Here's How Intel Influences the Dow

Updated

The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker and consumer goods editor and analyst Austin Smith discuss topics across the investing world.

While indexes like the Nasdaq and S&P 500 are market weighted -- meaning each stock's weighting in the index is roughly proportional to its market cap -- the Dow Jones Industrial Average uses a wonky price weighting mechanism that can leave certain stocks over- or underweighted. Today, we're looking at Intel and how its movements influence the Dow. While Intel is 3.5% of the Dow's value, it's only weighted at about 1.6% of the index. That leaves it as the 24th highest weighted Dow stock, despite being the 12th most valuable company in the index. To see more analysis on Intel and how its weighting stacks up to other tech peers in the Dow, watch the video below.

Intel has jumped head-first into mobile chips. That's largely because mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have already surpassed PCs in terms of sales, and will grow to be several-fold larger than the PC market within the next five years. To help investors navigate this sea change in technology, we've created a new report "The Next Trillion Dollar Revolution" that details a hidden component play inside mobile phones that also is a market leader in the exploding Chinese market. Inside the report, we not only describe why the mobile revolution will dwarf any other technology revolution seen before it, but we also name the company at the forefront of the trend. Hundreds of thousands have requested access to previous reports, and you can access this new report today by clicking here -- it's free.

At the time thisarticle was published Austin Smithowns shares of Intel.Eric Bleekerhas no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, International Business Machines, Intel, and Microsoft.Motley Fool newsletter services recommendApple, Intel, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement