The iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is comprised of 30 leading blue-chip stocks listed in the United States. The Dow, as it’s typically called, has served as the barometer of the U.S. stock market since its inception in 1896. The influential index is price weighted. The ranking of its constituents is determined by stock price versus market capitalization. It enjoys the status of being the pulse of the U.S. stock market and is the most followed and cited index in the world. (For more, see: What Does the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) Quote Represent? ).

Since the DJIA consists of large-cap stocks it tends to be less volatile than other prominent U.S. indices. If you are looking to gain exposure to stocks in the Dow, below are details of some of the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the index, each in its own special way. (For more, see: Strategies to Trade the Dow Jones Industrial Average ).

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA ) was launched in 1998. This popular ETF offers a straightforward way to gain exposure to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The fund has $12.44 billion in assets and a low expense ratio of 0.17%. It has traded between $153.12-179.82 in the last year.

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ProShares Ultra Dow30

The ProShares Ultra Dow30 (DDM ), launched in 2006, is a leveraged ETF tracking the Dow. It seeks two times the daily performance of the index. If, for example, the Dow is up by 1.75%, the fund will provide double the returns (2 x 1.75% = 3.5%). But remember losses also also magnified due to leverage. The fund has $342.81 million in assets, an expense ratio of 0.95% and has traded between $98.52-137.64 in the last year. (For more, see: Leveraged ETFs: Are They Right for You? ).

ProShares Short Dow30

The ProShares Short Dow30 (DOG ) is an inverse ETF. the performance of which moves in the opposite direction of the Dow. Its seeks a return that is -1x the return of the index daily. This strategy is for investors who are looking to hedge against declines or profit from them and needs to be monitored daily rather than buying and holding. The ProShares Short Dow30, launched in 2006, has $238.29 million in assets and an expense ratio of 0.95%. In the last year it has traded between $23.15-28.1. (For more, see: Inverse ETFs Can Lift a Falling Portfolio ).

Other ETFs that are inverse or employ leverage include the Ultra Short Dow30 (DXD ), which is two times inversely leveraged, and the UltraPro Dow30 (UDOW ), which seeks a return that is three times the return of an index. Investors need to proceed with caution when investing in these funds. Like the ProShares Short Dow30, they need to be monitored daily.

The Bottom Line

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the most widely watched and oldest stock indexes in the world. If you are looking to gain exposure to the stocks in this influential index via an exchange-traded fund the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF is the most popular and straightforward way to do so. (For more, see: Understanding and Playing the Dow Jones Industrial Average ).