Tuesday was a strong day on Wall Street as market participants were pleased to see the beginning of third-quarter earnings season go well. Investors woke up to encouraging gains in several key sectors, including financials and healthcare. Moreover, on the trade front, relations between the U.K. and the European Union appeared to improve, raising hopes for a favorable end to the Brexit crisis. Yet some stocks weren't able to benefit from the positive sentiment. Royal Gold (RGLD 0.43%), Whiting Petroleum (WLL), and PagSeguro Digital (PAGS -1.35%) were among the worst performers. Here's why they did so poorly.
Royal Gold loses its luster
Shares of Royal Gold fell 7% after the gold-streaming company announced some new executive appointments. Mark Isto will assume the role of COO, and Paul Libner will become CFO. The move follows Royal Gold's announcement late last month that former CFO William Heissenbuttel will become CEO. Also contributing to the downbeat mood was a poor day for the precious metals markets, which included a $13 drop in the price of gold to around $1,480 per ounce and even larger percentage declines in the silver market. Royal Gold doesn't mine precious metals, but it relies on strong pricing, and a calmer stock market has generally put pressure on gold and silver prices recently.
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Whiting mulls a takeover
Whiting Petroleum saw its stock drop 7% following reports that the energy company is looking at potentially buying out an industry peer. Whiting is reportedly discussing a possible merger with Abraxas Petroleum (AXAS) in an effort to boost its scale and make it more efficient from a cost perspective. Consolidation has been an essential strategic element for energy players lately, especially as oil and natural gas prices remain stubbornly weak. Yet shareholders seem uncomfortable with the idea of Whiting paying up for Abraxas, even if it would mean combining assets in key locations and greater growth potential if oil prices do start to rise again.
PagSeguro falls on stock sale
Finally, shares of PagSeguro Digital finished lower by 12%. The Brazilian payment processing specialist said that its parent company, Universo Online, would seek to sell off a portion of its stake in a secondary stock offering, with the expectation that about 16.8 million shares will get sold. Even after the sale, Universo will still hold about a 45% stake in PagSeguro, but investors still saw the sale as a vote of no confidence in the payment processor's long-term prospects after the stock's recent run higher.
