This Low-Cost ETF Is Not the Same as "Buying the Dow." It Might Be Better.

The article compares the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA), which tracks 30 blue-chip stocks, with the Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB), which tracks approximately 2,500 U.S. stocks. While DIA has delivered solid 9.13% annualized returns over 28 years, it has underperformed the S&P 500. SCHB offers broader diversification with a lower expense ratio (0.03% vs 0.16%) and has outperformed DIA over the past 10 years, making it potentially a better choice for long-term investors seeking exposure to the broader market.