U.S. stocks dropped on Tuesday on worries falling oil prices could set off a reversal in the high-flying energy sector, while Alcoa's leaner-than-expected revenue disappointed.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 117.53 points, or 0.95 percent, to end unofficially at 12,263.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 10.30 points, or 0.78 percent, to 1,314.16. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 26.72 points, or 0.96 percent, to 2,744.79.

(Reporting by Ed Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)