Blue chip
A share in a large, well-known and financially solid company.
In short
As of 8 October 2026A blue chip is a share in a large, well-known and financially solid company. The term comes from poker, where blue chips are worth the most. In Germany the DAX members are the typical blue chips. Many pay regular dividends, but they are not risk-free: large companies can also lose a lot of value.
Blue chips are shares in large, established companies with well-known brands and a long track record. The name comes from poker, where the blue chips carried the highest value. Blue chips are usually also large caps.
In Germany the members of the DAX are seen as blue chips; in the US, the big names in the Dow Jones or S&P 500. Many pay a regular dividend. That does not make them safe: big companies can also hit a crisis and fall sharply.
Example: Allianz and Coca-Cola are classic blue chips. If you invest in a DAX ETF, you automatically hold all German blue chips.
As of 8 October 2026 · Educational content, not investment or tax advice.