Dow Jones
America's oldest and most widely cited market index.
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What it is
A price-weighted index of 30 large, well-established US companies, and the oldest widely followed US market gauge.
Why it matters
It is the number most often quoted in the news for whether the market had a good or bad day, though it covers fewer companies than the S&P 500.
How investors use it
Most investors treat it as a sentiment gauge and get broad US exposure through S&P 500 or total-market funds instead.
What is the Dow Jones?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, commonly called "the Dow," is a price-weighted index of 30 major US blue-chip companies. Founded in 1896, it is the oldest and most widely cited stock market index in the world.
Unlike the S&P 500, the Dow is price-weighted rather than market-cap weighted, meaning a higher-priced stock has more influence on the index regardless of the company's actual size. Its 30 components are selected by the editors of The Wall Street Journal and represent large, financially sound companies with sustained investor interest.
Current components include Apple, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, Boeing, Coca-Cola, and JPMorgan Chase. It's a reasonably wide cross-section of American industry. While narrower than the S&P 500, the Dow has served for over a century as the cultural shorthand for the state of US markets.
Why investors watch it
- The most widely quoted market index in financial news, television, and everyday conversation
- Tracks 30 of America's most established corporations, a cross-section of blue-chip US industry
- Often used as the headline number for whether the US stock market had a good or bad day
- Despite its narrow composition, it has historically tracked closely with the S&P 500 over long periods
- A useful sentiment gauge for large-cap traditional industries: banking, industrials, and consumer goods
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Educational content only: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Market data shown may be delayed and is provided for reference only. Always conduct your own research and consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.