What are the worst sectors to invest in this year? A lot depends on macro trends ranging such as the economy and sociopolitical environment. The stock markets did very well in 2025 following a rocky start to the year, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow all posting year-to-date gains of 13% or higher as of Dec. 23.That doesn’t mean all stocks have done well, however — or all economic sectors. Some sectors have lagged well behind the broader stock markets and could be poised for even more pain in 2026. The ...