Dow 30 Shake-Up? Carlos Reveals His Hypothetical Index Picks

Carlos’s Hypothetical Dow 30 Shake-Up: Who’s Out, Who’s In?

GAR Capital Weekly Feature

Carlos’s Hypothetical Dow 30 Shake-Up: Who’s Out, Who’s In?

Every once in a while, it’s fun to play the role of market referee. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average is designed to reflect the American economy, not all its members always feel… current.

So, let’s have some fun and make a few changes ourselves — purely hypothetical, of course.

Below are 3 stocks I’d remove from the Dow 30 and the 3 powerhouses I’d add in their place, along with the reasoning behind each move.

❌ OUT: The Dow Dinos

These names have been part of America’s economic fabric, but it may be time to pass the torch.

Verizon VZ • Why it’s out: Telecom has become more of a utility than an innovator. Verizon’s flat growth, declining relevance, and limited upside make it a drag in a market hungry for innovation.

3M MMM • Why it’s out: Once a bellwether of industrial ingenuity, 3M is now burdened by lawsuits, regulatory issues, and falling market share. The stock has been range-bound, with no clear growth narrative.

Cisco CSCO • Why it’s out: Cisco’s glory days are behind it. While still profitable, it no longer sets the pace in tech. It’s been surpassed in innovation, growth, and relevance by today’s cloud and AI giants.

✅ IN: The New Market Titans

These additions better reflect the innovation and momentum defining today’s economy.

Tesla TSLA • Sector: Automotive / Renewable Energy • Why it’s in: Love or hate it, Tesla is the face of the future — EVs, batteries, AI, and energy storage. It’s an American innovation story, and its inclusion would modernize the Dow’s industrial representation.

Meta Platforms META • Sector: Communication Services • Why it’s in: As the parent of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta still controls the digital social layer of the internet. Now leaning hard into AI and the metaverse, it’s firmly future-facing.

Eli Lilly LLY • Sector: Healthcare • Why it’s in: With blockbuster drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound, Eli Lilly is reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape. A massive $700B+ market cap, innovation pipeline, and strong financials make it a no-brainer blue-chip for the modern Dow.

Final Take

This revamped Dow would bring in:

• Disruptive innovation (Tesla)
• Digital dominance (Meta)
• Healthcare leadership (Lilly)

And it would say goodbye to:

• Aging telecom (Verizon)
• Legal baggage and stagnation (3M)
• Tech that’s lost its edge (Cisco)

In a market where the future is tech-driven, health-focused, and innovation-led, the Dow deserves to evolve. This version would better represent the U.S. economy of today — and tomorrow. Happy Trading!