S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the 130th anniversary of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on May 26, marking the milestone for one of the world's most recognized stock market indices.

The DJIA launched on May 26, 1896, with an initial value of 40.94 points and originally tracked 12 industrial companies. The index now includes 30 corporations across sectors including technology, healthcare, financials, energy and consumer discretionary.

"The Dow is iconic because it represents far more than the stock market - it reflects the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of American business," said Cathy Clay, CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The anniversary follows the index's recent achievement of closing above 50,000 for the first time on February 6, 2026. Other notable milestones include crossing 1,000 in 1972, surpassing 10,000 in 1999, breaking through 20,000 in 2017, and reaching above 40,000 in 2024.

S&P Dow Jones Indices plans to celebrate the milestone with global events throughout 2026. The company operates as a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) and describes itself as the largest global resource for index-based concepts and data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, also known as The Dow and US 30, has evolved alongside the U.S. economy since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884. S&P Dow Jones Indices states that more assets are invested in products based on its indices than those from any other provider globally.