The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dropped steeply on March 4, 2025, at 42,520.99, losing 670.25 points (-1.55%). Investors weighed down by market volatility and economic woes saw some stocks stay strong while others weakened. Below is a look at the key stocks from today’s DJIA action.
Market Performance – A Day of Losses
The DJIA started at 43,040.30 but soon lost momentum. It ranged between 42,347.75 and 43,084.00 before finishing lower. The one-year performance remains positive at +9.98%, but the recent fall of 5.24% over the last month is cause for concern.
Other large U.S. indices also saw losses:
- NASDAQ Composite fell 0.35%
- S&P 500 fell 1.22%
- Russell 2000 fell 1.08%
With worldwide markets posting mixed gains, the movement of the DJIA sets up for even higher volatility in the days ahead.
Best Dow Performing Stocks
Even though the majority of the Dow stocks fell behind, there were a handful of them that could post gains:
1. NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) – $115.99 (+1.69%)
NVIDIA continued to surge, climbing 1.93 points. The AI processor manufacturer is the industry leader with superior demand within the cloud computing and data centers markets.
2. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) – $474.61 (+1.62%)
Healthcare shares were steady, with UnitedHealth going up by 7.56 points. As insurance and medical care are needed, investors considered it a defensive stock.
3. IBM (IBM) – $253.21 (+1.21%)
IBM went up by 3.02 points, supported by strong earnings in cloud computing and AI innovation. Its recent shift towards solutions that appeal to enterprises is helping it compete.
4. McDonald’s (MCD) – $305.77 (+0.49%)
Fast food is resilient in times of economic downturn, and McDonald’s gained 1.48 points. Its inexpensive menu and advent of online ordering boosted investor confidence.
5. Amgen (AMGN) – $312.19 (+0.45%)
Amgen added 1.41 points as investments in biotech resisted the slide. The company’s pipeline of new drugs continues to attract long-term investors.
Also read: Top 10 Lowest Currencies in the World to USD (2025) | Weakest Currency List
Dow’s Biggest Losers
Several large stocks had a bad day, dragging down the DJIA. Here are the largest falls:
1. Boeing (BA) – $158.90 (-6.56%)
Boeing declined the most, losing 11.16 points. Concerns over delayed delivery of planes and disrupted supply chains kept the stock in check.
2. 3M (MMM) – $145.86 (-4.93%)
3M dropped 7.56 points as legal and regulatory issues persist to dog it. Investors are worried about the future liabilities of the company.
3. American Express (AXP) – $283.47 (-4.07%)
A decline of 12.02 points indicated worry about consumer spending. With the interest rate uncertain, financial stocks faced headwinds.
4. Goldman Sachs (GS) – $581.14 (-3.99%)
Goldman Sachs fell 24.12 points as a result of lower investment banking activity. Market volatility and lower deal sizes led to the fall.
5. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) – $250.25 (-3.98%)
The banking giant dipped 10.37 points, as the rest of the financial sector woes caught up. Economic uncertainty mounting, investors grew cautious on banks.
Tech Giants – Varied Performance
Technology shares were varied with some recording minute gains while others lost ground.
- Microsoft (MSFT) – $388.61 (+0.03%)
- Cisco Systems (CSCO) – $63.26 (-0.35%)
- Amazon (AMZN) – $203.80 (-0.60%)
- Apple (AAPL) – $235.93 (-0.88%)
While Microsoft was unchanged, Apple and Amazon declined modestly. Investors are still eyeing the upcoming earnings reports from these technology giants.
Consumer & Retail Slips
Retailers were impacted as consumers grappled with inflation pressures affecting their discretionary spending.
- Walmart (WMT) – $94.97 (-2.68%)
- Coca-Cola (KO) – $70.19 (-2.95%)
- Walt Disney (DIS) – $109.01 (-3.35%)
Disney declined on reduced theme park revenues, while Walmart declined on defensive consumer spending practices.
Market Outlook – What’s Next?
Today’s drop in DJIA illustrates increased market anxiety. Numerous factors will shape stock performance over the next few weeks:
- Federal Reserve Policy: Interest rate policy will affect financial stocks.
- Corporate Earnings: Significantly large tech and banking earnings reports are on the horizon.
- Global Events: Tariffs on trade and global geopolitical risks continue to be leading market drivers.
With the DJIA close to its 52-week low of 37,611.56, investors should be aware of possible rebounds or continuation of declines.
Stocks to Watch Moving Forward
These stocks according to how they have performed today can be the mover stocks within the next few days:
- NVIDIA (NVDA): Strong demand for AI keeps the stock in the limelight.
- Boeing (BA): Supply chain data could drive turnaround or further slumps.
- JPMorgan Chase (JPM): Banking trends will dictate its next path.
- Apple (AAPL): Launches of products could be the savior.
- UnitedHealth (UNH): Healthcare stocks are defensive during uncertainty.
Investors would be wise to stay vigilant, though, as volatility should continue. The DJIA recovers or keeps losing depending on upcoming earnings reports and economic releases.
Final Thoughts
The DJIA had a tough trading day today, closing lower by 1.55%. While some stocks like NVIDIA and UnitedHealth were in positive territory, sector leaders like Boeing, 3M, and JPMorgan struggled. Investors need to watch out for upcoming earnings, Federal Reserve actions, and global economic news as uncertainty in the markets continues.
With the Dow hovering around its low point, conditions in the market are unclear. Staying current and keeping an eye on critical stock action will be key in getting through this environment in the market.
