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Buying a stock just because you like its products shouldn't be your only investing criteria. Just look at the stock price of Snap , the parent of Snapchat, which was almost cut in half since its IPO in March. Then again, Facebook , Amazon and Apple , which also have popular products, have surged in recent years. Let's face it: people have purchased stocks for worse reasons than liking their products. More From TheStreet: Alibaba Trades Erratically on Earnings Day, Jim Cramer Says Apple's $1 Billion Programming Investment Takes Aim at Netflix, Jim Cramer Says Target Under Promised and Over Delivered, Jim Cramer Says This Is Why the Federal Reserve Needs to Raise Interest Rates Again This Year

Video Transcript: This is how markets closed this Tuesday, August FIFTEENTH. Wall Street snapped a brief rally one day after the S&P 500 posted its best gain of the summer. A two-day upward trend in markets was cut short as mixed retail earnings continued to weigh on stocks. Retail sales grew at a faster-than-expected pace in July. The seven-month high could signal consumers are spending more than anticipated in the first part of the third quarter. But online sales far outpaced brick-and-mortar sales, which could mean more trouble to come for ailing department stores like J.C. Penney . And to add insult to injury after last week's wider-than-expected loss, J.C. Penney capped off its worst 5-day streak since Nixon was in office. The company's stock hit the third record low in as many days at the close Tuesday. Dick's Sporting Goods didn't fare so well, either. The retailer's stock tumbled over 20% after it reported missing estimates on earnings, revenue and comp sales. Geopolitical pressures eased some Tuesday, but President Trump faced further fallout as more business leaders left his side. Alliance for American Manufacturing president Scott Paul was the latest to leave Trump's council in the wake of a lukewarm response to racist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Stocks were narrowly mixed as a Wall Street rally failed to extend into day two. A mix of retail earnings pulled markets in opposite directions as investors moved on from geopolitical headlines. Advance Auto Parts Inc. was the worst performer on the S&P 500 after falling short of quarterly profit. Revenue was flat. For the full year, the auto retailer anticipates a 1% to 3% drop in same-store sales. TJX Companies Inc. posted surprise earnings growth over its recent quarter. The parent of off-price retailer T.J. Maxx also boosted its fiscal 2018 profit guidance. Optimism among home builders unexpectedly improved in August after reaching an eight-month low in July. The measure increased by four points to a level of 68. Analysts expected a retreat.

Wall Street kicked off the week with a rally as investors looked beyond a standoff with North Korea and rediscovered their appetite for riskier assets. It was the S&P 500's best day since April 24 and the third best daily increase of the year. VMWare Inc. rose after issuing preliminary second-quarter results and increasing its fiscal 2018 guidance. The tech company also authorized an additional $1 billion in stock buybacks, adding to the $1.2 billion already in its repurchase program. Sysco Corp. reported a better-than-expected fourth quarter. Revenue increased 5.5% to $14.4 billion, edging out consensus by $60 million. The foodservice distribution company reported a 3.4% increase in comparable sales. Gross margins rose by 80 basis points to 19.14%. Apple Inc. and Aetna Inc. rose on reports the two had engaged in discussions to partner. Talks reportedly included the possibility of delivering free or discounted Apple Watches to Aetna members. Watch More with TheStreet: Jim Cramer Reveals What to Watch in TJX Companies and Home Depot Earnings President Trump Condemns Hate Groups, Days After Charlottesville Attack How EY's Kerrie MacPherson Uses Decades of Experience to Help a New Generation of Women Win 5 of Shonda Rhimes' Most Show-Stopping Moments on Grey's Anatomy

Wall Street surged to begin the week as investors rediscovered their appetite for equities as worries over North Korea receded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 100 points. VF Corp. announced it will acquire workwear brand Williamson-Dickie in an all-cash deal worth $820 million. Williamson, which houses brands such as Dickies, will fit comfortably with other VF labels such as The North Face and Wrangler. Nvidia Corp. was among the top performers in the tech space after Canaccord upped its price target. The stock tumbled on Friday despite a better-than-expected quarter. The chipmaker was vulnerable to sell off having surged more than 50% since the beginning of the year. Procter & Gamble Co. called on shareholders to back up its board directors and block a board seat sought by activist investor Nelson Peltz. Procter said Peltz's push would not benefit the company.

Wall Street rose for its first day in four in a slight recovery from sharp losses. Markets have been under pressure on worries after President Trump drew a red line in the sand with North Korea, promising retribution should they issue more threats. Snap Inc. tumbled in its third worst day of trading since going public at the beginning of March. A deeper quarterly loss and weaker user numbers over its second quarter triggered the selloff. A record second-quarter earnings and revenue from Nvidia Corp. were not enough to support gains. The chipmaker reported above-consensus earnings, its eight quarterly profit beat in a row. Sales rose 56%. Blue Apron Holdings Inc. declined for a second day in a row after SunTrust analysts downgraded their rating to HOLD from BUY. The meal-kit delivery service tumbled a day earlier after reporting a steep loss in its first earnings report since going public in June.

Geopolitical uncertainty reigned for a third day in a row as President Trump and North Korea traded escalating threats. Trump said his "fire and fury" rhetoric could have been even stronger to deter Kim Jong-un from launching missiles. Department store chain Macy's spooked the retail sector after guiding for weaker-than-anticipated full-year earnings. Same-store sales are expected to fall 2% to 3% on an owned-plus-licensed basis. Twenty-First Century Fox held onto slight gains after a mixed quarter. Domestic cable advertising increased 6% with ratings at Fox News undisturbed by the firing of long-time host Bill O'Reilly. It was a swing-and-a-miss from Blue Apron in its first earnings report since going public at the end of June. The meal-kit delivery services reported a net loss far deeper than forecast, while customers declined quarter over quarter.

Stocks were lower for their third day in a row as worry over a potential dispute with North Korea bred uncertainty. The Dow has returned below the 22,000 level reached at the beginning of the month. Kohl's Corp. was the worst performer on markets, responding to a disappointing outlook from industry peer Macy's Inc. . That overshadowed a fairly good quarter for Kohl's. Adjusted earnings and revenue both beat estimates, while traffic trends accelerated. Perrigo Co. was the best performer after exceeding quarterly forecasts. The drugmkaer made progress in its cost-cutting plans designed to deliver annual cost savings of more than $130 million dollars by mid-2018. Apple Inc. again drove Dow direction as the tech sector weighed on broader markets. Tech stocks have been susceptible to selloffs in recent months after a strong run-up at the beginning of the year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average's record-breaking streak came to a swift end in the final hour after President Trump warned of severe retribution should North Korea make any more threats. Trump promised 'fire and fury' in retaliation. Apple Inc. held the Dow higher for the bulk of the day. Apple stock has recovered from a sharp selloff beginning on June 9 and stretching through the month and early July. Michael Kors led the retail sector higher after posting a narrower decline in earnings and same-store sales than analysts expected. Its stock was the best performer on the S&P 500. Ralph Lauren was also a winner in the consumer space after swinging to a net profit from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings beat quarterly estimates, while a 13% decline in sales came in as anticipated.

It was another record for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500's first for August. The Dow has ended at records for nine straight days in a row, largely tied to positive earnings from some of its major components. Apple Inc. led the Dow to its records after rising more than 1% and climbing for its second day in a row. It's been a solid year so far for the world's largest company. Its shares have surged just over 37% since the beginning of 2017. Marriott International was higher after partnering with Alibaba to tap into the growing Chinese travel market. The joint venture allows Chinese travelers to book rooms at Marriott properties through the Alibaba travel website. BlackBerry fell after Goldman Sachs resumed coverage with a SELL rating and $8.50 price target. The firm is cautious in its outlook for auto business revenue.