Stock Market Today, Aug. 20: Stocks Slide on Weak Retail Earnings, Rising Bond Yields
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES:^DJI) fell 1.32% to 52,759, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) declined 0.85% to 7,642, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) dropped 1.00% to 26,067 as rising oil prices and retail earnings pressure snapped Wednesday's relief rally.
Today's biggest moves
Retail giant Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) weighed on the market following a profit report that dampened consumer sentiment, while TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) fell roughly 3% after reporting a rare miss in its largest business segment.
Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) reversed its earlier gains to close lower despite positive sentiment from a White House crypto summit, while Lumentum Holdings (NASDAQ:LITE) shares rose as leadership highlighted surging demand for AI infrastructure components.
What this means for investors
Walmart shares helped lead the market lower after it reported earnings, with its stock sliding 9%. WMT stock is in the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq-100, so its slide weighed heavily on the broader market today. That said, the company beat analysts' expectations, but same-store sales of 2.6% and its 2026 guidance were weaker than hoped. Furthermore, management noted that $4 gas prices seem to be having a psychological effect on consumers' spending habits.
Meanwhile, apparel retailer TJX offered guidance that surpassed Wall Street's expectations -- and the company beat sales and earnings expectations for the quarter -- but the stock retreated 3% anyways.
With the U.S. national debt passing $40 trillion yesterday, relations with Iran still tumultuous at best, and bond yields still rising despite the Treasury's plan for a bond buyback, the market has become a bit more iffy than it has been recently. That said, two-thirds of the stocks in the S&P 500 are positive so far in 2026, so it is important to zoom out a bit and realize we are not in a perilous situation just yet.
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Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Robinhood Markets. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lumentum and TJX Companies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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