AI was a big stock market theme in 2024. We’ve talked about it, and heard it many times. But it was far from the only thing that happened in stocks last year. We saw record-breaking growth from power companies like Vistra. Cult stocks like Palantir and MicroStrategy also had a moment. And of course, Nvidia, a company that needs no introduction, had a blockbuster year. 

But where there are winners, there are also losers. The announcement of Walgreens’ potential sale highlighted the challenges within the retail pharmacy sector. Shares of the biotech company Moderna also slumped partly due to waning demand for its Covid-19 vaccine and booster. And discount chain Dollar Tree took a hit this year as its shoppers showed signs of belt-tightening.

For our first episode of 2025, we’re joined by global editor of WSJ’s Heard on the Street column, Spencer Jakab, and deputy editor of WSJ’s Heard on the Street, Aaron Back, to reveal more of the market’s winners and losers in 2024 and examine what their wins or losses could mean for investors and the economy in the year ahead. 

Further Reading 

Walgreens Is in Talks to Sell Itself to Private-Equity Firm Sycamore Partners 

Tech-Loving Hedge Funds Have a Crush on Utility Stocks 

For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ’s Heard On The Street Column, and WSJ’s Live Markets blog.