US Stock Market Sector Analysis – Thursday, March 12, 2026
BEARISH
The US stock market faced a challenging session today, with 16 out of 24 sectors closing lower. Notably, the Airlines sector dropped 3.3%, with United Airlines (UAL) leading the declines after a 4.6% fall to $86.53. The Magnificent 7 stocks struggled as well, with all members reporting losses, including Apple (AAPL) down 1.9% at $255.76 and NVIDIA (NVDA) down 1.6% at $183.14. In contrast, the Materials sector showed resilience, gaining 3.2%, driven by strong performances from Air Products (APD) and Linde (LIN).
Sector Performance (Base=100)
Today's Market Events
Key Headlines
What's Going on With Gas Prices and What Will Be the Impact?Yahoo
3 Industry-Leading Consumer Companies Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Unique WaysYahoo
Explore the top gainers and losers within the S&P500 index in today's session.ChartMill
These S&P500 stocks are moving in today's sessionChartMill
United (UAL)Wall Street’s $138.56 Price Target Makes United Airlines’ Sell-off Look Like a Buying OpportunityYahoo
American Airlines Drops 4% as the Airline Sector Hits an Air PocketYahoo
WNBA players say they’re 'feeling movement' as league, union push toward landmark CBACNBC
Earnings Releases
Adobe (ADBE)EPS: $6.06 vs est $5.99 (beat)
AI and Technology Sector Analysis
Today, the AI and technology investment theme faced headwinds, particularly among the Magnificent 7, which collectively declined by 1.9%. Stocks like Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN) also saw slight downturns, with prices at $401.86 and $209.53, respectively. The ongoing challenges in the chip supply chain were highlighted by TSMC (TSM) dropping 5.0% to $336.71, indicating potential risks for infrastructure and enterprise software investments in the near term.
The Materials sector emerged as a standout, gaining 3.2% today, supported by strong performances from companies like Air Products (APD), which rose 4.6% to $290.48, and Linde (LIN), up 1.8% at $490.41. This sector's robust performance contrasts sharply with the broader market trends, demonstrating resilience due to increased industrial demand and favorable pricing in commodities.
The Energy sector also posted a positive return, climbing 2.0% led by Chevron (CVX), which increased 2.7% to $196.97. The sector benefited from rising gas prices, as noted in recent news, which could provide a buffer against inflationary pressures. This upward movement is particularly significant as it reflects ongoing supply chain adjustments within the energy markets.
In stark contrast, the Airlines sector faced significant challenges, with a 3.3% decline today. United Airlines (UAL) was one of the top losers, falling 4.6% to $86.53, amid broader concerns over operational costs and demand fluctuations. The sector's struggles are highlighted by a staggering 18.6% decline over the last 20 days, indicating persistent headwinds and potential caution among investors.
The Chip Supply Chain sector continued to underperform, reflecting broader market concerns, with TSMC (TSM) dropping 5.0% to $336.71 and Intel (INTC) falling 5.7% to $45.25. These declines underscore ongoing supply issues and competitive pressures within the semiconductor market, which are likely to impact technology investments moving forward.
Lastly, the Enterprise Software sector remained under pressure, showing no change today but reflecting a steep 22.6% decline over the past 50 days. Salesforce (CRM), despite a 2.7% gain today to $199.28, is indicative of the sector's volatility. This performance could signal a critical juncture for investors as they reassess growth prospects in a shifting economic landscape.
Market Breadth Analysis
US stock market breadth analysis shows 10 of 24 sectors trading above their 50-day moving average, while 14 are below. With the majority of sectors below the 50-day MA, medium-term momentum is deteriorating. The 20-day breadth shows 15 sectors in negative territory, pointing to widespread selling pressure.
Interactive Charts
S&P 500 & NASDAQ 100
20-Day Sector Performance
1-Day vs 5-Day Sector Change
Active Alerts
HIGHAirlines down -18.6% over 20 days
HIGHLogistics down -10.2% over 20 days
HIGHAnalog & Embedded Chips down -17.4% over 20 days
HIGHEnterprise Software down -22.6% over 50 days
HIGHIT Services down -22.5% over 50 days
HIGHAirlines down -19.3% over 50 days
HIGHCybersecurity down -16.8% over 50 days
HIGH5 sectors declining >5% over 20 days: Finance, IT Services, Airlines, Logistics, Analog & Embedded Chips
HIGH7 sectors declining >10% over 50 days: Enterprise Software, Finance, Healthcare, IT Services, Airlines, Hospitality & Travel, Cybersecurity
Stock-Level Detail
Mag 7 (AI Spenders)Show individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
MSFT
$401.86
-0.7%
-1.7%
+0.2%
BELOW
3
AMZN
$209.53
-1.5%
-1.7%
+5.0%
BELOW
2
NVDA
$183.14
-1.6%
+3.0%
-2.0%
BELOW
1
GOOG
$303.21
-1.7%
+1.7%
-2.0%
BELOW
1
AAPL
$255.76
-1.9%
-0.7%
-2.3%
BELOW
2
META
$638.18
-2.5%
-1.0%
-1.8%
BELOW
1
TSLA
$395.01
-3.1%
-0.4%
-5.3%
BELOW
1
Chip Supply ChainShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
AVGO
$335.97
-1.6%
+1.7%
+1.4%
ABOVE
3
QCOM
$131.15
-2.2%
-3.3%
-5.3%
BELOW
3
MRVL
$87.67
-3.1%
-2.1%
+12.1%
ABOVE
2
AMD
$197.74
-3.5%
+2.8%
-4.0%
BELOW
1
ARM
$115.12
-4.1%
+0.6%
-5.8%
BELOW
2
TSM
$336.71
-5.0%
-0.6%
-8.5%
BELOW
1
INTC
$45.25
-5.7%
+4.2%
-2.6%
BELOW
1
InfrastructureShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
DELL
$149.91
+1.7%
+2.3%
+32.9%
ABOVE
0
HPE
$21.58
+0.7%
+2.1%
-2.8%
BELOW
0
CSCO
$77.74
-0.5%
-1.1%
+3.7%
BELOW
1
VRT
$265.38
-1.1%
+9.8%
+12.2%
ABOVE
2
SMCI
$30.90
-2.8%
-1.3%
+1.5%
BELOW
1
Enterprise SoftwareShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
CRM
$199.28
+2.7%
-1.4%
+7.5%
BELOW
0
PLTR
$153.50
+1.3%
-2.3%
+18.9%
BELOW
0
ADBE
$269.78
-1.4%
-4.9%
+2.8%
BELOW
4
NOW
$112.97
-2.3%
-9.1%
+9.4%
BELOW
4
FinanceShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
JPM
$282.89
-1.6%
-2.3%
-6.5%
BELOW
3
GS
$787.52
-4.4%
-4.1%
-12.9%
BELOW
2
HealthcareShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
LLY
$977.25
-2.3%
-1.3%
-5.7%
BELOW
3
UNH
$277.05
-2.9%
-2.5%
-2.6%
BELOW
1
RetailShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
WMT
$125.33
+1.5%
+1.2%
-6.2%
ABOVE
0
COST
$1003.32
+1.1%
+0.5%
+0.4%
ABOVE
0
IT ServicesShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
IBM
$247.68
-0.5%
-4.3%
-4.6%
BELOW
4
ACN
$196.05
-2.7%
-8.8%
-11.7%
BELOW
4
AirlinesShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
DAL
$57.94
-2.0%
-1.8%
-16.4%
BELOW
3
UAL
$86.53
-4.6%
-6.0%
-20.8%
BELOW
3
Hospitality & TravelShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
BKNG
$4217.71
-2.4%
-7.3%
+1.4%
BELOW
5
MAR
$316.31
-3.1%
-2.3%
-10.7%
BELOW
1
Food & RestaurantShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
MCD
$323.91
-0.4%
-1.3%
-2.5%
ABOVE
3
SBUX
$100.18
-1.2%
+1.2%
+4.2%
ABOVE
1
LogisticsShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
FDX
$353.13
-2.3%
-1.3%
-4.4%
ABOVE
1
UPS
$97.89
-2.9%
-4.4%
-15.9%
BELOW
2
IndustrialShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
CAT
$700.69
-1.0%
+2.9%
-7.6%
ABOVE
2
HON
$233.40
-2.5%
-0.8%
-2.2%
ABOVE
2
CybersecurityShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
PANW
$168.12
+1.9%
+1.9%
+3.3%
BELOW
0
CRWD
$441.54
-0.1%
+2.9%
+7.3%
ABOVE
1
ZS
$151.61
-1.4%
-7.6%
-11.3%
BELOW
4
Chip EquipmentShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
ASML
$1351.58
-2.5%
+4.5%
-3.9%
BELOW
1
AMAT
$337.27
-3.9%
+3.9%
+2.8%
ABOVE
1
LRCX
$209.49
-4.3%
+5.1%
-9.4%
BELOW
1
Data Center REITsShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
DLR
$180.40
-0.1%
+2.4%
+0.0%
ABOVE
2
EQIX
$971.47
-0.2%
+3.7%
+2.0%
ABOVE
1
UtilitiesShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
SO
$97.84
+1.6%
+0.4%
+6.5%
ABOVE
0
DUK
$131.82
+1.4%
-0.5%
+5.4%
ABOVE
0
NEE
$91.73
+0.1%
+0.8%
+0.5%
ABOVE
0
EnergyShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
CVX
$196.97
+2.7%
+3.7%
+9.0%
ABOVE
0
XOM
$153.53
+1.3%
+1.5%
+2.4%
ABOVE
0
Defense & AerospaceShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
LMT
$652.83
+0.5%
-2.8%
+2.4%
ABOVE
0
GD
$355.23
+0.4%
-2.3%
+4.2%
ABOVE
0
RTX
$203.04
-2.0%
-3.2%
+1.3%
ABOVE
1
TelecomShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
T
$27.39
+0.8%
-4.4%
-4.9%
ABOVE
0
TMUS
$214.37
+0.4%
-3.2%
+0.3%
ABOVE
0
VZ
$50.63
-0.1%
-1.0%
+2.4%
ABOVE
2
Media & EntertainmentShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
NFLX
$94.31
-0.6%
-4.8%
+24.3%
ABOVE
5
DIS
$99.43
-1.4%
-2.1%
-2.9%
BELOW
3
BiotechShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
GILD
$145.21
-0.5%
+0.9%
-4.3%
ABOVE
2
AMGN
$367.79
-2.6%
-0.5%
+1.1%
ABOVE
1
MaterialsShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
APD
$290.48
+4.6%
+6.7%
-0.3%
ABOVE
0
LIN
$490.41
+1.8%
+1.5%
+3.7%
ABOVE
0
Analog & Embedded ChipsShow individual tickers
Ticker
Price
1D
5D
20D
vs 50MA
Down Days
TXN
$190.05
-4.3%
-1.6%
-14.8%
BELOW
1
MCHP
$62.73
-4.7%
-3.1%
-20.0%
BELOW
1
Key Stock Movers
Today's biggest movers by absolute percentage change: Intel (INTC) (Chip Supply Chain) fell 5.7% to $45.25. TSMC (TSM) (Chip Supply Chain) fell 5.0% to $336.71. Microchip Technology (MCHP) (Analog & Embedded Chips) fell 4.7% to $62.73. Air Products (APD) (Materials) rose 4.6% to $290.48. United (UAL) (Airlines) fell 4.6% to $86.53. These individual stock movements were key drivers of their respective sector performance.
Risk and Opportunity Assessment
On the risk side, 9 high-severity alerts are currently active, signaling significant sector declines that warrant portfolio risk management attention. Consider reducing exposure to affected sectors and tightening stop-loss levels.
US Stock Market Outlook
Looking ahead, the market breadth remains concerning, with 14 sectors below their 50-day moving averages. Active alerts indicate heightened volatility, particularly in the Airlines and Logistics sectors, both showing significant declines over the past 20 days. Investors should consider defensive positioning and closely monitor sector performance as the market navigates these uncertainties.