The Biggest Stock Losses YTD; How They Look Now Tickers in this article: WTW, LL, SONS, CZR These four stocks have been hit hard by the sellers this year, all down more than 50% year to date (YTD), while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is up 3.18% for the year (as of June 5). These companies have at least $300 million in market capitalization and average volume exceeds one million shares per day. Being so hard hit, here's how the stocks look now. For some it may be time to buy, and for others, another shorting/selling opportunity may be just around the corner. All performance figures are from the start of 2015 up to June 5.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW) 
Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW) has slid 77.9% YTD. Hitting a new low at $5.13 on June 1, as of yet the stock is showing no technical signs of a reversal. Sellers remain in control and rallies to the $7 and $8 resistance areas are likely draw in sellers again. Short sellers will be watching these areas to enter short trades in anticipation the downtrend will continue. Since March the price is moving within a descending trend channel. A move above $7 is the first bullish sign, as a move above that levels breaks the channel. There is still resistance above though, so going long at $7 may be a bit premature. Rather let the price rally to $8 or higher, and then only consider buying this stock if (after reaching $8 or higher) the pullback following that rally stays above $7. Having created a higher swing high and higher swing low, that will provide more evidence a reversal could be underway. Until then, best to avoid the long.
Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (LL) 
Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (LL) is down 67.77% YTD. The trouble started on February 25--the stock had an intraday high of $69.99 and closed at $50.63. The price has continued to drop since. On multiple occasions it has moved sideways for a few weeks then gapped lower. Currently the price is in one of these sideways periods following a gap lower. Sellers and short sellers will be looking to unload shares if the price drops below the June low of $20.07. Even if the price rallies, the $25 region is likely to provide stiff resistance as this was the starting point of the last gap down. Buying isn't recommended in the near future, as the trend is down and therefore the best opportunities remain on the short side.
Sonus Networks, Inc. (SONS) 
Sonus Networks, Inc. (SONS) had a major swing high at $20.80 on December 31. YTD it is down 59.7%. Since April though the price has moved sideways. This could be a basing pattern, showing selling is stalled and buyers are stepping in above the low at $7.50. The high of sideways movement is $8.55. A move above this is a potential buy signal, as there is minor resistance at $9.90, but the next major resistance isn't until the $13 area. That's where the price gapped lower from in late March. That leaves a lot of space for the price to rally. On the flip side, the long-term trend is still down, so a drop below the range low at $7.50 is a bearish sign that the price could go even lower.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CZR) 
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CZR) has fallen 59.15% YTD, down 31.52% in the last week alone on more than five times the average volume. Such volume spikes can often represent a short term turning point in a stock, as the sellers exhaust themselves, and with no one left to sell the stock drifts sideways or higher. Such volume spikes have occurred multiple times over the last couple years though, and none have resulted in a major trend reversal. From a long-term perspective the trend remains down--based on a descending trendline--as long as the price stays below the $10 mark. $9 is also likely to be a resistance point as that is where the price broke below a multi-month triangle pattern. These are opportunities for short sells to step in to take advantage of long-term weakness. Signs of reversal could occur before these levels though. A rally above $8 followed by a pullback which stays above the $5.95 low would be one possible scenario for bulls to look for.
The Bottom Line A big sell off can lure buyers in because the stock seems "cheap" compared to what it was trading at before. Think of it from the perspective of someone who bought before the price decline though. Those earlier buyers are eager to get out and cut their losses, so a brief rally may provide them with the exit point (to sell) that they need. In due time, if the stock is to reverse, the price action will give clues. The stock will start making higher swing highs and higher swing lows. It will pass above resistance levels, and stay above support levels. Wait for those signals before going long. Until then, stay out of new long positions or look for shorting opportunities to take advantage of the downtrend.
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