The Dow Jones Industrial Average remains in rally mode through the end of July, with the stock market at its 2023 highs. The best Dow Jones stocks to buy and watch in August 2023 are Apple (AAPL), Boeing (BA), Caterpillar (CAT), Microsoft (MSFT) and Salesforce (CRM).
There are clear winners — and losers — at the start of August. The top three performing blue chip stocks this year through July 31 were Salesforce, Apple and Microsoft, posting rallies of 69.7%, 51.2% and 40.1%, respectively.
The worst three Dow Jones stocks through July 2023 were Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), Amgen (AMGN) and Verizon Communications (VZ), with respective declines of 19.8%, 13.5% and 10.9%.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 37.1% through July 31, and the S&P 500 gained 19.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7.3% year to date.
What Is The Dow Jones Industrial Average?
Founded in 1896 with 12 stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is one of the oldest stock market indexes. There are 30 Dow Jones stocks designed to serve as a bellwether for the general U.S. stock market. Other major stock indexes include the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite and the S&P 500 index — an index of the 500 largest companies in the U.S.
Best Dow Jones Stocks To Watch
| Company Name | Symbol | Closing Price | YTD Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | (AAPL) | 196.45 | +51.2% |
| Boeing | (BA) | 238.85 | +25.4% |
| Caterpillar | (CAT) | 265.17 | +10.7% |
| Salesforce | (CRM) | 225.01 | +69.7% |
| Microsoft | (MSFT) | 335.92 | +40.1% |
Source: IBD Data As Of July 31, 2023
Amid the current stock market uptrend — according to the IBD Big Picture — investors should focus on top stocks that show strong relative strength. These could continue to be 2023 market leaders if the Dow Jones Industrial Average is able to extend recent gains.
The best Dow Jones stocks to buy and watch in August near buy points include Apple, Boeing, Microsoft, Salesforce and Caterpillar.
Apple Stock
Apple stock climbed 0.5% Tuesday, ending a five-day losing streak. Shares remain below their 50-day line. While AAPL stock is still above its 157.38 buy point, recent weakness was a sell signal, which means investors should lock in gains. Shares lost 0.5% Wednesday.
According to the IBD Stock Checkup, Apple stock shows a 90 out of a best-possible 99 IBD Composite Rating. The Composite Rating — an easy way to identify top growth stocks — is a blend of key fundamental and technical metrics to help investors gauge a stock’s strengths.
Boeing Stock Is A Dow Jones Stock Leader
Boeing inched lower Tuesday, still out of buy range above a flat base’s 223.91 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith pattern recognition.
Boeing shares gained 1% Wednesday.
Microsoft Stock
Microsoft shares soared above a flat base’s 276.86 buy point and out of buy range during recent months.
In recent weeks, Microsoft shares tumbled after the software giant offered a disappointing sales outlook and disclosed increased capital spending requirements for its artificial intelligence initiatives. Still, the company beat expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter, thanks to continued growth in its cloud computing businesses.
Shares dropped 0.4% Wednesday, further below their 50-day line.
Salesforce’s Recent Breakout Struggles
Salesforce gave up its 225.00 flat-base entry, according to IBD Leaderboard analysis, in recent sessions.
CRM stock lost 0.8% Wednesday, triggering the 7% sell signal below the latest buy point.
Caterpillar Stock
Dow Jones stock Caterpillar remains out of buy range beyond a 250.89 buy point in a cup with handle after the company’s better-than-expected earnings results.
CAT stock rose 0.9% Wednesday.
Tip: Before making investment decisions, be sure to check current market conditions, and use IBD Stock Checkup to see if your stock gets good ratings for the most important fundamental and technical criteria. To get ongoing chart analysis and trading signals, check out the unique features, stock lists and chart annotations at MarketSmith, Leaderboard and SwingTrader.
Today’s Dow Jones Stocks To Watch: Apple Stock Dives On DOJ Lawsuit
