Dow slides 4.5% as Q1 loss and pricing pressure overshadow an earnings beat

Dow Inc. (DOW) is down 4.5% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: Shares appear to be reacting to the company’s first-quarter 2026 report, where an upside surprise versus expectations still came alongside year-over-year sales declines, a net loss, and ongoing pricing/margin pressure. With the stock having moved sharply in recent months, today’s drop also looks consistent with a “sell-the-news” response to results that were better than feared but not yet convincingly cyclical-recovery strength.

Details:

Dow posted Q1 2026 net sales of about $9.8 billion, down roughly 6% versus the prior-year quarter.

The company reported an operating loss per share of $0.14 (an improvement versus many forecasts, but weaker than the prior-year operating profit).

Results reflected headwinds from lower prices and margin pressure in parts of the portfolio, even as volumes improved in some areas.

Cost actions and operating discipline contributed meaningful savings during the quarter, but investors appear focused on whether pricing and end-demand improve fast enough to drive a sustained earnings rebound.

Sources:

Dow Investor Relations, Investing.com, RTTNews

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

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$DOW Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 502 institutional investors add shares of $DOW stock to their portfolio, and 549 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE CO removed 36,054,180 shares (-95.7%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $1,501,656,597
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO added 18,965,423 shares (+17145.0%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $443,411,589
UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 10,297,641 shares (-71.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $240,758,846
ARTEMIS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLP added 4,749,460 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $197,815,009
UBS GROUP AG removed 4,279,628 shares (-51.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $100,057,702
JANE STREET GROUP, LLC added 3,932,652 shares (+388.7%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $91,945,403
MORGAN STANLEY added 3,469,757 shares (+24.7%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $81,122,918

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.

$DOW Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $DOW stock 1 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 1 have been purchases and 0 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $DOW stock by members of Congress over the last 6 months:

REPRESENTATIVE GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR. purchased up to $15,000 on 11/18.

To track congressional stock trading, check out Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboard.

$DOW Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $DOW recently. We have seen 13 analysts offer price targets for $DOW in the last 6 months, with a median target of $39.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Vincent Andrews from Morgan Stanley set a target price of $41.0 on 04/21/2026
Patrick Cunningham from Citigroup set a target price of $48.0 on 04/08/2026
Matthew DeYoe from B of A Securities set a target price of $35.0 on 04/06/2026
Michael Sison from Wells Fargo set a target price of $48.0 on 03/30/2026
John Roberts from Mizuho set a target price of $39.0 on 03/23/2026
Joshua Spector from UBS set a target price of $37.0 on 03/18/2026
Laurence Alexander from Jefferies set a target price of $39.0 on 03/10/2026

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.