Blue Chip Stocks Explained For Beginners (2024)

Investors and traders on the stock market can choose between thousands of stocks from different companies. Some of these companies are multinational conglomerates with hundreds of thousands of employees and billions in annual profits, while others are small startups with no profitability on the horizon.

If you are familiar with stock terminology, you might have heard the term “blue chip stock” before and may be wondering what it exactly means.

In general, a blue chip stock is a stock that is part of a major stock index, such as and is characterized by slow YoY revenue growth and a stable operational performance.

Many institutional and long-term investors buy these stocks as they have a solid basis of performance and many of them also pay dividends, which is always a welcome sign for prudent investors.

Blue Chip Stock Definition

A "blue chip stock" refers to a type of stock issued by a large, well-established, and financially stable company with a reputation for reliability and stability. These companies are typically leaders in their respective industries and have a history of consistent performance and financial strength.

Here are some key defining characteristics of a blue chip company:

  • Financial stability - Blue chip companies generally have strong balance sheets, with low debt levels, consistent cash flows, and solid financial health. They can weather economic downturns and market volatility better than many other companies
  • Market leadership - Blue chip companies typically hold a sizable share of their respective markets and are major players in the industry
  • Long track record - Blue chip stocks typically have a long history of operation, often spanning many decades. This long track record can provide investors with confidence in the company's ability to adapt and thrive over time
  • Dividends - many blue chip companies pay dividends to their shareholders, which gives investors another incentive to invest
  • Lower volatility - Blue chip stocks tend to be less volatile than smaller or less-established companies. Their stability and market leadership can make them a more conservative investment choice
  • Liquidity - Blue chip stocks are usually highly liquid, meaning there is a robust market for buying and selling their shares. This liquidity can make it easier for investors to enter or exit positions without significantly affecting the stock's price

Blue Chip Stock Example - Apple Inc (AAPL)

To better understand what a blue chip stock is, we can use the example of Apple Inc, which is the largest public company in the world and fits the definition of a blue chip stock perfectly.

By continuing the point laid out in the previous section, we can evaluate Apple’s profile as a blue chip stock by each criteria:

  • Financial stability - Apple has been one of the fastest-growing companies in the world over the past two decades and as of FY 2022, had net earnings of more than $99.8 billion
  • Market leadership - Between Q2 2021 and Q2 2023, Apple has accounted for between 14 and 23% of the global smartphone market
  • Long track record - Founded in 1976, Apple has been a publicly traded company since 1980. Since its IPO, the stock has returned a whopping 127,170%
  • Dividends - Apple paid it first dividend in 1987 and has since consistently managed to increase its payout year after year
  • Lower volatility - Apple has a beta coefficient of 1.27 and while this figure is higher than the broader market, Apple is still a technology company and part of a sector that is characterized by very high volatility
  • Liquidity - An average of 56 million AAPL shares are traded on the market every day, which gives the stock nearly unparalleled liquidity

Key Takeaways From What Does A Blue Chip Stock Mean

  • Blue chip stocks are issued by large companies that are generally financially stable, have a significant market share and capitalization, and often pay dividends
  • Blue chip stock is a colloquial term used by traders and investors to describe stocks of large companies
  • Constituents of the S&P 500 are predominantly blue chip stocks, such as Apple inc
  • Not every blue chip stock may pay dividends, or experience very low volatility, but a majority of blue chip stocks fall under these categories

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Blue Chip Stocks Explained For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

Blue Chip Stocks Explained For Beginners? ›

Key Takeaways. Blue chip companies are stable, profitable companies that are seen as safe investments in their industries. The term "blue chip" comes from the game of poker, where blue chips are the highest-value pieces. A company must be well-known, well-established, and well-capitalized to be a blue chip.

What is a blue chip stock for dummies? ›

A blue chip stock is a company that typically has a large market cap, a sterling reputation, excellent financials, and many years of success in the business world. A blue-chip index seeks to track the performance of financially stable, well-established companies that provide investors with consistent returns.

Are blue chip stocks good for beginners? ›

Blue chip stocks are smart choices for investors of all kinds. Beginning investors are likely familiar with the products and services of blue chip companies. Familiarity with a company makes buying shares more comfortable, and it's exciting to become a partial owner of a business you know.

How do you explain stocks to a beginner? ›

Stocks are a type of security that gives stockholders a share of ownership in a company. Companies sell shares typically to gain additional money to grow the company. This is called the initial public offering (IPO). After the IPO, stockholders can resell shares on the stock market.

What are the cons of blue chip stocks? ›

Limited Growth Potential. While blue-chip stocks offer stability and consistent returns, their growth potential may be more limited compared to smaller, high-growth companies.

What's a penny stock to a blue chip? ›

Penny stocks are generally riskier than other investments, and early success can (paradoxically) lead to big losses. On the other hand, blue chip investments are well-established companies with attractive business prospects. Penny stocks vs blue chip stocks is an easy comparison.

How to pick blue chip stocks? ›

ROE and ROA

ROE checks a company's profitability as compared to its shareholder equity. ROA checks a company's assets and liabilities – it evaluates whether a company is utilising its assets wisely. Blue chip companies will usually display a higher ROE and ROA.

What is the best beginner stock to buy? ›

Compare the best stocks for beginners
Company (Ticker)SectorMarket Cap
JPMorgan Chase (JPM)Financials$563.71B
UnitedHealth (UNH)Health care$444.17B
Comcast (CMCSA)Communication services$150.98B
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)Health care$85.00B
2 more rows

How to start investing in blue chips? ›

You can purchase stocks individually through a brokerage firm or buy a basket of stocks by investing in mutual funds or ETFs. If you are buying stocks through a brokerage, you can choose an online broker, a full-service broker, or discount broker depending on the level of personal service you desire.

Is Coca-Cola a blue chip stock? ›

For example, Coca-Cola is a blue chip company that might not suffer from a recession because many choose to drink its products, regardless of economic conditions. Blue chip companies have generally demonstrated stable growth rates throughout their history.

What is the easiest way to learn the stock market? ›

One of the best ways for beginners to learn how to invest in stocks is to put money in an online investment account and purchase stocks from there. You don't have to have a lot of money to start investing. Many brokerages allow you to open an investing account with $0, and then you just have to purchase stock.

How do beginners choose stocks? ›

Here are five things you should know before picking stocks:
  1. Nothing is guaranteed.
  2. Know you're betting on yourself.
  3. Know your goals, timeframe and risk tolerance.
  4. Research, research, research.
  5. Keep your emotions in check.
Feb 26, 2024

How much should a beginner put in the stocks? ›

“Ideally, you'll invest somewhere around 15%–25% of your post-tax income,” says Mark Henry, founder and CEO at Alloy Wealth Management. “If you need to start smaller and work your way up to that goal, that's fine. The important part is that you actually start.”

Can you make money with blue-chip stocks? ›

Blue-chip stocks are from companies that are large, well-established, and financially sound. These companies have strong brand names and reputations, and they generate dependable earnings. Blue-chip companies usually boast consistent dividends and are often considered to be less risky, given their financial stability.

Do most blue-chip stocks pay dividends? ›

Blue-chip stocks have long been a favored investment for conservative equity investors. Many blue-chip companies distribute regular, quarterly dividends to their shareholders. Dividends provide investors with dependable current income.

What are three blue-chip stocks? ›

Three of the best blue chip stocks to buy, whether you're a seasoned investor or new to Wall Street, are Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). Here's a closer look at these stocks to see why they can make for solid investments in the long run.

What is the difference between a regular stock and a blue chip stock? ›

Income stocks provide regular income by distributing a company's profits, or excess cash, through dividends that are higher than the market average. Blue-chip stocks are shares of well-established companies with a large market capitalization.

What is an example of blue chip stock? ›

Some examples of blue chip stocks are IBM Corp., Coca-Cola Co., Microsoft, American Express, McDonald's, and Boeing Co.

What is a blue chip stock described as? ›

A blue-chip stock is a stock that comes from a well-known, established company. Blue-chip stocks have a strong history of performance and often pay dividends.

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