Markets: 2026-08-20 Close

A sourced recap of the previous completed U.S. trading session. Closing moves are not real-time quotes.

The market tape

- **S&P 500 (SPX)**: -0.87%, closed at 7,641.16 - **Nasdaq Composite (COMP)**: -1.00%, closed at 26,067.17 - **Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)**: -1.32%, closed at 52,759.21 - **Russell 2000 (RUT)**: -1.34%, closed at 2,992.43

Sector leaders and laggards

- Leaders: Energy +0.40%; Real Estate +0.15% - Laggards: Consumer Staples -1.93%; Health Care -1.93%; Consumer Discretionary -1.80%

Notable movers

Walmart Inc. (WMT) -9.15%

A quarterly comparable-sales miss and signs that higher gasoline prices were changing customer spending behavior overshadowed Walmart's increased full-year sales and operating-income guidance. The mega-cap retailer was the Dow's defining drag and transmitted its earnings disappointment across consumer sectors.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · primary earnings source · market reaction and catalyst corroboration

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) -24.55%

Second-quarter results were followed by a weaker full-year sales forecast, sharply resetting expectations for the auto-parts retailer. One of the session's largest eligible operating-company declines, with more than $700 million changing hands.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · catalyst and session move corroboration

Deere & Company (DE) +6.94%

Deere raised its full-year net-income forecast after its fiscal third-quarter report. A major cyclical bellwether gained nearly 7% during a broad selloff, signaling confidence in its updated profit outlook.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · primary earnings-event source · forecast catalyst and closing-move corroboration

Nordson Corporation (NDSN) +8.00%

Nordson reported record fiscal third-quarter results above the high end of its guidance and increased its full-year outlook. A high-quality industrial earnings breakout that contrasted sharply with the broad risk-off tape.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote · primary earnings catalyst

Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) +7.58%

Coinbase rallied alongside bitcoin and other crypto-linked equities after the administration pressed Congress to pass cryptocurrency legislation. The regulated U.S. exchange amplified the crypto-policy rally despite a broadly falling equity market.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · crypto-policy catalyst and move corroboration

MARA Holdings, Inc. (MARA) +15.54%

Crypto-linked equities rallied with bitcoin and after the U.S. administration urged Congress to advance cryptocurrency legislation. The strongest liquid crypto-proxy move in the editorial set, extending a two-session rally on unusually heavy volume.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · crypto-sector catalyst

Strategy Inc (MSTR) +7.81%

Strategy rose with bitcoin and the broader crypto complex after the U.S. administration called for congressional passage of cryptocurrency legislation. A second consecutive large gain in the market's most closely watched corporate bitcoin proxy.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · crypto-sector catalyst and move corroboration

Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) -23.55%

Shares reversed sharply after surging 176.97% in the previous session on melanoma-program optimism; reviewed reporting identified no new comparably material negative announcement. A violent giveback after a historic one-day biotechnology rally, on more than $13 billion of turnover.

Sources: 2026-08-20 closing quote and volume · reversal context and closing-direction corroboration

Stock spotlight

Today’s detailed follow-up focuses on **Walmart Inc. (WMT)**, the strongest verified editorial candidate from this slate.

_MacroShed Markets is informational analysis, not investment advice._