August 2025 was a giant month for a handful of shares within the Dow Jones Industrial Common. Whereas the index, which tracks 30 of essentially the most influential publicly traded corporations within the U.S., was up 3.8% on the month, there have been some outliers that drove the element’s total efficiency even increased.
Listed below are the 5 corporations that led the best way within the Dow Jones Industrial Common and why they led the cost.
UNH information by YCharts.
UnitedHealth Group(NYSE: UNH) inventory has been a disappointment in 2025, down 50% heading into August. But it surely made an enormous turnaround on a few key investments.
First, Berkshire Hathaway, led by famed CEO Warren Buffett, disclosed a $1.5 billion place in UnitedHealth, pocketing 5.04 million shares. It was a giant transfer for Berkshire, which additionally operates an insurance coverage firm in GEICO, and signaled to buyers that the beaten-down insurer was ripe for the choosing.
Second, investor Michael Burry disclosed his personal funding by his Scion Asset Administration hedge fund. Burry, who’s greatest identified for his wager towards the housing market that was dramatized in The Huge Quick, disclosed that Scion purchased 20,000 shares of UnitedHealth inventory and one other 350,000 name choices.
The corporate’s second-quarter earnings had been additionally strong, with income of $111.6 billion up $12.8 billion from a 12 months in the past. UnitedHealth issued full-year steering for income between $344 billion and $345.5 billion, which might be up 15% from 2024.
Buffett’s money to fund his UnitedHealth buy got here from his sale of Apple(NASDAQ: AAPL) inventory. The Oracle of Omaha trimmed Berkshire’s stake by 20 million shares. However Apple had another constructive issues going for it, so it nonetheless had an excellent August.
First, Apple had a better-than-expected earnings report. Financials for its fiscal 2025’s third quarter (ended June 28) confirmed income of $94 billion, up 10% from a 12 months in the past. Earnings per share totaled $1.57, which was a 12% improve from final 12 months.
Apple badly wanted 1 / 4 like that as a result of the corporate’s income has been flat since 2023. Whereas some buyers had been anticipating extra of the identical, Apple was in a position to report double-digit progress in its iPhone, Mac, and Companies segments.
American Specific (NYSE: AXP) is a bank card firm that has distinct benefits over opponents Mastercard and Visa. Whereas it has a smaller market share, American Specific caters to company accounts and prosperous clients who crave the American Specific gold or platinum card perks.
As well as, the corporate operates its personal fee community and extends loans, giving it one other revenue stream from the curiosity charged.
Though there stays some concern in regards to the power of the financial system, American Specific reported income that was up 9% within the second quarter to $17.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share got here in at $4.08, up 17% from the second quarter of 2024.
American Specific is not sitting on its laurels, although. CEO Steve Squeri indicated that the corporate is seeking to improve its Platinum card in an effort to attract Era Z and millennial clients.
Amazon(NASDAQ: AMZN) has a number of progress engines with its profitable Amazon Net Companies (AWS) cloud computing section and its highly effective e-commerce division. Each had excellent news to report in August, pushing Amazon shares increased.
First, the corporate’s second-quarter outcomes confirmed robust efficiency from AWS, with income within the section coming in at $30.87 billion and working revenue of $10.16 billion. AWS is by far most worthwhile section for Amazon, and its cloud computing division is important for corporations that want to function synthetic intelligence-infused packages with out spending large quantities of cash to create their very own information facilities.
Picture supply: Getty Photographs.
Amazon is also seeing higher success with promoting. Its advertising-services section introduced in $15.69 billion within the second quarter, up 23% from the earlier 12 months.
Lastly, the corporate’s Amazon Prime Day purchasing occasion in July introduced in billions. The corporate mentioned it was the most important Prime Day occasion in its historical past. Whereas Amazon did not launch gross sales figures but, Adobe Analytics projected $23.8 billion in total gross sales from the three-day occasion.
House Depot(NYSE: HD) had a superb August after reporting strong earnings of its personal. As dwelling gross sales are struggling in 2025, extra folks appear to be placing work into their current properties, in keeping with CEO Ted Decker, who cited “smaller dwelling enchancment tasks” as driving the corporate’s profitable quarter.
House Depot mentioned it noticed gross sales of $45.3 billion within the second quarter, up 4.9% from a 12 months in the past. Adjusted earnings per share of $4.68 had been $0.01 per share increased than a 12 months in the past. The house-improvement retailer reaffirmed its 2025 steering for gross sales progress of two.8%.
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American Specific is an promoting accomplice of Motley Idiot Cash. Patrick Sanders has no place in any of the shares talked about. The Motley Idiot has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, House Depot, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Idiot recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure coverage.
These Had been the 5 High-Performing Shares within the Dow Jones Industrial Common in August 2025 was initially printed by The Motley Idiot
