The Biggest Losers of 2013: J.C. Penney, Sears, Lululemon, and Abercrombie

By Brendan Mathews, Jason Moser, Michael Olsen, CFA, David Meier, Ron Gross, Charly Travers, Buck Hartzell, Bryan White, Sara Hov, and Simon Erickson – Jan 18, 2014 at 12:15PM

NASDAQ: SHLDQ

Sears Holdings

Last year was great for the market, but it wasn't great for these stocks. Here's why our analysts nominated J.C. Penney, Sears Holdings, Nuance Communications, lululemon athletica, and Abercrombie & Fitch for the category of the biggest losers of 2013.

What companies were the biggest losers of 2013? It was a great year to be invested in the stock market overall, but there were a few major exceptions, particularly in retail stocks such as J.C. Penney (JCPN.Q) and Sears Holdings (SHLDQ). In this video, several Motley Fool analysts around Fool HQ sit down and give their nominees for the biggest losers. They talk Sears and J.C. Penney and trouble with CEO decisions, what was wrong with Nuance Communications (NUAN), why lululemon athletica (LULU 1.31%) should never have blamed its customers when it sold see-through pants, and why Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF 5.74%) can seem to do no right.

Brendan Mathews, Fool contributor Bryan White, Buck Hartzell, Charly Travers, David Meier, Jason Moser, Michael Olsen, CFA, and Ron Gross have no position in any stocks mentioned. Sara Hov owns shares of lululemon athletica. Simon Erickson owns shares of lululemon athletica and Nuance Communications. The Motley Fool recommends lululemon athletica and Nuance Communications and owns shares of Nuance Communications. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.