Why the Dow Is Lagging Behind the S&P 500 and Nasdaq

The Dow was moving in and out of positive territory on Monday because of struggles among its heavier hitters.

The blue-chip index rose more than 100 points shortly after the open but was essentially flat in the early afternoon. The S&P 500 was up 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.8%.

About 13 of the 30 Dow stocks were actually up on the day, but the laggards included 12 stocks with prices north of $100, including a handful with stock prices of more than $300. The Dow weighs its members by stock price instead of market cap, which isn't the most optimal way to balance an index.