Friday the 13th has been unlucky for the S&P, too
Tomorrow is Friday the 13th -- often considered to be the unluckiest of days. But does that hold up for the stock market? According to our research, the S&P 500 Index (SPX) could, in fact, take a dip (insert Camp Crystal Lake joke here), if past is prologue -- and blue-chip stocks UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could also be in danger. Further, Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) stock could struggle ahead of the company's turn in the earnings confessional next week.
Ill-Fated Day for S&P?
Since 2010, the SPX has ended Friday the 13th higher just 42.9% of the time -- that's compared to an anytime daily win rate of 54.6%, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White. On average, the stock market index has lost 0.19% on this day, compared to an average anytime daily gain of 0.05%. Still, it's worth noting that the S&P ended this day higher on both Fridays the 13th in 2017.
Beware These Stocks on Friday the 13th
Below are the 25 worst stocks to own on Friday the 13th, looking at returns since 2010. Dow stock UnitedHealth Group is one of only two SPX stocks with a win rate of just 14% -- the lowest of all. Further, UNH stock has averaged a loss of 0.31% on this date. Fellow blue chip Apple stock has racked up an even steeper average Friday the 13th loss of 0.81%, and has ended the day higher just 29% of the time since 2010.
Goldman Sachs stock, meanwhile, has also ended the day higher only 29% of the time, averaging a one-day loss of 0.6%. However, with big bank earnings from sector peers JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Citigroup Inc (C) slated for release tomorrow, it's likely GS shares will move in step with the rest of the financial sector. And the stock's short-term trajectory next week will be determined by Goldman's own earnings release, slated for Tuesday, April 17.
Caterpillar Stock Could Buck the Trend
As far as stocks that could defy the broad market's bad luck, blue chip Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) shares tend to hold up well. CAT stock has ended Friday the 13th higher 71% of the time since 2010, averaging a gain of 0.25%.
