While some sectors, like the homebuilders, really benefitted from macro trends in 2012, others were not so lucky.
Solar energy and for-profit education were two industries that got hit especially hard.
However, avoiding those two sectors wouldn't have completely shielded investors from some of the worst-performing stocks of the year. Accounting mishaps, secular decline, and suspension of dividends all contributed to some of the biggest share declines of 2012.
We took a look at the ten worst-performing stocks in the S&P 1500 (which includes mid and small-cap names) to see who got crushed this year.
For most of these stocks, it was a long slog all year.
NCI Inc (NCIT)
Return: -56 percent
Market cap: $67.0 million
Story: NCI, an IT services company that specializes in federal government contracts, got off to a rough start in January when it told investors it expected lower earnings and revenues in 2012, sending the stock tumbling 20 percent. Shares turned around after the company scored a big contract with the U.S. Army at the end of June. The stock plateaued in August and continued its decline through the end of the year.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
Return: -58 percent
Market cap: $1.6 billion
Story: AMD shares peaked in mid-March before heading lower for the rest of the year. Although the company was able to regain a bit of market share from Intel in the final quarter of 2012, it's been nowhere near enough to ensure the sustainability of AMD's future as more and more tablet and personal computer devices feature Intel chips.
Diamond Foods (DMND)
Return: -58 percent
Market cap: $299.8 million
Story: DMND shares plunged in early February after auditors found material weakness in internal accounting controls at the company and told it to restate financial statements from 2010 and 2011, and the CEO and CFO were relieved of their duties. Following the announcement, the stock continued to grind steadily lower throughout the year.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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