US Stock Market Sector Analysis – Wednesday, May 21, 2025 BEARISH

A broad selloff gripped the US stock market today after healthcare weakness and select earnings headlines pressured risk appetite, leaving all 24 sectors lower. Healthcare led the declines, sliding 4.4% on the day and weighing on names such as UnitedHealth (UNH) which tumbled 5.8% to $293.00 after the move. Defensive Utilities and Airlines also lagged — NextEra Energy (NEE) fell 3.9% to $68.97 while United (UAL) lost 3.9% to $73.33 — even as parts of the Magnificent 7 showed mixed performance. Alphabet (GOOG) bucked the trend, rising 2.9% to $169.37, but heavyweight Apple (AAPL) was down 2.3% and remains below its 50-day moving average, amplifying the market’s risk-off tone that pushed the S&P 500 lower across sectors today.

Market Condition Dashboard

US 10-Year Treasury Yield

Sell / Wait

4.58%

rising

Impact

Confidence

Crude Oil (WTI)

Neutral

$61.57

-1.6% 1D

Impact

Confidence

VIX (Fear Index)

Elevated Caution

20.9

+15.4% 1D

Impact

Confidence

200-Day Moving Average

Mixed Signals

1/3 below

SPY above (+1.8%), QQQ above (+4.2%), DIA below (-0.5%)

Impact

Confidence

Tracked Stocks Breadth (50DMA)

Late-Cycle Caution

79%

54 of 68 above 50DMA · +4.4pp 5D

Impact

Confidence

Put/Call Ratio (5D)

Caution

0.75

Call-Heavy · stable

Impact

Confidence

Signal analysis only — not investment advice

Sector Performance (Base=100)

AI and Technology Sector Analysis

The AI investment theme remains a central market narrative, but today's action showed rotation within the Mag 7 and across the chip supply chain. NVIDIA (NVDA) slipped 1.9% to $131.62 despite a strong 20-day trend (+23.8%), while Amazon (AMZN) pulled back 1.4% to $201.12 even as MSFT (Microsoft (MSFT)) held up above its 50-day line at $448.98. Broader AI infrastructure names in the Chip Supply Chain and Data Center REITs are above their 50-day moving averages and continue to price in steady demand for GPUs and datacenter capex, keeping the AI capex trade intact despite near-term volatility.

US Stock Sector Overview

Sector	1D	5D	20D	vs 50MA
Mag 7 (AI Spenders)	-1.0%	-1.4%	+14.2%	ABOVE
Chip Supply Chain	-1.4%	-2.8%	+11.1%	ABOVE
Infrastructure	-1.7%	-1.6%	+15.8%	ABOVE
Enterprise Software	-1.9%	-2.1%	+10.3%	ABOVE
Finance	-1.9%	-3.0%	+7.8%	ABOVE
Healthcare	-4.4%	+4.8%	-22.0%	BELOW
Retail	-1.3%	+0.8%	+3.1%	ABOVE
IT Services	-1.5%	-1.9%	+11.8%	ABOVE
Airlines	-3.7%	-4.1%	+10.7%	ABOVE
Hospitality & Travel	-1.4%	-1.5%	+10.0%	ABOVE
Food & Restaurant	-2.1%	-1.8%	-0.1%	BELOW
Logistics	-1.9%	-4.6%	-0.5%	BELOW
Industrial	-1.7%	-0.9%	+11.4%	ABOVE
Cybersecurity	-3.3%	-1.4%	+8.8%	ABOVE
Chip Equipment	-1.8%	-4.1%	+11.4%	ABOVE
Data Center REITs	-1.5%	-0.3%	+7.3%	ABOVE
Utilities	-2.0%	+0.3%	+1.5%	ABOVE
Energy	-1.2%	-4.0%	-2.5%	BELOW
Defense & Aerospace	-1.4%	+0.1%	+4.5%	ABOVE
Telecom	-0.8%	+0.5%	-2.1%	ABOVE
Media & Entertainment	-0.7%	-0.1%	+15.8%	ABOVE
Biotech	-1.3%	+4.1%	-0.4%	BELOW
Materials	-1.6%	-0.7%	+0.8%	BELOW
Analog & Embedded Chips	-2.1%	-1.9%	+20.5%	ABOVE

Sector Warnings

Healthcare -4.4% 20d: -22.0% CRITICAL

UnitedHealth (UNH) -5.8% (20d: -28.6%) [<50MA], Eli Lilly (LLY) -3.0% (20d: -15.5%) [<50MA]

Airlines -3.7% 20d: +10.7%

United (UAL) -3.9% (20d: +6.2%), Delta (DAL) -3.4% (20d: +15.2%)

Cybersecurity -3.3% 20d: +8.8%

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) -6.8% (20d: +3.0%), CrowdStrike (CRWD) -1.7% (20d: +5.0%), Zscaler (ZS) -1.3% (20d: +18.4%)

Analog & Embedded Chips -2.1% 20d: +20.5%

Microchip Technology (MCHP) -2.5% (20d: +25.7%), Texas Instruments (TXN) -1.7% (20d: +15.3%)

Food & Restaurant -2.1% 20d: -0.1%

Starbucks (SBUX) -3.0% (20d: -0.4%) [<50MA], McDonald's (MCD) -1.1% (20d: +0.1%)

Sector Deep Dive

Healthcare bore the brunt of today’s move and remains the standout risk in our sector analysis. UnitedHealth (UNH) lost 5.8% to $293.00 and the healthcare group is down 22.0% over 20 days and 24.3% over 50 days, triggering a high alert on deterioration. The 50-day trend is firmly negative for the sector and breadth is deteriorating as investors trim exposure to earnings and macro sensitivity.

Cybersecurity showed pronounced headline volatility with Palo Alto Networks (PANW) leading declines, down 6.8% to $181.26; the sector finished -3.3% on the day but remains above its 50-day moving average by 17.4%. Over the 50-day window the security complex has held a consistent uptrend, but today's sharp pullbacks in leaders highlight near-term rotation as investors take profits after the recent run.

Enterprise Software feels the intraday pressure after Palantir (PLTR) slid 4.0% to $120.58; the sector was -1.9% today but is +14.6% versus its 50-day moving average. The 50-day trend shows constructive momentum for many large SaaS names, suggesting selective buying on weakness for cash-flow positive franchises that are still trading above their 50-day averages.

Infrastructure and the Chip Supply Chain diverged intraday: Infrastructure averaged -1.7% but sits +12.2% above its 50-day moving average, while Chip Supply Chain finished -1.4% and is +5.6% above its 50-day line. Key analog and embedded chip groups are showing strength over the 50-day window (Analog & Embedded Chips +10.3% vs 50d), supporting the thesis that capital spending for AI and industrial automation remains a durable tailwind.

Media & Entertainment and Telecom showed resilience relative to the broader market. Netflix (NFLX) nudged higher to $119.46 (+0.2%) within a Media & Entertainment group that is +20.9% vs its 50-day moving average, while T-Mobile (TMUS) held near $235.44 (-0.2%) with Telecom +2.2% above its 50-day. These 50-day trends indicate investor preference for cash-generative content and connectivity plays even as cyclicals and healthcare weaken.

Market Breadth Analysis

US stock market breadth analysis shows 18 of 24 sectors trading above their 50-day moving average, while 6 are below. The majority of sectors holding above the 50-day MA indicates healthy medium-term momentum. With 18 sectors positive over 20 days, buying pressure remains broad-based.

Interactive Charts

S&P 500 & NASDAQ 100

50-Day Sector Performance

1-Day vs 5-Day Sector Change

Active Alerts

HIGH Healthcare down -22.0% over 20 days

HIGH Healthcare down -24.3% over 50 days

Stock-Level Detail

Mag 7 (AI Spenders) Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
GOOG	$169.37	+2.9%	+2.8%	+5.3%	+0.6%	ABOVE	0
META	$632.94	-0.3%	-1.3%	+19.2%	+2.7%	ABOVE	2
MSFT	$448.98	-1.2%	-0.1%	+17.1%	+18.3%	ABOVE	2
AMZN	$201.12	-1.4%	-2.0%	+7.8%	+1.1%	ABOVE	2
NVDA	$131.62	-1.9%	-2.2%	+23.8%	+13.9%	ABOVE	2
AAPL	$201.29	-2.3%	-4.4%	-2.9%	-6.7%	BELOW	6
TSLA	$334.62	-2.7%	-2.4%	+28.9%	+34.9%	ABOVE	1

Chip Supply Chain Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
ARM	$130.45	-0.5%	-2.0%	+16.5%	+15.7%	ABOVE	3
AVGO	$227.52	-0.8%	-1.3%	+22.1%	+18.6%	ABOVE	1
TSM	$188.97	-0.9%	-1.3%	+16.8%	+8.7%	ABOVE	3
AMD	$112.06	-1.3%	-2.5%	+18.6%	+11.2%	ABOVE	3
QCOM	$147.30	-1.6%	-0.9%	+2.8%	-1.0%	ABOVE	1
MRVL	$59.93	-2.1%	-7.8%	+4.8%	-13.8%	BELOW	5
INTC	$20.69	-2.7%	-4.0%	-3.7%	+0.0%	BELOW	3

Infrastructure Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
CSCO	$61.55	-0.3%	-1.6%	+12.3%	+5.2%	ABOVE	2
HPE	$17.06	-1.0%	-0.5%	+8.4%	+17.2%	ABOVE	1
DELL	$110.25	-2.0%	+1.0%	+18.6%	+19.1%	ABOVE	2
VRT	$103.46	-2.6%	-1.7%	+23.5%	+21.4%	ABOVE	2
SMCI	$41.65	-2.6%	-5.3%	+16.3%	-1.9%	ABOVE	3

Enterprise Software Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
NOW	$202.95	-0.7%	-2.0%	+8.1%	+20.4%	ABOVE	3
ADBE	$414.03	-0.9%	+2.3%	+14.7%	-5.6%	ABOVE	2
CRM	$279.47	-2.0%	-2.9%	+6.6%	-0.7%	ABOVE	1
PLTR	$120.58	-4.0%	-5.9%	+11.9%	+44.1%	ABOVE	3

Finance Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
JPM	$254.91	-1.7%	-2.4%	+6.7%	+15.2%	ABOVE	1
GS	$578.86	-2.2%	-3.6%	+8.8%	+10.8%	ABOVE	3

Healthcare Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
LLY	$719.86	-3.0%	-0.9%	-15.5%	-11.6%	BELOW	3
UNH	$293.00	-5.8%	+10.4%	-28.6%	-37.0%	BELOW	1

Retail Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
COST	$1019.56	-1.1%	+1.5%	+5.2%	+10.7%	ABOVE	1
WMT	$95.63	-1.4%	+0.1%	+0.9%	+13.8%	ABOVE	3

IT Services Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
ACN	$309.76	-0.8%	-1.7%	+9.0%	-1.6%	ABOVE	1
IBM	$254.36	-2.3%	-2.2%	+14.5%	+5.2%	ABOVE	2

Airlines Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
DAL	$47.58	-3.4%	-4.0%	+15.2%	+6.9%	ABOVE	2
UAL	$73.33	-3.9%	-4.2%	+6.2%	+1.2%	ABOVE	2

Hospitality & Travel Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
BKNG	$209.60	-0.3%	+1.1%	+9.6%	+20.3%	ABOVE	2
MAR	$257.74	-2.5%	-4.0%	+10.3%	+6.9%	ABOVE	3

Food & Restaurant Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
MCD	$307.20	-1.1%	+0.6%	+0.1%	+5.7%	ABOVE	2
SBUX	$80.85	-3.0%	-4.2%	-0.4%	-15.3%	BELOW	1

Logistics Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
UPS	$89.68	-1.7%	-2.9%	-1.5%	-15.5%	BELOW	3
FDX	$170.27	-2.0%	-6.2%	+0.5%	-11.0%	BELOW	5

Industrial Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
HON	$214.63	-1.4%	+0.3%	+11.1%	+8.1%	ABOVE	1
CAT	$338.84	-2.0%	-2.1%	+11.6%	+1.8%	ABOVE	3

Cybersecurity Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
ZS	$248.72	-1.3%	+1.1%	+18.4%	+25.7%	ABOVE	2
CRWD	$108.68	-1.7%	+0.7%	+5.0%	+25.4%	ABOVE	2
PANW	$181.26	-6.8%	-6.0%	+3.0%	+1.0%	ABOVE	1

Chip Equipment Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
ASML	$731.44	-1.5%	-2.8%	+9.5%	+5.1%	ABOVE	2
LRCX	$82.13	-1.8%	-2.4%	+16.8%	+8.1%	ABOVE	1
AMAT	$160.59	-2.1%	-7.2%	+8.0%	+8.8%	ABOVE	2

Data Center REITs Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
EQIX	$840.03	-1.4%	-0.4%	+5.7%	+1.0%	ABOVE	2
DLR	$161.47	-1.7%	-0.3%	+8.8%	+11.2%	ABOVE	2

Utilities Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
DUK	$112.51	-0.7%	+1.3%	-2.7%	+0.7%	BELOW	1
SO	$86.82	-1.3%	+3.5%	-0.7%	+2.0%	ABOVE	1
NEE	$68.97	-3.9%	-4.0%	+7.8%	-1.9%	ABOVE	1

Energy Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
XOM	$100.46	-1.2%	-4.5%	-3.7%	-4.1%	BELOW	4
CVX	$130.11	-1.2%	-3.5%	-1.3%	-10.1%	BELOW	4

Defense & Aerospace Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
LMT	$454.80	-1.2%	+1.1%	+0.7%	+1.9%	ABOVE	1
GD	$271.49	-1.4%	-0.3%	+2.2%	+7.4%	ABOVE	1
RTX	$132.16	-1.6%	-0.4%	+10.6%	+5.5%	ABOVE	2

Telecom Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
TMUS	$235.44	-0.2%	+0.2%	-8.2%	-5.8%	BELOW	2
VZ	$40.30	-1.1%	+0.6%	+2.2%	+4.4%	ABOVE	2
T	$25.97	-1.1%	+0.5%	-0.2%	+7.9%	ABOVE	2

Media & Entertainment Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
NFLX	$119.46	+0.2%	+1.4%	+8.9%	+29.9%	ABOVE	0
DIS	$108.42	-1.7%	-1.6%	+22.7%	+11.8%	ABOVE	3

Biotech Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
GILD	$104.24	-1.3%	+7.4%	+1.5%	-4.8%	ABOVE	1
AMGN	$263.42	-1.3%	+0.8%	-2.2%	-12.4%	BELOW	2

Materials Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
LIN	$448.02	-0.9%	+0.3%	+1.3%	+1.3%	ABOVE	2
APD	$261.00	-2.2%	-1.7%	+0.3%	-7.9%	BELOW	3

Analog & Embedded Chips Show individual tickers

Ticker	Price	1D	5D	20D	50D	vs 50MA	Down Days
TXN	$180.36	-1.7%	-1.3%	+15.3%	+6.4%	ABOVE	1
MCHP	$57.24	-2.5%	-2.5%	+25.7%	+14.2%	ABOVE	1

Key Stock Movers

Today's biggest movers by absolute percentage change: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) (Cybersecurity) fell 6.8% to $181.26. UnitedHealth (UNH) (Healthcare) fell 5.8% to $293.00. Palantir (PLTR) (Enterprise Software) fell 4.0% to $120.58. United (UAL) (Airlines) fell 3.9% to $73.33. NextEra Energy (NEE) (Utilities) fell 3.9% to $68.97. These individual stock movements were key drivers of their respective sector performance.

Risk and Opportunity Assessment

On the risk side, 2 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

With 24 sectors down today and two high alerts on Healthcare (20d -22.0%, 50d -24.3%), momentum has softened and breadth metrics show 18 sectors remain above their 50-day moving averages while six are below. The 50-day trend remains intact for most technology and infrastructure-related groups, but the near-term risk-off day argues for trimming cyclicals exposed to earnings disappointment and increasing cash or hedges. Tactical positioning: favor high-quality AI infra and select Mag 7 exposure that remain above their 50-day lines, use weakness in stressed sectors like Healthcare to re-evaluate risk/reward, and consider short-term defensive rotation into Telecom and Media names holding positive 50-day trends.

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