What Happened?
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after the war with Iran pushed oil prices back to US$100 per barrel, fueling fears of a prolonged conflict and its impact on global inflation.
The price of Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, jumped 8.2% to $99.46 a barrel after briefly crossing the $100 threshold. The escalating conflict worsened worries about a potential blockade of oil production in the Persian Gulf, which could have long-term consequences for the world economy. In response to the geopolitical uncertainty, major stock indices fell, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each dropping over 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 500 points. The market volatility signaled investor concern over the potential for a debilitating period of inflation.
The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.
Among others, the following stocks were impacted:
- Consumer Discretionary - Specialized Consumer Services company LKQ (NASDAQ: LKQ) fell 3.6%. Is now the time to buy LKQ? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
- Consumer Discretionary - Casino Operator company Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR) fell 1.7%. Is now the time to buy Caesars Entertainment? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
Zooming In On LKQ (LKQ)
LKQ’s shares are not very volatile and have only had 6 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was 17 days ago when the stock dropped 3.2% on the news that the Trump administration's announcement of new global tariffs, reignited trade policy uncertainty. The move came swiftly after the Supreme Court ruled the previous week that the president could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for such duties, a decision that had initially sent markets higher. However, the administration invoked a different authority, the Trade Act of 1974, to impose a 15% global tariff for up to 150 days. The rapid reimposition of trade barriers creates significant uncertainty for companies across multiple sectors that depend on international supply chains and global trade. Investors are now weighing the potential impact of these new duties on corporate earnings and broader economic activity.
LKQ is flat since the beginning of the year, and at $29.97 per share, it is trading 30.9% below its 52-week high of $43.38 from April 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of LKQ’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $697.24.
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