Dow Jones (DJIA 30): Price, Components and 2026 Guide

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), often simply called “the Dow Jones” or “the Dow 30”, is the oldest stock index in the world and Wall Street’s historic benchmark. Created in 1896, it tracks the share prices of 30 of the largest US companies, mostly listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

This page brings together the index’s live price, its current components, how it is calculated, its history since 1896 and practical ways to invest in the Dow Jones from France.

Dow Jones (DJIA) Live Price

The chart below shows the Dow Jones quote, updated continuously during US trading sessions:

If this topic interests you, also see “BIST ALL SHARES” and “NIFTY 50“.

Dow Jones Index Fact Sheet

What Is the Dow Jones? A Simple Definition

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a stock index that measures the combined performance of 30 large US companies chosen to represent the US economy. When the media report that “Wall Street closed higher”, they are usually referring to the Dow Jones 30.

The index was founded by two financial journalists, Charles Dow (1851-1902) and Edward Jones (1856-1920), together with Charles Bergstresser; they created Dow Jones & Company and founded The Wall Street Journal. The first published quote, on May 26, 1896, stood at 40.94 points.

“Dow Jones” actually refers to a family of indices: besides the DJIA, there is the Dow Jones Transportation Average (transportation) and the Dow Jones Utility Average (utilities). To go further, see our detailed definition of the Dow Jones 30.

How Is the Dow Jones Calculated?

The DJIA is calculated in an unusual way: the prices of its 30 stocks are added together, and the sum is divided by an adjustment factor called the Dow Divisor. It is an adjusted arithmetic average, not a market-cap weighting like the S&P 500.

The divisor is adjusted for every structural event (stock split, spin-off, a company joining or leaving) so that the index does not jump artificially during these operations. A direct consequence of this method is that a high-priced stock weighs more on the index than a low-priced one, even if its market capitalization is smaller. This is the main criticism of the Dow Jones, but it is also what makes it an unbroken historical indicator going back 130 years.

Dow Jones Components: The 30 Stocks

The index includes 30 major companies in the US economy, from Apple and Coca-Cola to JPMorgan, Microsoft and Boeing. Its composition changes over time: none of the twelve original companies is still in the index; General Electric, a member for 111 years, left in 2018.

The most notable recent changes:

• June 29, 2026: Alphabet replaces Verizon;
• November 5, 2024: Nvidia replaces Intel, the first Nasdaq company to join, in 1999;
• February 26, 2024: Amazon replaces Walgreens Boots Alliance.

The full, detailed list of the thirty stocks, with their sectors, is available on our page dedicated to the Dow Jones components. You can also follow the live calculated version on our Dow Jones IA page.

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Dow Jones History: Key Dates

The Dow Jones’s journey sums up the history of American finance:

• May 26, 1896: first quote, at 40.94 points;
• August 8, 1896: the index’s all-time low, at 28.98 points;
• October 24, 1929: “Black Thursday”, the start of the 1929 crash;
• 1972: first time above 1,000 points;
• March 29, 1999: first close above 10,000 points;
• January 25, 2017: the index passes 20,000 points;
• March 2020: during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dow Jones suffered some of the worst sessions in its history (−9.99% on March 12), before rebounding more than 11% on March 24, its best day since 1933;
• May 17, 2024: first time above 40,000 points;
• February 6, 2026: the Dow Jones tops 50,000 points for the first time.

Over the long term, the Dow Jones’s performance has moved closer to that of the CAC 40 and other major European indices, as markets have become increasingly correlated.

Dow Jones Trading Hours

The index follows New York Stock Exchange sessions: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Eastern Time, which is generally 3:30 pm to 10:00 pm in Paris. Pre-market and after-hours sessions allow trading outside these hours, with less liquidity.

Detailed hours, including daylight saving time and the US public holidays that halt trading, are on our New York Stock Exchange hours page.

How to Invest in the Dow Jones from France

You cannot buy an index directly: you gain exposure through products that track it. French investors have three main options:

1. ETFs (trackers): these exchange-traded funds replicate the DJIA’s performance for a few tenths of a percent in annual fees. They trade like a stock, in an ordinary securities account.
2. Index funds: more passive management, suited to a long horizon, within a life insurance contract or a securities account.
3. Derivatives (CFDs, futures): for short-term trading, with leverage that amplifies both gains and losses. This approach requires strict risk management discipline.

As the index is American, ETFs that track it directly are not eligible for the PEA (French equity savings plan): they are held in a securities account. Our comparison of securities accounts and our guide to buying shares on the stock market explain the steps, and our ETFs and the PEA page explains what is possible in each tax wrapper.

Dow Jones, S&P 500 or NASDAQ: What Are the Differences?

The three major US indices tell different stories. The Dow Jones tracks 30 price-weighted stocks; the S&P 500 covers 500 market-cap-weighted companies and represents about 80% of US stock market value; the NASDAQ is dominated by technology stocks.

To judge the US economy as a whole, the S&P 500 is statistically more representative. Yet the Dow Jones retains a special status: it is the index history has enshrined, and its unbroken series since 1896 makes it a unique record of Wall Street. Find a full presentation of the exchange and how it works on our New York Stock Exchange page.

Strengths and Limitations of the Dow Jones

Strengths:

• 130 years of continuous history, the longest stock market series in the world;
• 30 leading companies selected to represent key sectors;
• A composition that keeps being renewed (Alphabet in 2026, Nvidia in 2024) to stay current.

Limitations:

• Only 30 stocks, a narrow sample compared with the 500 in the S&P 500;
• Price weighting that gives excessive weight to high-priced stocks;
• No direct exposure possible in a PEA for a US index.

Dow Jones FAQ

How many companies are in the Dow Jones?

Thirty US companies, chosen by S&P Dow Jones Indices to represent the US economy. The composition changes regularly: Alphabet replaced Verizon on June 29, 2026.

What is the difference between the Dow Jones and the S&P 500?

The Dow Jones tracks 30 price-weighted stocks; the S&P 500 covers 500, weighted by market capitalization. The S&P 500 is more representative of the market, while the Dow Jones is older and gets more media attention.

What is the Dow Jones’s all-time high?

On February 6, 2026, the index topped 50,000 points for the first time, after passing 40,000 points on May 17, 2024.

Can you hold the Dow Jones in a PEA?

No. A US index is not eligible for the PEA, and neither are ETFs that track it directly. Exposure is taken through an ordinary securities account.

Who manages the Dow Jones?

The index is managed by S&P Dow Jones Indices under the Dow Jones Indexes brand, a joint venture historically linked to CME Group and to Dow Jones & Company, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.

Why is the Dow Jones price-weighted?

For historical reasons: in 1896, calculating a simple average of prices was the most practical method. Today, the Dow Divisor corrects for this legacy to avoid breaks during stock splits and composition changes.

Disclaimer: this content is for information only and does not constitute investment advice. Investing in the stock market carries a risk of capital loss; past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.