Dow Jones Industrial Average Closes 2011 with 5.53% Gain

Strategic Insights -

The Dow Jones Industrial Average wrapped up 2011 with a 5.53% increase, marking the third consecutive year the index closed in positive territory. This year's gain follows a 39.21% increase over the past three years. McDonald's Corp. led the way with a 30.71% increase, marking the 28th time in the last 32 years that the world's largest fast-food chain has finished the year with gains.

Key Takeaways:

  • McDonald's Corp. led the Dow with a 30.71% gain, marking the 28th time in the last 32 years that the company has finished the year with gains.
  • IBM Corp. and Pfizer Inc. were the second- and third-leading performers, respectively, with gains of 25.29% and 23.59%.
  • Only McDonald's, IBM, and Pfizer gained more than 20% in 2011.
  • Home Depot Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc. rounded out the top five performers, with gains of 19.91% and 18.57%.
  • Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's and Home Depot, based in Atlanta, are the only DJIA components to repeat their Top Five showings from 2010.
  • Bank of America Corp. was the worst-performing stock, closing down 58.32%.
  • The Dow has gained in 27 of the last 32 fourth quarters, with an average gain of 2.72%.
  • The DJIA has gained 1304.18 points, or 11.95%, in the fourth quarter, its best quarterly performance since 1998.
  • The Dow has averaged a gain of 2.72% in the fourth quarter, compared with 1.49%, 1.67%, and 1.61%, in the first, second, and third quarter, respectively.
  • McDonald's (HPQ), IBM (IBM), and Pfizer (PFE) were the only Dow components to gain more than 20% in 2011.
  • The Dow's best-performing stocks of 2010, Caterpillar Inc. and E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., ranked 21st and 26th in 2011, respectively.
  • Hewlett-Packard Co. and Alcoa Inc. were among the worst-performing stocks, closing at a decline of 38.81% and 43.79%, respectively.
  • The Dow has been down 4.63% from its 2011 closing high of 12810.54 on April 29.

Statistics:

  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 12217.56 on December 30, 2011.
  • The index gained 640.05 points, or 5.53%, in 2011.
  • The Dow has gained 39.21% over the past three years.
  • The index has been up 1304.18 points, or 11.95%, in the fourth quarter.
  • The Dow has averaged a gain of 2.72% in the fourth quarter.
  • The index has been down 4.63% from its 2011 closing high of 12810.54 on April 29.
  • The Dow has been up 27 of the last 32 fourth quarters.
  • The DJIA has gained 640.05 points, or 5.53%, in 2011.
  • The index has gained 39.21% over the past three years.

Sources:

  • "Dow Jones Industrial Average performance statistics for 2011, 2011's fourth quarter, December 2011, 2011's final week and 2011's final trading session"
  • "Dow Jones Industrial Average 2011 components performance"
  • "Dow Jones Industrial Average 2010 components performance"