Apple is joining the Dow.
More to come…refresh for the latest.
Here’s the press release:
Apple Inc. (NASD:AAPL) will replace AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) in the
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) after the close of trading on Wednesday, March 18. The
change will be effective with the opening of trading on Thursday, March 19. The index change was
prompted by Visa Inc.’s (NYSE:V) 4:1 stock split which is scheduled to be effective at the same
time. The post-split adjusted lower price of Visa will reduce the weighting of the Information
Technology sector in the index. Adding Apple to the index will help to partially offset this reduction.
In price weighted indices such as the DJIA, a large change in price of a high priced stock can have
a material impact on sector representation in the index and this index change is designed to
minimize that impact. The Telecommunication Services sector will continue to be represented in the
DJIA by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ).
“As the largest corporation in the world and a leader in technology, Apple is the clear choice for the
Dow Jones Industrial Average, the most recognised stock market measure,” says David M. Blitzer,
Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “The DJIA is
price weighted so extremely high stock prices tend to distort the index while very low stock prices
have little impact. The timing of Apple’s addition to the DJIA hinged on two stock splits: Apple’s 7:1
last June and Visa’s 4:1 on March 19th this year. Apple’s split brought the stock price down closer
to the median price in the DJIA. The Visa split will reduce the technology weight in the DJIA and
make room for Apple. Among the current DJIA constituents, AT&T has one of the lowest prices.
Moreover, the DJIA is over-weighted in telecommunications and AT&T and Verizon are quite
similar, though AT&T has a smaller market capitalisation.”
Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, CA, designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication
and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players.
The change won’t cause any disruption in the level of the index. The divisor used to calculate the
index from the components’ prices on their respective home exchanges will be changed prior to the
opening on March 19. This procedure prevents any distortion in the index’s reflection of the portion
of the U.S. stock market it is designed to measure.
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