Will Apple's Coming Dividend Increase Push Stocks Higher?

When it comes to the S&P 500 , not all stocks are created equal. Aside from the obvious fact that the index includes only 500 stocks from the thousands traded in the public markets, even the chosen few are treated disparately. Unlike the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which weights its component stocks by share price -- a particularly capricious measure -- the broader S&P 500 uses market cap. That is, the larger the market cap, the bigger the influence on the index.

It should be no surprise, in turn, that Apple is the single most important index on the component. While its market cap has come down considerably over the past six months, even temporarily dipping below ExxonMobil's a few weeks ago, it's still the largest company in the United States. At the close of markets on Friday, the figure came in at $434 billion, comfortably beating out Exxon's $400 billion and almost equal to the combined market caps of the next two largest companies, General Electric and Chevron .

The Top 5 Companies on the S&P 500Create infographics

These differences in size translate directly into relative weightings on the S&P 500. As the largest company, Apple garners the most weight, accounting for 3.06% of the aggregated total. Exxon comes next at 2.85%, followed by General Electric and Chevron at 1.75% and 1.69%, respectively. Merely for the purpose of calibrating our perspective here, if the index applied an equal weighting system, each of these companies would account for only 0.2% of the index. It's accordingly easy to see how Apple's size allows it to throw its weight around.

So it's not just Apple investors who should be hoping the company's board approves a dividend increase in the near future. Assuming it does so (and most believe it will), and assuming the move pushes up the stock price (which also seems to follow logically), then the proverbial proceeds will be felt by all, in light of Apple's inordinate presence on the most followed index in the world.

Want to learn more about Apple?
There's no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology's largest revolution ever and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded, with more than 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool's senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.

The article Will Apple's Coming Dividend Increase Push Stocks Higher? originally appeared on Fool.com.

John Maxfield owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Chevron and owns shares of Apple and General Electric. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.