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How to Invest in the Dow Jones

Buy stocks or ETFs that track the 30 largest blue-chip companies.

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Tom Stelzer

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What is the Dow Jones?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), also known as the Dow, is a stock market index that tracks 30 of the largest blue-chip companies on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The index was founded in 1896 by Charles Dow and Edward Jones, who also created the Dow Jones Transportation Average. It’s a price-weighted index that acts as a barometer for the US economy. The Dow is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indexes and is the second-oldest US market index, second only to the Dow Jones Transportation Average.

How to invest in the Dow Jones

There are two ways to invest in the Dow Jones: stocks and ETFs.

Purchasing stocks allows you to pick and choose which companies you’d like to support. You could buy one share in each of the 30 companies in the Dow or select a few stocks. Stocks offer a targeted investment opportunity and tend to have greater profit potential but have one major downside: limited exposure. Many of the stocks in the Dow are worth hundreds of dollars, so it can be expensive to invest.

If it’s broad market exposure you’re interested in, consider investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF). ETFs are a less expensive way to gain exposure to the market, as these funds track the entire index. ETFs tend to be more stable than individual stocks but come with fees that typically range from 0.03% to 2.5%.

Before you can swap stocks or ETFs, you’ll need a brokerage account. Here’s a breakdown of the investment process:

  1. Open a brokerage account. There’s no shortage of online brokerages, so vet your options carefully, taking fees, research tools and investor feedback into account.
  2. Deposit funds. Once you’ve set up an account, you’ll need to deposit funds before you can begin trading.
  3. Select your securities. Use your platform’s research tools to narrow down stock and ETF options.
  4. Monitor your investments. Log in to your brokerage account to track your investments.

What ETFs track the Dow Jones?

  • SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA)
  • iShares Dow Jones US ETF (IYY)
  • ProShares Ultra Dow30 (DDM)
  • ProShares UltraPro Dow30 (UDOW)
  • ELEMENTS Dogs of the Dow (DOD)

What stocks are in the Dow Jones?

CompanyExchangeStock codeIndustry
3MNYSENYSE: MMMConglomerate
American ExpressNYSENYSE: AXPFinancial services
Apple IncNasdaqAAPLInformation technology
BoeingNYSENYSE: BAAerospace and arms
Caterpillar IncNYSENYSE: CATConstruction and mining
Chevron CorporationNYSENYSE: CVXPetroleum industry
Cisco SystemsNasdaqCSCOInformation technology
The Coca-Cola CompanyNYSENYSE: KOFood industry
Dow IncNYSENYSE: DOWChemical industry
ExxonMobilNYSENYSE: XOMPetroleum industry
Goldman SachsNYSENYSE: GSFinancial services
The Home DepotNYSENYSE: HDRetailing
IBMNYSENYSE: IBMInformation technology
IntelNasdaqINTCInformation technology
Johnson & JohnsonNYSENYSE: JNJPharmaceuticals
JPMorgan ChaseNYSENYSE: JPMFinancial services
McDonald’sNYSENYSE: MCDFood industry
Merck & CoNYSENYSE: MRKPharmaceuticals
MicrosoftNasdaqMSFTInformation technology
NikeNYSENYSE: NKEApparel
PfizerNYSENYSE: PFEPharmaceuticals
Procter & GambleNYSENYSE: PGConsumer
The Travelers CompaniesNYSENYSE: TRVFinancial services
UnitedHealth GroupNYSENYSE: UNHManaged health care
United TechnologiesNYSENYSE: UTXConglomerate
VerizonNYSENYSE: VZTelecommunication
Visa IncNYSENYSE: VFinancial services
WalmartNYSENYSE: WMTRetailing
Walgreens Boots AllianceNasdaqWBARetailing
The Walt Disney CompanyNYSENYSE: DISBroadcasting and entertainment

Compare platforms for trading the Dow Jones

Invest in the Dow Jones by signing up for a brokerage account with any of the following platforms:

12 of 12 results
Finder Score Available asset types Stock trade fee Minimum deposit Cash sweep APY bullet point infobox
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, CDs
$0.01
$250
2.83%
Leverage powerful trading tools and low margin rates to trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds.
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Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Event contracts, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
3.50%
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account. T&Cs apply.
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Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments, Retirement, Treasury Bills, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
3.6%
Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public. T&Cs apply.
Build a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, ETFs and crypto, with a high-yield cash account and options contract rebates.
Important information
*Yield as of 04/09/2025. Learn more.
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SoFi Wealth Management logo
Finder score
9 Excellent
SoFi Active Invest
Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Alternatives
$0
$0
0.01%
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, ETFs, and options with zero commissions, invest in IPOs or automate your portfolio, with exclusive perks available through SoFi Plus.
Important information
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease Robo Advisor: Automated investing is offered through SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. 0.25% fee is based on your account value. The wrap program fee may cost more or less than purchasing brokerage, custodial, and record keeping services separately. Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.
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Webull logo
Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Webull
Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Futures, Money market funds
$0
$0
3.60%
Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus, or $2,000+ to earn a 3% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, ETFs and equity options commission-free, with access to futures, advanced charting tools, a robo-advisor and event trading powered by Kalshi.
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Interactive Brokers logo
Finder score
9.2 Excellent
Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader
Finder score
9.2 Excellent
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0
$0
3.83% Lite
4.83% Pro
Trade in a simulated trading environment and access a wide range of tradable assets.
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eToro logo
Finder score
8.2 Great
eToro
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments
$0
$0
3.75%
No commission stock, ETF and options trades, with 3.9% interest on your options account balance and no options contract fees. See full disclosure.
Important information
eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.
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Acorns logo
Finder score
8 Great
Acorns
Finder score
8 Great
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
N/A
Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5). T&Cs apply.
Automate investing with recurring contributions starting at $5 and invest spare change from everyday purchases.
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Stash Investments LLC logo
Finder score
7.4 Great
Stash
Finder score
7.4 Great
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
0.1%
Get $5 when you sign up and deposit $5. T&Cs apply.
Bank, automate your portfolio or invest in individual stocks and ETFs for as low as $3 per month.
Important information
Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investment LLC, a SEC registered investment advisor. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. *Offer is subject to T&Cs
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Wealthfront logo
Finder score
9 Excellent
Wealthfront
Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, ETFs, High-yield cash account
$0
$500
3.75%
Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500. T&Cs apply.
Automate your stock and bond portfolio or trade individual stocks for as little as $1 apiece. Plus, earn 3.50% APY on your cash.
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JPMorgan logo
Finder score
7.2 Great
J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors
Finder score
7.2 Great
Mutual funds, ETFs
$0
$25,000
N/A
Financial planning, advice and portfolio management. T&Cs apply.
Get ongoing access to an advisory team with personalized financial planning and expert-built portfolios. Provider terms & conditions apply
Important information
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE.
More info
M1 Finance logo
Finder score
8.2 Great
M1 Finance
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0
$100
4.00%
Build a custom portfolio of stocks and ETFs with automatic rebalancing. Plus, earn 4.00% APY with a high-yield cash account.
Important information
M1 Finance, LLC does not charge commission, trading, or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. You may still be charged other fees such as M1’s platform fee, regulatory fees, account closure fees, or ADR fees. For a complete list of fees M1 may charge visit M1 Fee Schedule. M1 is not a bank. M1 Spend is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of M1 Holdings Inc.. M1 High –Yield Savings Accounts are furnished by B2 Bank, NA, Member FDIC. Obtaining stated APY (annual percentage yield) with the M1 High-Yield Savings Account does not require a minimum account balance. Stated APY is accrued on account balance. APY is solely determined by M1 Spend LLC and its partner banks, and will include account fees that will reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change without notice. M1 High-Yield Savings Account is a separate offering from, and not linked to, the M1 High-Yield Cash Account offered by M1 Finance, LLC. M1 is not a bank.
More info
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on nine different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Why should I invest in the Dow Jones?

The Dow tracks 30 of the largest and most profitable publicly traded companies in the US. These companies are hugely successful and as a result, tend to offer stable earnings. Individually buying into the Dow’s tracked stocks is expensive, but ETFs offer simplified, broad market exposure with a single purchase. The Dow Jones is designed to act as a barometer for the US economy, so investing in this index serves as an opportunity for investors to keep their finger on the pulse of the market.

What are the risks of investing in the Dow Jones?

No index is foolproof and no investment is risk free. The Dow Jones is one of the most reputable indexes on the market, but there are drawbacks to consider before you invest.
It’s primary drawback is that it’s limited. Sure, the 30 companies it tracks are among the most successful on the market — but compare this to the 500 companies tracked by the S&P 500 or the 3,000 companies tracked by the Russell 3000, and the Dow Jones begins to look more restrictive than most.
Financial experts argue that the Dow Jones fails to account for the small- to mid-cap stocks that represent an important aspect of the US economy. One way to combat this shortcoming is to invest in indexes that focus on smaller companies, like the Russell 2000.

Bottom line

As one of the oldest indexes on the market, the Dow Jones may be a sensible investment option for those looking to invest in well-established blue-chip companies. But whether or not the Dow is a prudent choice for your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals.
Explore your brokerage account options on different trading platforms to find the account best suited to your needs.

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

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Tom Stelzer is a writer for Finder specialising in personal finance, including loans and credit, as well as small business and business loans. He has previously worked as a freelance writer covering entertainment, culture and football for publications like FourFourTwo and Man of Many. He has a Master of Media Arts and Production and Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney. See full bio

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