Chevron Leads Dow Movers, American Express Falls 2.4%

Chevron leads the Dow Jones Industrial Average, trading up 1.2% in early trading. American Express is the worst performing Dow component, trading down 2.4%. Visa and Johnson & Johnson are also making moves, trading down 0.5% and up 0.8%, respectively. Year-to-date, Chevron registers a 5.7% gain, while American Express shows a 3.7% gain.

Chevron (CVX) led the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) on July 2, 2025, trading up 1.2% in early trading. American Express (AXP), on the other hand, was the worst performing Dow component, trading down 2.4%. Visa (V) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) also made notable moves, with Visa trading down 0.5% and Johnson & Johnson trading up 0.8%.

Year-to-date, Chevron registered a 5.7% gain, while American Express showed a 3.7% gain. This performance highlights the contrasting fortunes of these companies within the DJIA.

Chevron's positive performance can be attributed to its recent acquisition of Hess, which was cleared after winning an arbitration against Exxon Mobil (XOM) [1]. The deal, valued at $53 billion, is expected to strengthen Chevron's position in the energy sector.

American Express, however, faced a decline in its stock price, despite reporting healthy spending growth during the second quarter. The company saw a 7% increase in cardmember spending, with spending on high-value categories such as business-class and first-class airline seats rising by 10% [2]. Despite this, the company's stock price decreased, potentially due to broader economic concerns or sector-specific issues.

Visa and Johnson & Johnson's movements reflect broader market sentiments and sector-specific trends. Visa's slight decrease could be linked to ongoing discussions about financial regulations and potential impacts on the payments industry. Johnson & Johnson's gain, on the other hand, might be attributed to positive news in its healthcare segment or broader market optimism in the pharmaceutical sector.

These movements underscore the dynamic nature of the DJIA, where individual company performances can significantly influence the overall index. Investors should closely monitor these trends and consider the broader economic and sector-specific factors that may impact these companies' stock prices.

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202507186895/dow-jones-top-energy-headlines-at-4-pm-et-chevron-closes-megadeal-for-hess-after-winning-exxon-arbitration-oil
[2] https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20250718236/american-express-earnings-show-healthy-spending-including-on-these-fancy-categories