Other Industry Designation Codes
The NAICS code is important for locating government data, but other designation codes are useful for financial research as well. The GICS and ICB systems are two such sets of codes commonly used in global stock exchanges.
- Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)Developed by MSCI and S&P Dow Jones indices; a 4-tiered framework for designating key business activities for companies around the world.
- Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB)From FTSE Russell, a structured framework for categorizing companies by industry and sector at increasing levels of specificity.
Business Librarian
Getting Started With Industry Research
Identify the company's primary NAICS code. NAICS codes are used in the United States to classify businesses based on their primary economic activity. They are used to retrieve information from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other major federal government entities, as well as many professional and academic research databases.
- NAICS Search: Search for an industry using a keyword or 2-6 digit code
- Company Profiles: NAICS codes are listed on company profiles in Mergent Online
Industry Profiles & Market Data
Industry profiles contain overviews and analysis of of activities within and external to an industry that impact companies' finances and operations.
- IBISWorld This link opens in a new window
IBISWorld is the best starting point for industry research. Industry profiles are broken into chapters with current information about product, market, economic, and financial trends. - NetAdvantage This link opens in a new window
Open the Industry Surveys tab and find your industry in the Select a GICS Industry list. Industry reports are comprehensive and include important information for analyzing companies. - Statista This link opens in a new window
Providing statistical data for over 170 industries in 50 countries. Search by keyword or select an industry from the Statistics dropdown menu. - Mintel Academic Access This link opens in a new window
Mintel is the best starting point for market research in consumer-facing industries. Find market research reports for many sectors and demographics using keywords and category filters.
Industry Benchmarking & Financial Analysis
Compare a company's financial ratios with the industry ratios and/or company ratios available in these databases.
Trade & Industry Association Websites
Trade and industry associations are organizations made up of businesses from specific industries or sectors. Many trade and industry associations conduct research, publish educational materials, and engage in a variety of public relations and political activities. Their websites can be sources of data and information useful for industry research.
A simple Google search for an industry term + "trade association" can help you find trade associations relevant to an industry.
Examples:
