Stock splits make a big difference in the Dow ... whereas Intel suspended its dividend as earnings have plummeted. Recent changes in the Dow Jones Industrial Average embody the market's emphasis on where a company is going rather than where it is today.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose into fresh all-time highs on Friday, clipping into 44,000 as stocks lean firmly bullish to close out a record week. The Dow had its best week since October of 2023, rising nearly 5% and piercing record bids three days in a row.

When the Dow Jones was officially incepted on May 26, 1896, it was comprised of a dozen companies, most of which were tied to the industrial sector. Today, it contains an assortment of 30 historically profitable, time-tested, industry-leading businesses.

For Nvidia (NVDA) , this has been the best of years. The company, led by Jensen Huang, makes the graphic processing chips that are the foundation of artificial intelligence, and everyone wants a piece of the company.

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) on Monday rose as much as 7.1% to become one of the day's biggest large-cap gainers as investors prepare for the addition of the maker of paints and coatings to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).