S&P 500: Gains and Losses on December 5

S&P 500: Gains and Losses on December 5

The S&P 500 dipped 0.2% on Thursday, ending a four-day streak of record highs, as major U.S. equity indexes pulled back ahead of Friday’s jobs report. The Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average also retreated, losing 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively.

Top Performers

Brown-Forman (BF.B)

Gain: +10.7%

Driver: The whiskey maker surpassed quarterly estimates, driven by strong demand for its Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve brands. Expectations for international growth also boosted investor sentiment.

American Airlines (AAL)

Gain: +16.8%

Driver: Upgraded guidance due to robust travel demand and an extended card partnership with Citi (C) fueled optimism.

Tesla (TSLA)

Gain: +3.2%

Driver: Bank of America analysts raised their price target following a visit to Tesla's Giga Austin plant, citing progress with the Optimus humanoid robot.

Airlines Sector

United Airlines (UAL): +3.2%

Delta Airlines (DAL): +2.4%

Southwest Airlines (LUV): +2.0%

Driver: Strong travel demand and improved earnings guidance lifted the sector.

Biggest Losers

Synopsys (SNPS)

Loss: -12.4%

Driver: Despite beating revenue and profit estimates, the electronic design firm provided a weak 2025 outlook due to U.S. restrictions on chipmaking exports to China.

Lyft (LYFT)

Loss: -10.1%

Driver: Concerns over competition grew as Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, announced plans to launch robotaxi services in Miami by 2026.

Uber Technologies (UBER)

Loss: -9.6%

Driver: Similar to Lyft, Uber faced headwinds from Waymo's robotaxi expansion plans, signaling potential disruption in the rideshare market.

Cadence Design Systems (CDNS)

Loss: -6.4%

Driver: Shares fell in tandem with Synopsys, as the semiconductor restrictions weighed on the electronic design software sector.

Ball Corp. (BALL)

Loss: -5.8%

Driver: Aluminum export tax rebate removals by China raised supply concerns but failed to support Ball Corp., despite higher aluminum prices.

Market Insights

The mixed performance reflects sector-specific dynamics: strong consumer demand lifted airlines and whiskey makers, while technology and ridesharing stocks faced headwinds from regulatory challenges and competitive threats. Investors are now turning their focus to the upcoming employment data for additional market direction.