The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is possibly the most commonly followed financial market index globally. Yet, very few people know that it represents just 30 businesses.
The DJIA’s Beginnings
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was set up on May 26, 1896. Charles H. Dow, one of the founders of Dow Jones & Company, came up with the Dow (formed in 1882).
The first Dow Jones index was constituted in 1884. There were 11 transportation-related stocks in the portfolio. The original index was called the Dow Jones Rail Average.
The Dow Jones Transportation Average was created in the 1970s to include air freight and other modes of transportation.
Dow soon discovered that industrial companies grew in value faster than railroads. He then created a new index by combining the stocks of 12 different companies.
It was dubbed the Dow Jones Industrial Average by Charles. Initially, it was the average of industrial firms in the cotton, sugar, tobacco, and gas industries.
What is Dow Jones Industrial Average?
The Dow Jones industrial average is a stock market index that tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), usually known as “the Dow Jones” or simply “the Dow,” is one of the most well-known stock market indicators.
It tracks the daily stock market movements of 30 publicly traded firms in the United States, either on the NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
The 30 publicly-held corporations are among the economic leaders in the United States.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average components
There are no set criteria for a business’s inclusion in DJIA’s 30 company stocks. However, to be included in the DJIA, a corporation must make up a significant portion of its business in the US economy.
The corporation should also be registered on NASDAQ or NYSE and belong to the industrial sector’s top players.
| Company | Stock Ticker Symbol | Industry | Latest Addition to Index |
| 3M | MMM | Conglomerate | 1976 / 08 / 09 |
| American Express | AXP | Financial Services | 1982 / 08/ 30 |
| Apple | AAPL | Tech | 2015 / 03 / 19 |
| Boeing | BA | Aerospace | 1987 / 03 / 12 |
| Caterpiller | CAT | Construction | 1991 / 05 / 06 |
| Chevron | CVX | Oil & Gas | 2008 / 02 / 19 |
| Cisco | CSCO | Tech | 2009 / 06 / 08 |
| Coca-Cola | KO | Food and Beverages | 1987 / 03 / 12 |
| Disney | DIS | Entertainment | 1991 / 05 / 06 |
| DowDuPont Inc | DWDP | Chemical Industry | 2017 / 09 / 01 |
| Exxon Mobil | XOM | Oil & Gas | 1928 / 10 / 01 |
| Goldman Sachs | GS | Financial Services | 2013 / 09 / 20 |
| Home Depot | HD | Retail | 1999 / 11 / 01 |
| IBM | IBM | Tech | 1976 / 06 / 29 |
| Intel | INTC | Tech | 1999 / 11 / 01 |
| Johnson & Johnson | JNJ | Pharmaceuticals | 1997 / 03 / 17 |
| JPMorgan Chase | JPM | Financial Services | 1991 / 05 / 06 |
| McDonald’s | MCD | Food | 1985 / 10 / 30 |
| Merck & Company | MEK | Pharmaceuticals | 1979 / 06 / 29 |
| Microsoft | MSFT | Tech | 1999 / 11 / 01 |
| Nike | NKE | Apparel | 2013 / 09 / 20 |
| Pfizer | PFE | Pharmaceuticals | 2004 / 04 / 08 |
| Procter & Gamble | PG | Consumer Goods | 1932 / 05 / 26 |
| Travelers Companies Inc | TRV | Insurance | 2009 / 06 / 08 |
| United Technologies | UTX | Conglomerate | 1939 / 03 / 14 |
| UnitedHealth | UNH | Managed Health Care | 2012 / 09 / 24 |
| Verizon | VZ | Telecom | 2004 / 04 / 08 |
| Visa | V | Financial Services | 2013 / 09 / 20 |
| WalMart | WMT | Retail | 1997 / 03 / 17 |
| Walgreens Boots Alliance | WBA | Retail | 2018 / 06 / 26 |
How are stocks weighed?
The DJIA is a price-weighted indicator – it means that businesses with more costly stocks are given more weight in the Dow. Market capitalization, the entire market value of all of a company’s shares, is not factored into the DJIA’s price weighting.
As a result, corporations with fewer pricey shares have a more significant impact on the Dow’s value than companies with a large number of less expensive shares.
The Dow’s strategy differs from other prominent indexes that measure the stock market’s overall performance, such as the S&P 500 or the NASDAQ.
When evaluating how much influence a firm will have in an index, these take its market capitalization into account.
What is the best way to invest in the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
The DJIA can be used as a proxy for the overall performance of the US economy because its constituents are among the most significant public corporations.
Many investors prefer index funds modeled on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Finally, If you purchase a new stake in a DJIA index fund, you have exposure to all 30 Dow components in your portfolio giving you simple access to businesses with a demonstrated track record of profitability and sound business practices.
FAQs
What is meant by the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), usually known as “the Dow Jones” or simply “the Dow,” is one of the most well-known stock market indicators.
It tracks the daily stock market movements of 30 publicly traded firms in the United States, either on the NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Why is it called the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was set up on May 26, 1896. Charles H. Dow, one of the founders of Dow Jones & Company, came up with the Dow. It is named after its founder.
How are stocks weighed in Dow Jones Industrial Average?
The DJIA is a price-weighted indicator – it means that businesses with more costly stocks are given more weight in the Dow.
