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.
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.
Industry profiles contain overviews and analysis of of activities within and external to an industry that impact companies' finances and operations.
Compare a company's financial ratios with the industry ratios and/or company ratios available in these databases.
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: