The Bullish Bears list the 24 stock market industries, their categories, and sub-categories. An industry group is a way of organizing companies or stocks based on their type of business. For example, the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) is a widely used system that groups stocks into 24 industry groups and 11 sectors.
Industry groups fall under sectors, which falls under the umbrella of indexes, and indexes fall under the bigger umbrella of exchanges. Exchanges aren’t able to be bought or sold, however indexes can via ETFs and futures.
Chart by TradingView
Hierarchy:
- Stock exchanges
- Stock indexes
- Stock sectors
- Industries and sub-industries
- Stock symbols and companies
Stock Market Industries List
- Automobiles and Components
- Banks
- Capital Goods
- Commercial and Professional Services
- Consumer Durables and Apparel
- Consumer Services
- Diversified Financials
- Energy
- Food, Beverage, and Tobacco
- Food and Staples Retailing
- Health Care Equipment and Services
- Household and Personal Products
- Insurance
- Materials
- Media and Entertainment
- Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, and Life Sciences
- Real Estate
- Retailing
- Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
- Software and Services
- Technology Hardware and Equipment
- Telecommunication Services
- Transportation
- Utilities
More Stock Market Industries
- Energy Equipment & Services
- Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
- Chemicals
- Construction Materials
- Containers & Packaging
- Metals & Mining
- Paper & Forest Products
- Aerospace & Defense
- Building Products
- Construction & Engineering
- Electrical Equipment
- Industrial Conglomerates
- Machinery
- Trading Companies & Distributors
- Commercial Services & Supplies
- Professional Services
- Air Freight & Logistics
- Airlines
- Marine
- Road & Rail
- Transportation Infrastructure
- Auto Components
- Automobiles
- Household Durables
- Leisure Products
- Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods
- Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
- Diversified Consumer Services
- Distributors
- Internet & Direct Marketing Retail
- Multiline Retail
- Specialty Retail
- Food & Staples Retailing
- Beverages
- Food Products
- Tobacco
- Household Products
- Personal Products
- Health Care Equipment & Supplies
- Health Care Providers & Services
- Health Care Technology
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Life Sciences Tools & Services
- Banks
- Thrifts & Mortgage Finance
- Diversified Financial Services
- Consumer Finance
- Capital Markets
- Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- Insurance
- IT Services
- Software
- Communications Equipment
- Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
- Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
- Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
- Diversified Telecommunication Services
- Wireless Telecommunication Services
- Media
- Entertainment
- Interactive Media & Services
- Electric Utilities
- Gas Utilities
- Multi-Utilities
- Water Utilities
- Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
- Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- Real Estate Management & Development
List of Stock Market Sub Industries
- Oil & Gas Drilling
- Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
- Integrated Oil & Gas
- Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
- Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
- Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation
- Coal & Consumable Fuels
- Commodity Chemicals
- Diversified Chemicals
- Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals
- Industrial Gases
- Specialty Chemicals
- Construction Materials
- Metal & Glass Containers
- Paper Packaging
- Aluminum
- Diversified Metals & Mining
- Copper
- Gold
- Precious Metals & Minerals
- Silver
- Steel
- Forest Products
- Paper Products
- Aerospace & Defense
- Building Products
- Construction & Engineering
- Electrical Components & Equipment
- Heavy Electrical Equipment
- Industrial Conglomerates
- Construction Machinery & Heavy Trucks
- Agricultural & Farm Machinery
- Industrial Machinery
- Trading Companies & Distributors
- Commercial Printing
- Environmental & Facilities Services
- Office Services & Supplies
- Diversified Support Services
- Security & Alarm Services
- Human Resource & Employment Services
- Research & Consulting Services
- Air Freight & Logistics
- Airlines
- Marine
- Railroads
- Trucking
- Airport Services
- Highways & Railtracks
- Marine Ports & Services
- Auto Parts & Equipment
- Tires & Rubber
- Automobile Manufacturers
- Motorcycle Manufacturers
- Consumer Electronics
- Home Furnishings
- Homebuilding
- Household Appliances
- Housewares & Specialties
- Leisure Products
- Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods
- Footwear
- Textiles
- Casinos & Gaming
- Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines
- Leisure Facilities
- Restaurants
- Education Services
- Specialized Consumer Services
- Distributors
- Internet & Direct Marketing Retail
- Department Stores
- General Merchandise Stores
- Apparel Retail
- Computer & Electronics Retail
- Home Improvement Retail
- Specialty Stores
- Automotive Retail
- Homefurnishing Retail
- Drug Retail
- Food Distributors
- Food Retail
- Hypermarkets & Super Centers
- Brewers
- Distillers & Vintners
- Soft Drinks
- Agricultural Products
- Packaged Foods & Meats
- Tobacco
- Household Products
- Personal Products
- Health Care Equipment
- Health Care Supplies
- Health Care Distributors
- Health Care Services
- Health Care Facilities
- Managed Health Care
- Health Care Technology
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Life Sciences Tools & Services
- Diversified Banks
- Regional Banks
- Thrifts & Mortgage Finance
- Other Diversified Financial Services
- Multi-Sector Holdings
- Specialized Finance
- Consumer Finance
- Asset Management & Custody Banks
- Investment Banking & Brokerage
- Diversified Capital Markets
- Financial Exchanges & Data
- Mortgage REITs
- Insurance Brokers
- Life & Health Insurance
- Multi-line Insurance
- Property & Casualty Insurance
- Reinsurance
- IT Consulting & Other Services
- Data Processing & Outsourced Services
- Internet Services & Infrastructure
- Application Software
- Systems Software
- Communications Equipment
- Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
- Electronic Equipment & Instruments
- Electronic Components
- Electronic Manufacturing Services
- Technology Distributors
- Semiconductor Equipment
- Semiconductors
- Alternative Carriers
- Integrated Telecommunication Services
- Wireless Telecommunication Services
- Advertising
- Broadcasting
- Cable & Satellite
- Publishing
- Movies & Entertainment
- Interactive Home Entertainment
- Interactive Media & Services
- Electric Utilities
- Gas Utilities
- Multi-Utilities
- Water Utilities
- Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders
- Renewable Electricity
- Diversified REITs
- Industrial REITs
- Hotel & Resort REITs
- Office REITs
- Health Care REITs
- Residential REITs
- Retail REITs
- Specialized REITs
- Diversified Real Estate Activities
- Real Estate Operating Companies
- Real Estate Development
- Real Estate Services
Stock Exchanges
- New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) – United States
- NASDAQ – United States
- Tokyo Stock Exchange – Japan
- Shanghai Stock Exchange – China
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange – Hong Kong
- London Stock Exchange – United Kingdom
- Euronext – Europe
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange – China
- Toronto Stock Exchange – Canada
- Deutsche Börse – Germany
- Bombay Stock Exchange – India
- National Stock Exchange of India – India
- Australian Securities Exchange – Australia
- BME Spanish Exchanges – Spain
- Korea Exchange – South Korea
- SIX Swiss Exchange – Switzerland
- Moscow Exchange – Russia
- Johannesburg Stock Exchange – South Africa
- Sao Paulo Stock Exchange – Brazil
These are just a few examples, and there are many more stock exchanges worldwide where securities are traded. Each exchange has its regulations, requirements, and listing criteria. The largest and most prominent among them are often called the “major” stock exchanges.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and the prominence of specific exchanges may vary over time. It’s worth noting that stock exchanges can also specialize in specific types of securities or industries.
Stock Indexes
Determining the most popular index fund can be subjective and may vary based on factors such as investor preferences, assets under management, and historical performance. However, some index funds consistently rank highly and are widely recognized in the investment community.
One renowned index fund provider is Vanguard, known for its extensive lineup of index funds. Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) are among the most popular index funds. These funds track broad market indices, such as the CRSP US Total Market Index and the S&P 500 Index.
Other popular index funds include BlackRock’s iShares ETF series and State Street Global Advisors’ SPDRs. These providers offer funds that track various indices, including the S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, and Russell 2000
It’s important to note that popularity does not necessarily indicate superiority or suitability for individual investors. Evaluating other factors such as expense ratios, tracking performance, and fund objectives is crucial when choosing an index fund that aligns with your investment goals.
Global Industry Classification Standard
The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) is a system used to categorize companies into different industry groups based on their primary business activities. It provides a standardized way to classify companies globally, allowing for consistent comparison and analysis across industries.
GICS was developed by MSCI (formerly Morgan Stanley Capital International) and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) in 1999. The classification is hierarchical, consisting of four levels:
- Sector: This is the broadest classification level, consisting of 11 sectors, such as Energy, Financials, Health Care, and Information Technology.
- Industry Group: Each sector is further divided into industry groups, representing collections of related industries.
- Industry: Industry groups are divided into industries with common economic characteristics.
- Sub-Industry: The finest classification level, sub-industries provide further granularity within each industry.
Using GICS, analysts, investors, and researchers can better understand and compare companies within the same industry group or sector. It helps group similar businesses together, making evaluating and analyzing industry-specific trends, performance, and investment opportunities easier.
GICS is widely recognized and adopted by the financial industry, including index providers, asset managers, and investment analysts, as a standard framework for classifying companies globally.
The official MSCI and S&P websites provide more detailed information on GICS and its classification structure.
How to Invest in an Index
To invest in an index fund, you can follow these general steps:
- Research: Learn about index funds and understand how they work. Familiarize yourself with passive investing, where index funds aim to replicate the performance of a specific index rather than actively choosing individual securities.
- Choose an Index: Identify which index you would like to invest in. Popular indices include the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the NASDAQ Composite. Each index represents a specific market segment or sector.
- Select a Fund: Find an index fund that tracks the chosen index. Consider factors such as expense ratio (the cost of managing the fund), historical performance, and the fund manager’s track record. Some reputable providers of index funds include Vanguard, BlackRock’s iShares, and State Street Global Advisors’ SPDRs.
- Open an Account: Open an investment account with a brokerage firm that offers access to index funds. This can be done through traditional brokerage firms or online investment platforms.
- Fund Your Account: Transfer funds into your investment account. Typically, you can link your bank account to your investment account and initiate a transfer.
- Place the Order: Once your account is funded, specify the amount you want to invest in the index fund and order through your brokerage account. You can invest a lump sum or make regular contributions through automatic investment plans.
- Monitor and Rebalance: Keep an eye on your investment and periodically reassess your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your investment goals. Rebalance your portfolio as necessary to maintain your desired asset allocation.
Investing involves risks, and past performance does not indicate future results. Before making investment decisions, it’s always a good idea to consult with a financial advisor or do thorough research.
