If you thought 2009 would suddenly heal all the wounds that last year inflicted on stocks, think again. Plenty of companies still face just as many challenges as they did during 2008, if not more. Not all of them will be up to the task.
Our Foolish writers chose 10 companies as candidates for the worst stock of 2009. Then we asked our Motley Fool CAPS community to tell us which one they believe will be the ultimate loser. Judging from the results, you have plenty of pessimism for all of these stocks. In the end, though, investors returned to the roots of the financial crisis to pick a winner.
Surprising financials
Going in, you might have expected financial stocks such as Citigroup
Best of the worst
Retail has had a horrible year, and prospects don't look too bright going forward, either. So it's no surprise that Best Buy
You weren't hungry for these stocks
A pair of food and beverage stocks, Starbucks
Turn out the blue light
Just missing the top spot was retailer Sears Holdings
This winner is in the doghouse
The stock you picked as the worst of 2009 is Hovnanian Enterprises
Thanks to everyone who participated in our contest. If you didn't, is it because you haven't joined our 125,000-strong Motley Fool CAPS community yet? Sign up for free and chime in on your favorite picks and pans today. It's fun, informative, and potentially profitable.