, affecting investor confidence in the biotech sector.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PYPL) also made the list, with shares declining amid ongoing concerns about digital payment adoption rates slowing in a post-pandemic economy. Benzinga highlighted PayPal as one of the leaders in the weekly losers, attributing the slide to weaker-than-expected transaction volumes reported in recent filings. The fintech giant, once a darling of the tech boom, has been grappling with intensified rivalry from Apple Pay and other wallet services.
Further down the list were Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX), a medical device manufacturer, and IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV), a healthcare data analytics firm, both of which saw double-digit percentage drops. Benzinga noted these companies were impacted by sector-specific issues, including reimbursement pressures in healthcare and delays in clinical trials. For Boston Scientific, the decline followed mixed results from its cardiovascular device segment, while IQVIA faced headwinds from pharmaceutical clients tightening R&D budgets.
IREN Limited (NASDAQ:IREN), a bitcoin mining and data center operator, rounded out the notable mentions, with its stock falling sharply due to cryptocurrency market fluctuations and energy cost concerns. As bitcoin prices dipped below $40,000 during the week, mining stocks like IREN bore the brunt, according to market trackers. The company's exposure to volatile crypto assets amplified the losses, dropping its shares by over 15% in the period.
The collective performance of these large-cap stocks painted a picture of a market sensitive to corporate warnings and analyst sentiments. Last week's trading volume spiked on days when earnings were released, with the S&P 500 index itself ending the period down 1.2%, influenced by these high-profile declines. Investors in diversified portfolios were left reassessing holdings, particularly those with exposure to autos, tech services, and biotech.
From a broader perspective, the week's events highlighted ongoing economic anxieties, including persistent inflation data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 3, which showed consumer prices rising 3.1% year-over-year. This fueled speculation about the Federal Reserve's next moves on interest rates, indirectly pressuring growth-oriented stocks like those in the top losers list.
Experts offered varied takes on the implications. Some, like those at Benzinga, urged caution: "These ten large-cap stocks were the worst performers last week. Are they a part of your portfolio?" they asked in their headline, emphasizing the need for vigilance. Others in the financial community suggested the dips could present buying opportunities if underlying fundamentals remain strong, though they advised waiting for more clarity on guidance revisions.
Looking ahead, market watchers anticipate continued scrutiny on upcoming earnings seasons and geopolitical developments, such as U.S.-China trade tensions affecting automakers like Stellantis. For investors, the week served as a reminder of the risks in large-cap investments, even for established names. As one portfolio manager put it in a post-week analysis, "Volatility like this tests the resilience of any strategy—diversification is key." With the next Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for late February, all eyes will be on how these battered stocks recover or further falter.