This has been one of the toughest years for the investing community in a long time. The benchmark S&P 500 produced its worst first-half return in more than a half-century, while the technology-driven Nasdaq Composite has shed as much as 38% from its all-time high, which was set less than a year ago.

Although it, too, has fallen into a bear market, the ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) has fared better than its peers, with a peak-to-trough decline of "only" 22%. Since the Dow Jones is packed with 30 historically profitable and mature multinational businesses, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that these companies have collectively outperformed during uncertain times.

Image source: Getty Images.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com