S&P August winners and losers: Kellanova tops index after turbulent month, SMCI plunges

Pringles and Pop-Tarts maker Kellanova (K) was the biggest winner during the S&P 500’s (SP500)(SPY) topsy-turvy August, while Super Micro Computer (SMCI) logged the steepest loss as the broad index managed to pull out its fourth-straight monthly advance.

The S&P 500 (SP500)(IVV)(VO0) finished Friday higher at 5,648.38, locking in an August rise of 2.28%. Large-cap equities plunged during the month, rocked chiefly by recession fears. But Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell saying rate cuts are coming contributed to the benchmark (SP500) nearly stepping back up to its 5,667 all-time closing high.

Kellanova (K) shares surged nearly 40% in August, but a $35.9B buyout deal this month by Snickers maker Mars will eventually see Kellanova taken private.

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares sank after the server company said it wouldn’t be able to file its annual 10-K report on time. Late Friday, the company said it doesn’t expect any “material changes” to its fiscal 2024 after delaying its annual report earlier this week.

Here are the 5 biggest percentage gainers on the S&P 500 in August:

• Kellanova (K) – Monthly gain: +38.5%
• Fortinet (FTNT) – Monthly gain: +32.2%
• Eli Lilly (LLY) – Monthly gain: +19.4%
• Starbucks (SBUX) – Monthly gain: +21.3%
• Clorox (CLX) – Monthly gain: +20%

5 biggest percentage decliners:

• Super Micro Computer (SMCI) – Monthly loss: -37.6%
• Moderna (MRNA) – Monthly loss: -35.1%
• Dollar General (DG) – Monthly loss: – 31.1%
• Intel (INTC) – Monthly loss: – 28.3%
• Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) – Monthly loss: – 22.1%