The five worst performing ASX 200 stocks bought and held in February unmasked

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 3.7% in February, but these five ASX 200 stocks went sharply the other way.

From market close on 30 January through to the closing bell on 27 February investors sent these five stocks tumbling 26% to 32%.

Here's what put these companies under heavy selling pressure.

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

The Austal share price tumbled 25.9% in February.

Shares in the Aussie ship builder crashed 22.8% on 13 February after management revealed they had inadvertently overstated the ASX 200 stock's potential earnings.

Ahead of Austal's half-year results release, the company reported that a US$17.1 million "overstatement had been included in the Company's FY2026 EBIT guidance".

EBIT guidance for FY 2026 was subsequently lowered to approximately AU$110 million.

Austal shares closed down another 11.0% on 23 February following the release of the ship builder's half-year results.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price also had a month to forget, closing down 26.1% in February.

Shares in the ASX 200 stock, which manufactures and sells cochlear implantable devices,

Much of that pain was delivered on 13 February. Cochlear shares slumped 18.9% on the day following the release of the company's half year results.

While sales revenue was up 1% year-on-year to $1.18 billion, revenue was down 2% in constant currency.

And investors were favouring their sell button's, with Cochlear reporting a 9% decline in underlying net profit to $194.8 million.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The third ASX 200 stock investors would have done well to avoid buying and holding in February is buy now, pay later (BNPL) company Zip.

Zip shares fell 27.9% over the month just past.

All of that pain, and then some, was delivered on 19 February. The Zip share price closed down 34.4% on the day after the company released its – you guessed it – half year results.

Investors punished the stock despite Zip achieved an 85.6% year-on-year increase in cash EBTDA to $124.3 million. As the Motley Fool's James Mickleboro pointed out on the day, that looked to be fuelled by concerns of moderating profit growth, with management flagging that H2 cash EBTDA is likely to be broadly in line with the first half earnings.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus shares also took a beating in February, shedding 29.4% of their value over the month.

Shares in the health imaging company tumbled 23.9% on 12 February after the company reported its own half-year results.

That sharp selloff came despite the ASX 200 stock reporting a 28.4% year-on-year increase in half year revenue to $124.8 million. And underlying profit before tax of $90.7 million was up 29.7%.

But investors look to have gotten swept up with rising concerns about the potential for AI to disrupt the global software industry.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Rounding off the list with the biggest monthly loss is online furniture and homewares retailer Temple & Webster.

Temple & Webster shares crashed 31.6% in February, with the share price plunging 32.6% on 12 February.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you why.

Yep, the company reported its half-year results on the day.

The ASX 200 stock came under intense selling pressure despite achieving 20% year-on-year revenue growth to $376 million.

But investors were clearly not pleased with depreciation and amortisation costs, which saw Temple & Webster's net profit before tax for the six months decline 28% to $7.4 million.