About the Dow Jones Industrial Average
The DJIA, established in 1896, is the oldest U.S. stock market index. Unlike market-cap-weighted indices like the S&P 500, the Dow is price-weighted—higher-priced stocks have more influence regardless of company size. The 30 constituents are selected by Wall Street Journal editors to represent the American economy.
Index Details
- Constituents: 30 companies
- Weighting: Price-weighted
- Inception: May 26, 1896
- Primary ETF: DIA (0.16% expense ratio)
Sector Coverage
- Technology & Software
- Financials & Banking
- Healthcare & Pharma
- Consumer & Retail
- Industrials & Energy
Historical Performance
- Average annual return: ~9-10% including dividends
- Dividend yield: ~2-2.5% (higher than S&P 500)
- Milestones: 1,000 (1972), 10,000 (1999), 30,000 (2020)





























