For over a century, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) has tracked 30 blue-chip U.S. companies, stalwarts of the equity market and symbols of its resilience. The Index has rewarded long-term investors by looking beyond short-term fluctuations. It has also been a tool for investors to weather market storms, delivering an average of more than a 10% annualized return over the last 20 years. While this may seem modest, the index has returned about 350% over the past 20 years.
This year, Dow has recorded a modest return, gaining 2.45% year-to-date (YTD). We take a look at the companies that are leading the charge in the index so far this year. Industrial giants, Caterpillar (CAT) and Honeywell International (HON) have gained 22.7% and 18.36% YTD, respectively. So, these two might be solid additions to your portfolio for a little calm in the market storm, with the imposition of the tariffs and the likelihood of the Fed keeping the interest rates intact.
