U.S. stocks got off to a rocky start to 2025 on Thursday as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite declined for a fifth straight day. For both, it was the longest losing streak since April, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average contains 30 handpicked companies that are, or at least once were, leaders in their respective industries. This makes the index an interesting hunt

Nvidia joined the Dow Jones Industrial Average on Nov. 8, replacing Intel (INTC) , but the AI chip superpower quickly made its mark. Related: Nvidia stock faces new threat after China update Nvidia (NVDA) was the Dow's top performer for 2024.

Every year, investors look forward to the “Santa Claus rally,” a period that encompasses the final five trading days of December and the first two trading days of the new year. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has gained, on average, 1.3% during this stretch, while finishing higher nearly 80% of the time, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is chock-full of industry-leading blue chip stocks -- many of which pay dividends. Investors looking for established companies with track records for earnings growth have come to the right place.