The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 crossed round-number milestones in early trading Monday but failed to build on those advances. The Dow crossed 16,000 and the S&P 500 hit 1,800 for the first time before falling back to close below those levels both Monday and Tuesday.
Retailers were a key focus on Tuesday, especially with the holiday shopping season coming up. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Consumer spending is a critical component of the U.S. economy, so how consumers behave during the closely watched holiday season will give investors a sign about the outlook for growth.
Best Buy sank $4.78, or 11 percent, to $38.78 after its warning of a tough holiday trading period ahead. The company's stock is still up 227 percent this year, making it the second-best performer in the S&P 500 after Netflix.
Home Depot rose 71 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $80.38 after reporting income that surpassed analysts' expectations. The company also raised its earnings forecast for the year.
TJX Cos., which operates discount stores including T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, climbed 63 cents, or 1 percent, to $63.12. Its income rose 35 percent as sales improved at both U.S. and international stores.
Investors will turn their thoughts back to the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
Minutes from the Fed's October meeting will be released at 2 p.m. and investors will scour them to get a read on the central bank's stimulus policy. The central bank is currently buying $85 billion of bonds a month to keep interest rates low and boost the economy. That has underpinned a rally in stocks.
Investors were also watching JPMorgan Chase. The bank reached a record $13 billion settlement with federal and New York State authorities, resolving claims over the bank's sales of mortgage-backed securities that collapsed during the U.S. housing crisis.
JPMorgan closed 41 cents, or 0.7 percent, higher at $56.15.
In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 2.71 percent from 2.67 percent. Crude oil rose 31 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $93.34 a barrel and gold edged up $1.20, or 0.1 percent, to $1,273.50 an ounce.
Among other stocks making big moves:
United Continental rose $1.42, or 3.9 percent, to $37.80 after the airline operator told investors that it will cut costs, overhaul its website, and shift routes from Asia to Europe.
Campbell Soup dropped $2.61, or 6.2 percent, to $39.20 after reporting that its quarterly profit plunged 30 percent. A recall of the recently acquired Plum Organics products also hurt results, and the company cut its earnings forecast for the year.
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AP Markets Writer Steve Rothwell contributed to this report.
