What Is the Dow Jones? Stock Market Indexes

Most stock market indexes are weighted by market capitalization — equal to share price times the number of shares outstanding — but the Dow Jones Industrial Average is price-weighted. The value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average is calculated by determining the average value of the stock prices of the 30 listed companies. However, calculating that average value is not as simple as totaling the 30 stock prices and dividing by 30. The information provided by Forbes Advisor is general in nature and for educational purposes only. Any information provided does not consider the personal financial circumstances of readers, such as individual objectives, financial situation or needs.

How is the value calculated?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is an indicator of how 30 large, U.S.-listed companies have traded during a standard trading session. The company must also be headquartered and incorporated in the US, and have a plurality of its revenue from the country. The Dow continued climbing and reached a record high of 14,198.10 on October 11, 2007, a mark which was not matched until March 2013.59 It then dropped over the next year due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis. These latest changes mark just the 53rd adjustment to the DJIA since its inception in 1896 and highlight a shift toward companies that are more relevant in their respective industries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) tracks thirty of America’s biggest and most established companies, acting like a quick temperature check of the U.S. economy. Investors should track key overhead price levels on Gap’s chart around $27, $36, and $52, while monitoring a crucial support area near $20.

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How Is the Dow Jones Weighted?

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1. The Dow Jones Industrial Average groups together the prices of 30 of the most traded stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq.
2. Companies are chosen based on their reputation, growth, and relevance to the economy, with the aim of reflecting the overall health and trends of the industrial sector of the U.S. economy.
3. While each has its own benefits, the S&P provides a better indication of how the stock market (and economy) is performing as it is made up of 500 of the largest stocks in the U.S.
4. These figures below represent the average annual returns and percentage changes of the DJIA during each respective year.

Most professional investors focus on the performance of the S&P 500 because it includes a broad range of stocks and is weighted by market cap, which is a more accurate way to measure the overall health of the stock market. The index is price-weighted and dates back to 1896, making it one of the oldest stock market indexes. It’s not as diversified as broader indexes like the S&P 500, but it still provides a picture of how the stock market and large businesses are performing. The Dow is a price-weighted index, which means the stocks are weighted in the index based on their share price. This can create some unique situations, such as a company with a smaller market cap than other companies in the index having a larger weight because its share price is higher.

The index is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, an entity majority-owned by S&P Global. The ten components with the largest dividend yields are commonly referred to as the Dogs of the Dow. As with all stock prices, the prices of the constituent stocks and consequently the value of the index itself are affected by the performance of the respective companies as well as macroeconomic factors. To keep it simple, assume that there is a stock market in a country that has only two stocks trading (Ally Inc. and Belly Inc.—A & B).

How Are Companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average Selected?

This resulted from the aim to reflect the performance of these influential companies in the index’s movements. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a stock index that tracks 30 of the largest U.S. companies. Created in 1896, it is one of the oldest stock indexes, and its performance is widely considered as a useful indicator of the health of the entire U.S. stock market. The S&P 500 is an index of 500 project manager job description large-cap stocks that are chosen using certain criteria, such as market cap and profitability, by a committee of the S&P Dow Jones Indices. The Nasdaq index tracks more than 2,500 stocks, or almost every stock traded on the Nasdaq Exchange.

It’s important to note that this is a simplified example, and the actual calculation involves more precise figures and adjustments made by the index committee. The Dow Jones Index (now also known as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or simply the Dow) was created using a straightforward methodology that Charles Dow devised himself. Below we’ve compiled the 5 most important reasons evfx reviewgreat forex brokers eu as to why the DJIA is important for investors to understand and monitor. By the end of this article, investors will be equipped with the relevant knowledge and insights to navigate the DJIA with confidence. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool’s premium services. Since the Great Depression, 2007 to 2008 has been the most dramatic period for the DJIA.

Gold futures were up 1.6% at $2,720, trading at their highest level in two weeks. Gold prices have fallen from record highs of around $2,800 early this month, as the U.S. dollar has strengthened since the presidential election. The stock gained nearly 80% this week and is now back into positive territory for the year, after losing ground for several months amid accounting concerns. In the world of finance, you’ll often hear people ask, “How did New York do today?” or “How did the market perform today?” In both cases, these people are likely referring to the DJIA, as it is the most widely-used index. It is more popular than both the S&P 500 Index, which tracks 500 stocks, and the Nasdaq Composite Index, which includes more than 2,500 U.S. and international equities.

Because it tracks the performance of 500 of the largest public companies, the S&P 500 Index is much broader in scope than the DJIA. Unlike the DJIA, the S&P 500 is market capitalization-weighted, not price-weighted. Because it’s more diversified and considers companies based on market cap, it may be a better indicator of the overall stock market’s performance.

For example, let’s say your individual portfolio of stocks (or your mutual fund) returned 15%, but the market index returned 20% during the same period. As a result, your portfolio’s performance (or your fund manager’s performance) would be lagging behind the market. Unlike both the S&P 500 and the Dow, the Nasdaq 100 contains some foreign companies and is heavily skewed to tech companies.