The Dow Jones is an index that is made up of 30 large, typically blue-chip companies on the NYSE and Nasdaq. It’s named after Charles Dow and Edward Jones. There are only 30 companies on this index, so you could choose to invest in all 30 or you could invest in an index fund that does it for you. Find out how to invest in the Dow Jones index and more about how the Dow Jones works.
What is the Dow Jones?
The Dow Jones stock market index comprises the 30 most traded stocks on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. It contains some major companies like Apple, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. It’s a popular index to watch if you want to monitor the performance of leading blue-chip stocks in the US.
Can I invest in the Dow Jones in the UK?
Yes, there are a couple of ways to trade or invest in the Dow Jones from the UK. While you can’t buy shares directly in the Dow Jones, you can invest in an exchange traded fund (ETF) or index fund that tracks the performance of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average index. You can also buy shares in the individual companies listed on the Dow Jones index, though this can be an expensive and time-consuming way to invest.
How to invest in the Dow Jones
Open a share trading account. In order to invest in the Dow Jones, whether you’re buying shares or investing in a fund, you’ll need to open a trading account with a broker or platform. Keep in mind that some index funds may only be available on certain brokerages or platforms. The providers in our comparison table below let you invest in US shares.
Find a Dow Jones ETF, index fund or mutual fund or choose the stocks you want to buy. Some index funds track the performance of all 30 Dow Jones stocks, whereas others only track a certain number of stocks or are weighted more towards specific stocks. You should select the fund that best suits your investment goals. If you’re buying shares, decide whether you want to invest in all 30 Dow Jones companies or spread your investment across just a few.
Deposit funds. You’ll need to deposit funds into your account to begin trading. Some brokers may charge you deposit fees, or you may need to pay a forex fee in order for your pounds to be converted into US dollars.
Buy the index fund. Once your money has been deposited, you can then buy the Dow Jones fund or shares. You’ll generally pay a small annual fee to invest in an ETF or index fund. Investing in shares will incur trading fees, often for every company you buy shares in.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), also known as the Dow, is a stock market index that tracks the stock performance of 30 of the largest companies on US stock exchanges. It’s not weighted by market capitalisation and does not use a weighted arithmetic mean. It is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices and is the second-oldest US market index.
Should I invest in the Dow Jones?
The Dow is an index of 30 of the largest and most successful companies on US stock exchanges. Between 2009 and 2019, the Dow gained over 21,000 points, an increase of around 260%. Like most stock indexes, the Dow suffered heavy losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but historically, it has been a sensible investment option.
Is there a Dow Jones ETF?
Yes, there are a number of Dow Jones ETFs available for UK residents to invest in. Many ETFs track all 30 stocks in the Dow Jones index, though you may also find some that only track a selection, so check the key investor information document carefully to make sure you know what you’re getting. Below, we’ve listed some ETFs that are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Dow Jones ETFs listed on the London Stock Exchange
SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA)
iShares Dow Jones US ETF (IYY)
ProShares Ultra Dow30 (DDM)
ProShares UltraPro Dow30 (UDOW)
How can I invest in Dow Jones stocks?
You can also invest in the Dow Jones by buying stocks in the listed companies directly. You could choose to buy an equal number of shares in each of the 30 companies in the Dow to closely replicate the Dow’s full performance. Alternatively, you could select a few stocks to buy.
However, while buying stocks gives you direct exposure to the companies in the Dow Jones, it’s likely to be an expensive way to invest. Many of the stocks in the Dow are worth hundreds of US dollars each. So, even if you only wanted to buy one stock per company, you’d be looking at investing significant money.
Depending on which broker or trading platform you use, you may also be charged for each individual stock you buy. These trading fees can often wipe out any potential profit you make. In comparison, you usually only pay a small annual fee when you buy an ETF, but your investment will still be tied to the performance of the Dow. Some platforms may also charge a small trading fee to invest in an ETF – but a single trading fee is likely to cost much less than fees for investing in 30 individual stocks. This is likely to make a fund a more affordable, and more straightforward, option for most investors.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
The Dow Jones isn’t typically regarded as a particularly innovative or fashionable index to invest in. You won’t find any young upstart companies among its ranks, so if you’re on the hunt for high-risk, high-reward investments, you probably won’t find it in the Dow Jones.
Instead, it’s made up of so-called “blue chip” stocks – typically big, well-established companies with a proven track record of solid performance (think the likes of Visa and Walmart). This could make a Dow Jones ETF a reasonable bet if you’re looking for an investment with relatively low volatility (though, of course, no investment is risk-free).
However, with only 30 companies listed, it’s not a terribly diverse index (especially when compared with the 500 stocks on the S&P 500, for example).
As such, there’s an argument that the Dow Jones shouldn’t be the only index featured in most investors’ portfolios. But a Dow Jones ETF could be worth considering as part of a balanced portfolio that includes a mix of investment types across different market sectors and regions.
Bottom line
The Dow Jones index is a little different to other indices, mainly because it’s only got a small number of stocks in it, of which most, if not all, are blue-chip stocks. This means that it’s not very diversified as smaller companies aren’t included. It’s worth looking at the Dow in comparison with other indices, like the S&P 500 to get a larger picture of the economy. For investors, the Dow is a good place to get exposure to large blue-chip companies.
Frequently asked questions
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is just a long name for the Dow Jones. If you invest in a fund that tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average, you’ll get exposure to all 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones.
The so-called “Dogs” of the Dow are the 10 highest dividend-yielding stocks of the Dow Jones index. Some investors follow a strategy that targets these stocks. The companies that hit this mark may change year to year, so if you want to invest in the Dogs of the Dow, you’ll need to rebalance annually.
The cost of investing in the Dow Jones depends on the method of investing. If you buy shares in each individual company, you’ll typically pay a trading fee per stock. You’ll also need to keep track of stocks that move in and out of the index and buy and sell accordingly, which will incur further trading fees. It’s likely to be cheaper to invest via a Dow Jones ETF, as you’ll only pay one (typically low) set of fees to get exposure to all 30 companies.
The Dow Jones is an index, not a fund, so you can’t invest in it directly. However, you can buy funds that track the performance of the Dow Jones. Alternatively, you can buy shares in the companies listed on the Dow Jones index.
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
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.
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