Dow Jones Composite Average (DJA) is a U.S. stock market index that combines companies from the industrial, transportation, and utility sectors. Maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, the index provides a broader view of the market by bringing together constituents from several traditional Dow Jones benchmarks.
The DJA includes all companies that are part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJT), and the Dow Jones Utility Average (DJU).
Although it is less widely followed than the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Dow Jones Composite Average remains a useful measure of key sectors within the U.S. economy.
How the Dow Jones Composite Average Works
The DJA combines 65 companies from three major sectors:
- Industrials.
- Transportation.
- Utilities.
Like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the index is price-weighted, meaning companies with higher share prices have a greater influence on its performance.
Some of the companies represented in the index include:
The composition is reviewed periodically by S&P Dow Jones Indices.
What the DJA Represents
The Dow Jones Composite Average is designed to measure the performance of established companies across several important sectors of the U.S. economy. By combining industrial, transportation, and utility companies, the index provides a broader perspective than the Dow Jones Industrial Average alone.
As a result, it is often used to monitor economic trends and evaluate the performance of traditional sectors.
How to Invest in Companies Represented by the DJA
There is currently no major ETF that directly tracks the Dow Jones Composite Average. However, investors can gain exposure to its sectors through ETFs, index funds, and individual stocks that are included in its underlying indexes.
Products linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are often used as a practical way to access many of the index's most recognizable companies.
Why the Dow Jones Composite Average Matters
Although it receives less attention than some of the most popular U.S. indexes, the DJA remains an important historical benchmark. Its combination of industrial, transportation, and utility companies provides insight into sectors that play a critical role in the American economy.
For investors seeking a broader perspective on traditional U.S. businesses, the Dow Jones Composite Average offers valuable context beyond individual sector indexes.