April 10, 2025 - Before diving into the differences between the Dow vs. the Nasdaq vs. the S&P 500, it’s important to understand the key commonality among them: In this context, they are all referring to market indexes — not stock exchanges.

October 10, 2025 - Understand the key differences between the Dow Jones and S&P 500 in terms of methodology, composition, and their role in the U.S. stock market.

In 1926, it was reformulated as the Composite Stock Index, which tracked 90 stocks and was calculated daily. Over time, the number of securities grew and the frequency of calculation increased until, in March 1957, the S&P 500 debuted in the format that persists today. In terms of index construction, both The Dow and the S&P 500 track large-cap U.S.

July 17, 2025 - When it comes to measuring the health of the American stock market, two indices stand above the rest: the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. These market benchmarks have long served as barometers for economic prosperity, but investors often wonder which performs better over time.

June 20, 2025 - If you wanted to compare the size of Apple vs Meta: Apple Stock Price $196 × 14.9 Billion Shares = $2.92 Trillion market cap · Meta Stock Price $700 x 2.5 Billion Shares = $1.76 Trillion market cap · Again, even through Apple has a much lower stock price than Meta, the total value of Apple is nearly twice that of Meta. With that investment lesson under our belts, we are now ready to go full circle back so I can explain why the Dow Index being “Price Weighted” and the S&P 500 Index being “Market Cap Weighted” is so important.

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June 23, 2025 - This table shows us that while all three indexes try to measure the stock market, they do it in different ways. The Dow is small but mighty, focusing on just a few big names. The Nasdaq gives us a tech-focused view of thousands of companies.

November 25, 2024 - The S&P 500 is favored for long-term growth, stability, and diversification. The Nasdaq attracts investors emphasizing dynamic growth, while the Dow appeals most to those seeking the stability of blue-chip stocks.

December 17, 2024 - These aren’t random numbers; they’re key indicators that show how well the US stock market is doing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average looks at 30 big companies in the US to see how they’re doing. It’s like a snapshot of big business. The Nasdaq is another kind of scoreboard that looks at tech companies, and it has a lot more companies than the Dow.

July 3, 2025 - UNH has a 9.1% weight while AAPL is 3.3%, despite Apple being worth 5x United Healthcare. It’s quirky! Contrast the Dow to the S&P 500 Index, which is a broader representation of the 500 largest companies in the US.

The S&P 500—founded in 1860, the S&P stands for Standard & Poor’s—often co-stars with the Dow in financial market wrap-ups. This index also tracks big U.S.-based companies, but it uses 500 of them compared to the Dow's 30. As a result, many investors see it as a more complete view of what's happening in the overall U.S.

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September 29, 2025 - Unlike the Dow, which is price-weighted, the S&P 500 is a capitalization-weighted index. Instead of simply adding stock prices, the S&P considers each company’s market capitalization (stock price × total shares available).

June 9, 2025 - To refresh, the DJIA (Dow) tracks the performance of 30 prominent companies in the U.S., while the S&P 500 measures 500 of the largest American companies. Despite the S&P 500 including significantly more companies, the Dow's total price is ...

Find the best index: S&P 500 vs Dow Jones Industrial Average - compare performance and key attributes

February 25, 2025 - It rep4resents 80% of the US market, but performance is similar. Neither the DJIA nor Nasdaq are representative of the market as a whole. ... You could also look at one of dividend optimized ETFs and funds focusing on DOW, NASDAQ, or S&P stocks if you prioritize dividends.

September 20, 2023 - Through September 14, 2023 the S&P 500 has raced ahead with a gain of 17%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average trails far behind with a gain of only 5%. The S&P is well ahead of most major international equity and bond indexes as well.

1 week ago - In contrast, the S&P 500 is more inclusive, encompassing a broader range of sectors, which can provide a more representative snapshot of the U.S. economy. In the world of financial markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index stand as two prominent benchmarks, each with its unique characteristics.

July 9, 2025 - Stock market indices are benchmarks used to track the overall performance of a specific market or segment. They help investors understand broader market trends and the general health of the economy. Major US indices include the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the Nasdaq Composite Index.