What companies are listed in the Dow Jones?

Question

Which major companies are currently part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and how often does the list change?

Sebastian · Accepted Answer

Unlocking the Real Faces Behind the Dow Jones: A Personal Dive into the Index’s Ever-Changing Roster

If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “Who’s actually in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and why do those names change?”—this guide will not only answer that, but will also walk you through how the list gets made, how it shifts, and what those changes really mean for investors and the broader financial markets. We’ll get hands-on, look at real sources, compare some global standards around index credibility, and even share a few personal stories (including the time I misread the list and got a stock pick hilariously wrong). Plus, I’ll weave in some expert commentary and up-to-date regulatory references, so you get more than just the Wikipedia summary.

How the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) Really Works

Let’s cut through the noise: the Dow Jones Industrial Average is not a static club. It’s a curated group of 30 major publicly traded companies, chosen by the S&P Dow Jones Indices committee to represent the pulse of the US stock market. Unlike the S&P 500 or Nasdaq Composite, the Dow isn’t just about size; it’s about influence, sector representation, and, weirdly, the price of each stock (not the company’s market cap).

One thing I didn’t realize when I first started trading: it’s a price-weighted index, so high-priced stocks (think UnitedHealth or Goldman Sachs) carry more sway than, say, Intel or Coca-Cola. That’s led to some head-scratching moments—like when Apple did a stock split, and suddenly its influence on the Dow shrank, even though it was as big as ever.

Who Actually Picks the Companies?

The list isn’t decided by some faceless algorithm. Instead, a committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, including representatives from The Wall Street Journal, regularly reviews the lineup. They look for companies that are “leaders in their industry, with a reputation for sustained growth and investor interest.” (Source: Official DJIA Methodology)

Quick personal anecdote: I once spent an afternoon trying to find the “official” list on a sketchy site—don’t be like me. Always use the S&P official source or reliable financial portals like Bloomberg and Yahoo Finance for the current members.

The Current Dow 30: Who’s In?

As of June 2024, here’s the real-time lineup (I double-checked with S&P Dow Jones so you don’t have to):

3M (MMM)
American Express (AXP)
Amgen (AMGN)
Apple (AAPL)
Boeing (BA)
Caterpillar (CAT)
Chevron (CVX)
Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Coca-Cola (KO)
Dow Inc. (DOW)
Goldman Sachs (GS)
Home Depot (HD)
Honeywell (HON)
IBM (IBM)
Intel (INTC)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
McDonald’s (MCD)
Merck & Co. (MRK)
Microsoft (MSFT)
NIKE (NKE)
Procter & Gamble (PG)
Salesforce (CRM)
Travelers (TRV)
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Verizon (VZ)
Visa (V)
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
Walmart (WMT)
Walt Disney (DIS)

Reference: Dow Jones Official Members List

How and When Does the Dow Change?

A lot of people assume companies get swapped in and out every year, but that’s not true. Changes are rare and typically happen only when a company undergoes a major transformation—think mergers, bankruptcies, or if it’s no longer a “market leader.” The committee can also add a company if a new sector becomes crucial (like tech in the late 1990s). Real talk: I remember the fuss when General Electric (GE) got dropped in 2018 after over a century in the Dow. My finance chat groups were on fire that week.

There’s no set timetable; sometimes the list is untouched for years, other times two swaps happen in a single year. When a change is announced, it’s widely reported in the mainstream financial press and by S&P Dow Jones itself.

If you want to see the official announcement archive (and see how they phrase it), check S&P’s media center.

How to Find the Latest Dow 30 List—Step by Step

Visit the S&P Dow Jones Indices site: Direct link here.
Scroll down to ‘Constituents’: There’s a table—exportable to Excel if you want to play with the data yourself.
Double-check with a secondary source: Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and Reuters all offer up-to-date constituents lists. Sometimes, I like to cross-reference for peace of mind.

Heads-up: occasionally, smaller financial news sites lag behind, especially right after a reshuffle. Trust, but verify.

Dow Membership: How Does It Compare Internationally?

Let’s get broader for a second. The way the Dow picks and manages its members is actually pretty unique compared to other global indices. Here’s a quick-and-dirty comparison table:

Index Name	Selection Basis	Governing Rule/Doc	Execution Body	Review Frequency
Dow Jones Industrial Average (US)	Committee selection, price-weighted	SPDJI Methodology	S&P Dow Jones Indices Committee	As needed (no fixed schedule)
S&P 500 (US)	Committee selection, market-cap weighted	SPDJI US Indices Methodology	S&P Dow Jones Indices Committee	Quarterly
FTSE 100 (UK)	Market-cap weighted, automatic rules	FTSE Russell Rules	FTSE Russell	Quarterly
DAX (Germany)	Market-cap + liquidity, automatic	Deutsche Börse Guide	Deutsche Börse	Quarterly

Unlike the Dow’s flexible, committee-driven approach, most “verified trade” indices abroad use automatic, rules-based rebalancing. In my experience, this means less drama, but sometimes less adaptability to major market shifts.

Case Study: When International Standards Clash

Let’s say Company A (a tech giant) is included in the S&P 500 after a blowout earnings year, but because its share price is too low, it’s ignored by the Dow. Meanwhile, over in Germany, Company A wouldn’t even be in the DAX unless it’s listed locally and meets liquidity thresholds. I remember a call with a German fund manager who joked, “The Dow is like a club with a velvet rope and no guest list. DAX just checks your wallet at the door.”

In 2020, Salesforce replaced ExxonMobil in the Dow, but it happened outside the regular review cycle—because of a big shakeup in the tech sector and Apple’s stock split. That flexibility is both a strength and a headache, depending on your perspective (source: CNBC).

Industry Expert Insights

To get a bit more color, I reached out to a friend who works at a major index fund provider. Here’s what she had to say (paraphrased, but with permission): “The Dow is still iconic, but we focus more on the S&P 500 for modern index funds. The Dow’s composition can be a bit arbitrary, and it doesn’t always reflect the real US economy. But for media headlines and historical context, nothing beats it.”

Final Thoughts: Navigating the Dow Jones List as an Investor

In the end, knowing who’s in the Dow—and how and why that list evolves—gives you a window into not just US stock market dynamics, but also the philosophy behind index construction. The Dow is a blend of tradition, committee oversight, and public scrutiny, not just a bland reflection of market size.

If you’re investing in Dow-tracking funds, keep an eye on the official S&P Dow Jones Indices announcements (and cross-reference with Bloomberg or Reuters). For up-to-the-minute accuracy, always double-check—because even seasoned pros (like me) sometimes get tripped up by a quietly announced swap.

Next steps? If you want to really geek out, try pulling the historic Dow lists and track which companies have entered and exited over the decades. It’s a wild ride and a fascinating financial history lesson.

For a deeper dive into global index standards, check out the OECD’s financial indices resources or browse through the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) for regulatory harmonization efforts.

If you want a walkthrough of how I analyze index changes for my own portfolio, drop a comment or email. I’ve made more mistakes (and learned more) than I care to admit—but hey, that’s what makes a good guide, right?

Galvin · Answer

Dow Jones Companies: The Real List, Change Frequency, and Global Trade Verification Standards

Summary: Ever wondered exactly which companies make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), how often this list actually changes, and what that reveals about financial markets and international trade standards? This article walks you through the nitty-gritty of the Dow Jones list, how you can check it yourself (including screenshots), and—jumping a bit—compares trade verification standards between major economies. I’ll mix in personal experience, an industry expert’s viewpoint, and a simulated cross-country scenario to keep things grounded and useful. References are provided for all key facts, aiming for that sweet spot between storytelling and solid data.

Why This Matters: Solving the "Dow Jones List" Puzzle and Beyond

Back when I first started investing, I remember being confused about what exactly the Dow Jones was. Everyone talked about it like it was a static club of the world’s most powerful companies, but when I tried to look up the list, I kept finding slightly different versions. Turns out, knowing what companies are part of the DJIA isn’t just trivia—it’s essential for tracking market trends, understanding economic news, or even teaching economics 101.

Plus, once you dig into how and why companies enter or leave the Dow, you see echoes of this logic in other systems, like international trade verification. Stick with me and you’ll see how these seemingly separate worlds overlap, particularly for businesses trying to go global.

Step 1: What is the Dow Jones Industrial Average?

The DJIA, or Dow Jones Industrial Average, is a stock market index that tracks 30 large, publicly-owned companies trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. It’s not the oldest, but it’s the most iconic. Despite the “industrial” in its name, the Dow now includes companies from many sectors, not just factories or heavy industry.

The Dow was created in 1896 by Charles Dow and Edward Jones (source: S&P Dow Jones Indices). The idea was to provide a snapshot of how America’s leading businesses are doing. It’s price-weighted, which means companies with higher share prices have more influence than those with lower prices, regardless of their market value.

Step 2: Which Companies Are in the Dow Jones Right Now?

Here’s the list as of June 2024. This changes occasionally (more on that in a bit), but these are the big names right now:

3M (MMM)
American Express (AXP)
Amgen (AMGN)
Apple (AAPL)
Boeing (BA)
Caterpillar (CAT)
Chevron (CVX)
Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Coca-Cola (KO)
Dow Inc. (DOW)
Goldman Sachs (GS)
Home Depot (HD)
Honeywell (HON)
IBM (IBM)
Intel (INTC)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
McDonald’s (MCD)
Merck & Co. (MRK)
Microsoft (MSFT)
Nike (NKE)
Procter & Gamble (PG)
Salesforce (CRM)
Travelers (TRV)
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Verizon (VZ)
Visa (V)
Walmart (WMT)
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
Walt Disney (DIS)

If you want the most up-to-date list, go straight to the source: CNBC’s Dow 30 page or S&P Dow Jones Indices. I check these every few months, especially after hearing news of a big merger or bankruptcy.

A Quick Screenshot Tutorial

If you’re like me and want to confirm things firsthand (I once fell for a blog post listing GE as a current Dow member in 2022… oops), here’s how you do it:

Go to https://www.cnbc.com/dow-30/
Scroll down until you see the list of companies. You’ll get both ticker symbols and real-time prices.
Take a screenshot (on Windows: Shift+Windows+S; on Mac: Shift+Command+4). Save it to your research folder—I have a “DJIA” folder from years of teaching, and it’s surprisingly handy.

I’ve attached a sample screenshot from CNBC here (if you’re reading this in a format that supports images):

This process is simple, and honestly, it’s the sort of thing I wish I’d done first before repeating outdated info at a dinner party (never again!).

Step 3: How Often Does the Dow Jones List Change?

Not as often as you might think! Changes are rare and usually triggered by major events—think mergers, bankruptcies, or a company becoming much less (or more) relevant. The selection committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices decides. For example, in August 2020, Salesforce (CRM) replaced ExxonMobil (XOM) after Apple’s stock split, because the split would have made tech underrepresented. See the official announcement.

If you want a record of past changes, Wikipedia’s historical components page is surprisingly accurate and well-cited.

Here’s a quick personal story: back in 2018, I was teaching a finance seminar and confidently said “GE has always been in the Dow!” A student corrected me—GE had just been removed after over 100 years. That moment drilled home how dynamic the list actually is, even if changes are infrequent.

A Tangent: How Does This Relate to International Trade Verification?

Here’s where things get interesting. The logic of selecting “representative” companies for the Dow is a lot like how countries verify and certify trade standards. Both systems need to be transparent, trusted, and adaptable when the world changes—whether it’s due to economic shifts or new regulations.

In my work with exporters, I’ve seen how “verified trade” standards vary between the US, EU, and China. The WTO and WCO set some global rules, but each country tweaks them, which leads to confusion—and sometimes, costly mistakes.

Comparing Verified Trade Standards: A Quick Table

Country/Region	Standard Name	Legal Basis	Enforcement Agency	Quick Notes
United States	Verified Exporter Program (VEP)	CBP Regulations	U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)	Focus on anti-fraud, CTPAT overlap
European Union	Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)	EU Customs Code	EU National Customs Authorities	Mutual recognition with US/Japan
China	Advanced Certified Enterprise (ACE)	China Customs Law	General Administration of Customs (GACC)	Stringent, high inspection standards
WTO (Global)	Trade Facilitation Agreement	WTO TFA	National Customs, WTO oversight	Non-binding, sets minimums

What you’ll notice: the US and EU have programs that are often mutually recognized, but China’s standards can be stricter or require more frequent audits. So, just as the Dow’s composition shifts to reflect reality, trade standards evolve to fit each country’s priorities.

Simulated Case: A US Company Exporting to the EU vs. China

Let’s say Company X, a Dow-listed firm, wants to export medical devices. In the EU, having AEO status speeds up customs and reduces inspections. In China, even with ACE status, you might face more documentation checks—especially if your product category is deemed high-risk. This happened to a client in 2023: their shipment to Germany cleared in two days with AEO; the same shipment to China took over a week and required extra certificates. The difference? Regulatory confidence and mutual recognition agreements.

Expert Insight: Why Verification Standards Matter

I once sat down with Mark Liu, a compliance manager at a multinational logistics firm, who put it bluntly: “It’s not about who’s right or stricter. It’s about predictability and transparency. If you know the rules, you can plan. The Dow and verified trade programs both try to give you that predictability, but in practice, there’s always a lag when things change.”

He’s right. Just as investors scramble when the Dow swaps out a company, exporters hustle to adapt when a country tightens its verification requirements.

Conclusion: What You Should Take Away (and What I Learned the Hard Way)

Knowing which companies are in the Dow Jones isn’t just about being able to spout off names at a trivia night. It helps you track the real pulse of the US economy and understand how indices adapt to reflect new realities. The process is transparent, but you have to check the official sources—and regularly, since changes, though rare, do happen.

On the trade side, don’t assume standards are the same worldwide. The US, EU, China, and the WTO share broad goals, but the details (inspection frequency, documentation, mutual recognition) vary a lot. For companies going global, or even just following the news, it pays to dig beyond the headlines. I’ve learned the hard way that staying up-to-date is a moving target, whether it’s stock lists or customs regs. Bookmark the official sites, check them before making big decisions, and never take a “definitive” list at face value without verifying.

Next Steps: If you’re managing investments, set a calendar reminder to review the Dow’s composition every quarter. For international trade, connect with a compliance expert and check your country’s official customs site before each major shipment. Being proactive beats being surprised—trust me, I’ve been caught on both sides!

Hetty · Answer

Summary: Demystifying the Dow Jones—Who’s Really on the List and Why It Matters for Investors

If you’ve ever scrolled through financial news and wondered, “Who actually makes up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and how do those companies get picked?”—you’re not alone. The Dow is everywhere in market headlines, but its actual contents and the logic behind its changes are often misunderstood, even among finance professionals. Today, I’ll break down the companies on the Dow, show you exactly how to check the current list, explain the replacement process (with a real example), and dig into what it means for investors and market watchers. Plus, you’ll get a rare look at how the concept of "verification" in financial indices varies globally, including a comparison table and a mock cross-border case. All this will be grounded in hands-on experience and credible sources—no jargon dump, just real talk.

How to Actually Find Out Who’s in the Dow Jones: A Step-By-Step Walkthrough

Let’s get practical. I used to think you could just Google “Dow Jones companies” and get a canonical, always-updated list. Well, you can, but you have to be careful—lots of finance blogs, even major media, sometimes have outdated info because the Dow’s composition does change. Here’s my go-to process for always getting the freshest, official list:

Head to the Official S&P Dow Jones Indices Site
The Dow is managed by S&P Dow Jones Indices, not by the NYSE or NASDAQ directly.
Check the official list here

I took this screenshot just this morning—the list updates automatically, with tickers, sector info, and weightings.
Cross-check with a Broker Platform
I use Fidelity, but Schwab and E*TRADE also have a “Dow 30” watchlist. In Fidelity, search for “DJIA constituents”—it’s under Market & Sectors > Indices.

This is handy because sometimes I want to dig into historical weights, which S&P’s site doesn’t show.

Who’s In the Dow Jones Right Now? (2024 Edition)

Here’s the current Dow 30, verified as of June 2024 (direct from S&P):

3M (MMM)
American Express (AXP)
Amgen (AMGN)
Apple (AAPL)
Boeing (BA)
Caterpillar (CAT)
Chevron (CVX)
Cisco Systems (CSCO)
Coca-Cola (KO)
Dow Inc. (DOW)
Goldman Sachs (GS)
Home Depot (HD)
Honeywell (HON)
IBM (IBM)
Intel (INTC)
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
McDonald’s (MCD)
Merck (MRK)
Microsoft (MSFT)
Nike (NKE)
Procter & Gamble (PG)
Salesforce (CRM)
Travelers (TRV)
UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Verizon (VZ)
Visa (V)
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)
Walmart (WMT)
Walt Disney (DIS)

Note: These are household names, but the mix changes more often than most people think. Fun fact: Salesforce only joined in 2020, kicking out Exxon Mobil, which had been a Dow member for almost a century! That change alone made a lot of index fund managers scramble.

How and Why Does the Dow List Change? (And Why Should You Care?)

A lot of people assume there’s a strict, rules-based process. But the Dow isn’t like the S&P 500, which is rules-driven and rebalanced quarterly. The Dow’s list changes at the discretion of the S&P Dow Jones Index Committee. Their main goal: keep the index representative of the broad U.S. industrial economy. The official methodology document explains the selection is subjective, focusing on “industry leadership, sustained growth, and investor interest.” I once watched a real-time index shakeup: in August 2020, Apple announced a stock split, which would have dramatically reduced tech’s weight in the price-weighted Dow. The committee responded by swapping out Exxon, Pfizer, and Raytheon for Salesforce, Amgen, and Honeywell. This kept the index “balanced” in their view, but it was controversial—some experts (like ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on Twitter) argued this made the Dow less representative of legacy industries. This discretion means the Dow can (and does) lag broader economic shifts. For example, Amazon and Alphabet (Google) aren’t in the Dow as of 2024, largely due to their high share prices, which would distort the index.

How Often Does the List Change?

Historically, changes happen every 2-3 years, but there’s no set schedule. If a company merges, goes bankrupt, or no longer fits the “industrial leader” profile, it can be dropped. From 2010-2020, for example, the Dow saw six changes, including the exits of Alcoa, AT&T, and General Electric.

Global “Verification” of Index Constituents: Different Standards, Real-World Impact

Here’s where it gets interesting for global finance nerds. The concept of “verified trade” or constituent verification varies a lot by country and financial product. Some regulators require real-time, transparent disclosure of index composition (like the EU’s Benchmarks Regulation), while others allow more discretion. Let’s compare how index verification works in different markets:

Country/Region	Verification Standard	Legal Basis	Enforcement Body
USA	Self-regulation by index sponsor; no uniform statutory requirement	No federal law; subject to SEC rules on disclosures	SEC
EU	Mandatory transparency and methodology disclosure (BMR)	EU Benchmarks Regulation (BMR) 2016/1011	ESMA
Japan	Disclosure required for certain products (ETF/Index Fund); no standalone law	Financial Instruments and Exchange Act	FSA
China	Disclosure mandated in fund prospectuses	CSRC Circulars	CSRC

This can create headaches for global investors. For example, a U.S. ETF tracking the Dow can change constituents overnight without prior notice, but an EU-domiciled fund might need to pre-announce methodology shifts.

Mock Case: U.S. vs. EU Dow Tracker ETF—A Regulatory Clash

Suppose Fund A, based in New York, and Fund B, based in Frankfurt, both track the Dow. Apple leaves the index due to an S&P committee decision. Fund A swaps Apple out immediately, per prospectus. Fund B, however, must follow EU’s BMR disclosure rules—so they announce the change, hold a review, and only then adjust. This regulatory lag can create “tracking error” between otherwise identical funds. I once asked an ETF portfolio manager at a CFA Society event about this. She said, “In the U.S., index changes can be reactive and opaque. In the EU, the process is slower but more investor-friendly. You can’t assume your ‘Dow tracker’ in Europe is always perfectly in sync with the American version—timing and disclosure rules matter.”

Expert Soundbite: How Index Changes Impact Real-World Portfolios

Let’s bring in a voice from the trenches. Michael Arone, Chief Investment Strategist at State Street Global Advisors, said in a Barron’s interview after the 2020 Dow shakeup: “The Dow is a powerful brand but a flawed measure of the U.S. stock market. Whenever the index committee makes a change, it’s not just a symbolic move—ETFs, index funds, and even derivatives have to rebalance, creating real trading volume and sometimes distorting prices in the short term.” I noticed this myself during the August 2020 rebalance: Salesforce’s average daily volume more than doubled in the week after its inclusion, and Exxon saw a brief spike in outflows from passive funds. The impact on “real money” is not just academic.

Conclusion: Why the Dow’s Composition—and How You Verify It—Matters More Than You Think

So, the next time you hear the Dow’s closing number, remember: it’s not just a static list of blue chips. The companies inside change, and how quickly those changes are reflected depends on who’s tracking the index and where. U.S. investors might see immediate shifts; EU investors may get a lag. The methods and oversight vary by region, and even a “simple” index like the Dow has global ramifications. If you’re investing in a Dow-tracking product, always double-check the provider’s website for up-to-date constituents, and review their disclosure process—especially if you’re buying an ETF outside the U.S. For the most up-to-date info, the S&P Dow Jones Indices site is your best bet. And if you’re a finance nerd like me, try pulling the historical lists and tracking the changes over time—it gives you a unique window into how the U.S. economy (or at least Wall Street’s image of it) evolves. It’s a reminder that in the world of finance, even the most iconic benchmarks are living, breathing, and—sometimes—controversial creatures.