S&P 500 Recap: Fiserv Drags, Steris Leads Gainers on Strong Earnings

S&P 500 Recap: Fiserv Drags, Steris Leads Gainers on Strong Earnings

U.S. equities ended Thursday, May 15, on a mixed note as investors digested upbeat retail sales data alongside company-specific developments and policy concerns.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 5,916.93, rebounding from early losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7% to 42,322.75, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.2% to 19,112.32 under pressure from tech stocks.

? Top Gainers

• Steris (STE) soared 8.5%, leading the S&P 500, after posting better-than-expected Q4 earnings. The medical equipment provider reported strong growth across its healthcare, AST, and life sciences units.

• Dollar General (DG) rose 6.0%, as analysts noted its pricing flexibility amid tariff concerns—a factor that weighed on larger retailers like Walmart.

• HCA Healthcare (HCA) advanced 4.9% after Bank of America raised its price target and reaffirmed a “Buy” rating, citing strong healthcare demand and efficient cost control.

? Top Losers

• Fiserv (FI) plunged 16.2%, the worst performer in the S&P 500. Its CFO warned that growth for its Clover payment platform would likely stall, as previous momentum came from internal customer migration, which can't be repeated.

• UnitedHealth Group (UNH) dropped 10.9% amid news of a Department of Justice investigation into potential Medicare fraud. This follows earlier losses tied to CEO departure and suspended 2025 forecasts.

• First Solar (FSLR) declined 3.5%, pulling back from earlier gains after a Congressional proposal suggested continued, but not expanded, support for key solar industry credits.

? Other Market Highlights

• Retail Sales showed a modest increase in April, signaling consumer resilience despite macro headwinds.

• Walmart (WMT) shares dipped after its CFO flagged potential profit risks from elevated tariffs.

• Commodities:

  • Gold gained 1.2% to $3,227.10 per ounce

  • Silver rose 0.9% to $32.75

  • Oil (WTI for June) fell 2.2% to $61.76/barrel

• Treasury Yields declined, with the 10-year falling to 4.5% and the 2-year to 4%, easing from recent highs.

• Sector Performance:

  • Utilities led sector gains

  • Consumer Discretionary lagged behind