5 DJIA stocks to explore in August: AAPL, CVX, MRK, KO & MCD

The Dow Jones Industrial Average or DJIA consists of the top 30 companies generally considered highly profitable and reputable firms in their respective fields. The index debuted in 1896 with only 12 stocks, making it one of the oldest stock market indexes.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), Merck & Company, Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), and McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) are among the top players in their respective field.

All the three indices have witnessed a rocky first half this year due to several turmoils in the market like higher inflation, rate hike fears, the Russia-Ukraine war, and pandemic-led lockdowns in China due to increasing COVID-19 cases.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the prior month on a winning streak for three consecutive days. Notably, DJIA ended July month at its highest level since early June. Let's explore some DJIA stocks shortlisted by Kalkine Media®.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)

Although the leading technology firm by market cap traded in red this year, AAPL clocked its 52-week high of US$ 182.94 on January 4, 2022.

The iPhone maker had a dividend yield of 0.57 per cent. The yield signifies the annual income in dividends from an investment relative to the asset's current price.

The US$ 2.78 trillion market cap firm posted a record revenue of US$ 83 billion in Q3 FY22, showing a surge of two per cent from the previous year's same quarter. Its net income was US$ 19.44 billion, or US$ 1.20 per diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 2022, marking a decline from US$ 21.74 billion in Q3 FY21.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX)

The energy company was among the top performers of the Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in July.

The San Ramon, California-based firm benefited from the high oil prices this year amid the Russia-Ukraine turmoil. It announced a quarterly dividend of US$ 1.42 per share on July 27 (payable on September 12, 2022).

Chevron posted a notable surge in its total revenue and other income of US$ 68.76 billion in Q2 FY22, from US$ 37.59 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Its net income in the fiscal 2022 second quarter was US$ 11.62 billion, or US$ 5.95 per diluted share, up from US$ 3.08 billion, or US$ 1.60 per diluted share in Q2 FY21.

Merck & Company, Inc. (NYSE: MRK)

The US$ 225.60 billion market cap firm had a dividend yield of 3.09 per cent, while its annualized dividend was US$ 2.76.

Merck said on July 26, its Board of Directors announced a quarterly dividend of US$ 0.69 per share of its common stock in the final quarter of fiscal 2022. The dividend would be payable on October 7, 2022.

The stock of the pharmaceutical firm touched its 52-week high of US$ 95.72 on June 27, 2022.

In Q2 2022, the company's global sales soared by 28 per cent YoY to US$ 14.6 billion, from US$ 11.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. Its net income on a GAAP basis witnessed a notable surge to US$ 3.94 billion in Q2 FY22, from US$ 1.21 billion in the same quarter of the prior year.

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Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO)

The beverage firm managed to trade in green this year, while the overall market moved in the other direction.

The dividend yield of Coca-Cola was 2.74 per cent and it reached its 52-week highest price of US$ 95.72 on June 27, 2022.

Coca-Cola saw a 12 per cent increase in its Q2 FY22 revenue of US$ 11.32 billion. Its net income declined to US$ 1.9 billion from US$ 2.62 billion in Q2 FY21.

McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)

The US$ 194.59 billion market cap firm had a dividend yield of 2.1 per cent. McDonald's Board of Directors announced a quarterly cash dividend of US$ 1.38 per share of its common stock on July 28 (payable on September 16).

In addition, the fast-food chain operator appointed Brian Rice as its new global Chief Information Officer on August 1. Mr Brian Rice was also appointed as the firm's Executive Vice President.

Bottom line:

Apart from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the other two important US indexes are S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. Investors need to stay alert as the markets are witnessing high volatility since the start of 2022.