1. DIA: An ETF That Tracks the Dow Jones Industrial Average
There are countless indices in the U.S. stock market, but one of the most historic and traditional indices is the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). This index consists of 30 major U.S. large-cap companies and is often used as a symbolic indicator of the overall economy. When the news says things like “the Dow surged” or “the Dow plummeted,” this is the index they’re referring to.
<DIA ETF HOLDINGS (AS OF 2025/11/20 & SOURCE: STATE STREET ETF WEBSITE>
| No | Name | Ticker | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC | GS | 10.397509 |
| 2 | CATERPILLAR INC | CAT | 7.339268 |
| 3 | MICROSOFT CORP | MSFT | 6.429469 |
| 4 | AMERICAN EXPRESS CO | AXP | 4.620219 |
| 5 | AMGEN INC | AMGN | 4.484354 |
| 6 | HOME DEPOT INC | HD | 4.466749 |
| 7 | SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO/THE | SHW | 4.408022 |
| 8 | VISA INC CLASS A SHARES | V | 4.351042 |
| 9 | UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC | UNH | 4.186687 |
| 10 | MCDONALD'S CORP | MCD | 4.087510 |
| 11 | JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | JPM | 4.009834 |
| 12 | INTL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP | IBM | 3.902593 |
| 13 | TRAVELERS COS INC/THE | TRV | 3.868325 |
| 14 | APPLE INC | AAPL | 3.578049 |
| 15 | SALESFORCE INC | CRM | 3.028676 |
| 16 | AMAZON.COM INC | AMZN | 2.918076 |
| 17 | JOHNSON & JOHNSON | JNJ | 2.728993 |
| 18 | HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC | HON | 2.528354 |
| 19 | NVIDIA CORP | NVDA | 2.427564 |
| 20 | BOEING CO/THE | BA | 2.410631 |
| 21 | 3M CO | MMM | 2.212142 |
| 22 | CHEVRON CORP | CVX | 2.019968 |
| 23 | PROCTER & GAMBLE CO/THE | PG | 1.991478 |
| 24 | WALMART INC | WMT | 1.439417 |
| 25 | WALT DISNEY CO/THE | DIS | 1.380153 |
| 26 | MERCK & CO. INC. | MRK | 1.276272 |
| 27 | CISCO SYSTEMS INC | CSCO | 1.013814 |
| 28 | COCA-COLA CO/THE | KO | 0.956969 |
| 29 | NIKE INC CL B | NKE | 0.825538 |
| 30 | VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC | VZ | 0.547761 |
DIA (SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF) is an ETF that directly tracks this index, allowing investors to gain exposure to 30 core U.S. blue-chip companies with a single purchase.
DIA belongs to the SPDR ETF series operated by State Street Global Advisors (SSGA). Since it focuses on large, stable companies, it tends to be less volatile than tech-heavy indexes like the S&P 500 or Nasdaq. Because DIA places more weight on traditional industries and financial stocks rather than aggressive tech names, it can be a good fit for investors seeking stability rather than high-growth tech concentration.
Visit STATE STREET ETF Official Website for DIA
2. What Companies Make Up DIA?
DIA does not weight companies equally—its index is price-weighted, meaning companies with higher share prices have a larger impact on the index. This differs from the S&P 500, which is weighted by market capitalization. Under a price-weighted structure, companies with high stock prices influence performance more significantly, especially during periods when tech names rise sharply.
Here are examples of major holdings:
- UnitedHealth Group – Leading U.S. healthcare provider
- Goldman Sachs – Global investment bank
- Home Depot – Largest home improvement retailer in the U.S.
- Microsoft – Global software & cloud company
- Caterpillar – Industrial machinery and heavy equipment manufacturer
Compared to tech-concentrated ETFs, DIA covers a broader mix of industries. However, with only 30 components, its diversification is more limited than ETFs like the S&P 500.
3. Who Is DIA a Good Fit For?
The biggest strength of DIA is stability. Its components represent long-established U.S. corporations that often reflect broader economic trends rather than short-term growth themes.
| Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Stable Large-Cap Focus | Composed of major U.S. blue-chip companies, offering relatively lower volatility |
| Reduced Tech Concentration | Lower IT weighting than the S&P 500, helping balance a tech-heavy portfolio |
| Historical Representation | The Dow has long been recognized as a benchmark representing the U.S. market |
| 30 Large-Cap Stocks in One ETF | Easy diversification for beginners with a single ETF purchase |
If you already hold ETFs like S&P 500 (VOO/IVV/SPY) or Nasdaq (QQQ), adding DIA may help balance excessive tech concentration.
4. What to Watch Out For When Investing in DIA
While DIA is considered stable, it may underperform during growth-driven market conditions. Tech bull runs tend to favor Nasdaq and S&P 500 over the Dow.
| Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Limited number of holdings (30 stocks) | Diversification is limited, and individual companies can have a larger impact |
| Price-weighted index structure | Weight is based on share price rather than market capitalization, giving higher-priced stocks more influence |
| May underperform in growth-driven markets | In tech-led bull markets, DIA may lag behind ETFs like S&P 500 or QQQ |
| Does not represent the entire market | Focuses on traditional and industrial sectors, with limited exposure to high-growth emerging sectors |
In recent years, U.S. markets have been driven largely by high-growth tech stocks, making the Dow less reflective of the overall market trend.
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