The S&P 500 is the main US stock index, composed of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States. It is considered the barometer of the US market and the global benchmark for equity investing.
The index is market-cap weighted, meaning larger companies (such as Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia) have a greater impact on its movement. A gain in the S&P 500 indicates that, on average, the largest US companies rose.
Data is collected from the official close and continuously updated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the S&P 500?
The S&P 500 is the main US stock index, composed of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the US. It is the global benchmark for equity investing.
How to invest in the S&P 500?
You can gain exposure to the S&P 500 via ETFs (such as SPY, IVV, VOO), index funds, or by individually buying the stocks that make up the index.
What is the difference between S&P 500 and Dow Jones?
The S&P 500 comprises 500 market-cap-weighted companies; the Dow Jones comprises only 30 price-weighted companies. The S&P 500 is considered more representative of the US market.