How to invest in the Dow Jones

Here's what you need to know about investing in the largest stock index in the US, plus the ETFs that track it.

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Can I invest in the Dow Jones in Canada?

Yes, there are a couple of ways to trade the Dow Jones from Canada. 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, but this can be an expensive and time-consuming way to invest.

How to invest in the Dow Jones

  1. Choose an index fund or ETF that tracks the Dow. Some index funds track the performance of all 30 Dow 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.
  2. Open a share-trading account. Once you’ve selected the fund you’d like to buy, you’ll need to open a trading account with a broker or platform that offers it. Different brokers have different fee structures, so it’s worth researching which platform best suits your needs before investing. You can compare trading platforms below.
  3. Deposit funds. Once you’ve set up an account, you’ll need to deposit funds. Depending on which broker you use, you may need to pay a forex fee when you deposit money.
  4. Buy the index fund. Once your account is set up and funded, you can buy the Dow Jones index fund. You generally pay a small annual fee in order to invest in an index fund or ETF.

Best for Beginners

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Easy to use app
  • 100 free trades signup offer
  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Low fees
  • Student and young investor discounts

Best for Lowest Commissions

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Low margin rates
  • Access to international stock exchanges
  • Low margin rates
  • Powerful research tools

Best for Low Fees

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CA & US trading
  • 6% cash rebate plus $2,200 in trading perks
  • Low transaction fees
  • Easy-to-use app

Dow Jones ETFs

  • 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)

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

How does the Dow Jones work?

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 capitalization 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%. However, like most stock indices, the Dow has suffered heavy losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but historically it has been a sensible investment option.

Dow Jones stocks

The alternative way to invest in the Dow Jones is to buy stocks in the listed companies directly. You could choose to buy one share in each of the 30 companies in the Dow or select a few stocks to buy.

However, while this method 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, so if you wanted to buy at least one stock in each 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, and these trading fees can often wipe out any potential profit you make. In comparison, you only pay a small annual fee when you buy an ETF, but your investment will still be tied to the performance of the Dow.

You can also trade the Dow Jones via derivatives such as futures contracts, which let you predict how the index will perform over a certain period.

Dow Jones companies: what companies are in the DJIA?

CompanyExchangeStock codeIndustry
3MNYSENYSE: MMMConglomerate
American ExpressNYSENYSE: AXPFinancial services
Apple Inc.NASDAQAAPLInformation technology
BoeingNYSENYSE: BAAerospace and arms
Caterpillar Inc.NYSENYSE: CATConstruction/Mining
Chevron CorporationNYSENYSE: CVXPetroleum industry
Cisco SystemsNASDAQCSCOInformation technology
The Coca-Cola CompanyNYSENYSE: KOFood industry
Dow Inc.NYSENYSE: 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 & Co.NYSENYSE: 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 Inc.NYSENYSE: VFinancial services
WalmartNYSENYSE: WMTRetailing
Walgreens Boots AllianceNASDAQWBARetailing
The Walt Disney CompanyNYSENYSE: DISBroadcasting/entertainment

Compare platforms for trading the Dow Jones

1 - 6 of 6
Product CAFST Finder Score Available Asset Types Account Types Stock Trading Fee Account Fee Offer
Finder Score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Index Funds, ETFs, Currencies, Futures
RRSP, TFSA, Personal, Joint
min $1.00, max 0.5%
$0
Finder Score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint
$6.95
$0 if conditions met, or $100
Get 100 free trades when you open a CIBC Investor’s Edge account using promo code EDGE2425. Plus, get $200 or more cash back. Valid until March 31, 2025.
Finder Score
Stocks, Options, ETFs
RRSP, TFSA, Personal
$0.014/stock
$0
Enjoy a 6% cash rebate, plus $2,200 in trading perks.
Finder Score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint, Business
$6.95 - $9.95
$0 if conditions met, otherwise $25/quarter
Finder Score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, Forex, GICs, Precious Metals, IPOs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal
$4.95 - $9.95
$0
Finder Score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs
RRSP, RESP, RRIF, TFSA, Personal, Joint
$6.95 - $8.75
$0 if conditions met, otherwise $25/quarter
Get 1% cashback or more, a $150 sign-up bonus & unlimited free trades until April 30th, 2025.
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Finder Score for stock trading platforms

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform - simple.

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Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.

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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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