The Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) is an industry classification taxonomy launched by Dow Jones and FTSE in 2005 and now used by FTSE International and STOXX. It is used to segregate markets into sectors within the macroeconomy. The ICB uses a system of 11 industries, partitioned into 20 supersectors, which are further divided into 45 sectors, which then contain 173 subsectors.

The ICB is used globally (though not universally) to divide the market into increasingly specific categories, allowing investors to compare industry trends between well-defined subsectors. The ICB replaced the legacy FTSE and Dow Jones classification systems on 3 January 2006 and is used today by the NASDAQ, NYSE, and several other markets around the globe. The New York Stock Exchange represents all ICB sectors, except for Equity Investment Instruments (8980) and Nonequity Investment Instruments (8990).

Dow Jones divested itself of its 50% interest in the ICB in 2011 and announced it was creating its own version of it.

The Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) is a standardized taxonomy used to classify companies and financial markets into sectors based on their primary business activities. It was developed by Dow Jones and FTSE International in 2005 and is widely used by global stock exchanges and financial institutions.

The ICB framework organizes companies into a hierarchical structure of 11 industries, 20 supersectors, 45 sectors, and 173 subsectors, enabling detailed comparison and analysis across different segments of the global economy.

It replaced earlier classification systems in 2006 and remains an important tool for investors, analysts, and researchers in evaluating market performance and industry trends.

Classification

Source: [5]

  • ICB Technology Technology Software and Computer Services Computer Services (10101010) Software (10101015) Consumer Digital Services (10101020) Technology Hardware and Equipment Semiconductors (10102010) Electronic Components (10102015) Production Technology Equipment (10102020) Computer Hardware (10102030) Electronic Office Equipment (10102035) Telecommunications Telecommunications Telecommunications Equipment Telecommunications Equipment (15101010) Telecommunications Service Providers Cable Television Services (15102010) Telecommunications Services (15102015) Health Care Health Care Health Care Providers Health Care Facilities (20101010) Health Care Management Services (20101020) Health Care Services (20101025) Health Care: Misc. (20101030) Medical Equipment and Services Medical Equipment (20102010) Medical Supplies (20102015) Medical Services (20102020) Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Biotechnology (20103010) Pharmaceuticals (20103015) Cannabis Producers (20103020) Financials Banks Banks Banks (30101010) Financial Services Finance and Credit Services Consumer Lending (30201020) Mortgage Finance (30201025) Financial Data Providers (30201030) Investment Banking and Brokerage Services Diversified Financial Services (30202000) Asset Managers and Custodians (30202010) Investment Services (30202015) Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts Mortgage REITs: Diversified (30203000) Mortgage REITs: Commercial (30203010) Mortgage REITs: Residential (30203020) Closed End Investments Closed End Investments (30204000) Open End and Miscellaneous Investment Vehicles Open End and Miscellaneous Investment Vehicles (30205000) Insurance Life Insurance Life Insurance (30301010) Non-life Insurance Full Line Insurance (30302010) Insurance Brokers (30302015) Reinsurance (30302020) Property and Casualty Insurance (30302025) Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Investment and Services Real Estate Holding and Development (35101010) Real Estate Services (35101015) Real Estate Investment Trusts Diversified REITs (35102000) Health Care REITs (35102010) Hotel and Lodging REITs (35102015) Industrial REITs (35102020) Infrastructure REITs (35102025) Office REITs (35102030) Residential REITs (35102040) Retail REITs (35102045) Storage REITs (35102050) Timber REITs (35102060) Other Specialty REITs (35102070) Consumer Discretionary Automobiles and Parts Automobiles and Parts Auto Services (40101010) Tires (40101015) Automobiles (40101020) Auto Parts (40101025) Consumer Products and Services Consumer Services Education Services (40201010) Funeral Parlors and Cemetery (40201020) Printing and Copying Services (40201030) Rental and Leasing Services: Consumer (40201040) Storage Facilities (40201050) Vending and Catering Service (40201060) Consumer Services: Misc. (40201070) Household Goods and Home Construction Home Construction (40202010) Household Furnishings (40202015) Household Appliance (40202020) Household Equipment and Products (40202025) Leisure Goods Consumer Electronics (40203010) Electronic Entertainment (40203040) Toys (40203045) Recreational Products (40203050) Recreational Vehicles and Boats (40203055) Photography (40203060) Personal Goods Clothing and Accessories (40204020) Footwear (40204025) Luxury Items (40204030) Cosmetics (40204035) Media Media Entertainment (40301010) Media Agencies (40301020) Publishing (40301030) Radio and TV Broadcasters (40301035) Retail Retailers Diversified Retailers (40401010) Apparel Retailers (40401020) Home Improvement Retailers (40401025) Specialty Retailers (40401030) Travel and Leisure Travel and Leisure Airlines (40501010) Travel and Tourism (40501015) Casinos and Gambling (40501020) Hotels and Motels (40501025) Recreational Services (40501030) Restaurants and Bars (40501040) Consumer Staples Food, Beverage and Tobacco Beverages Brewers (45101010) Distillers and Vintners (45101015) Soft Drinks (45101020) Food Producers Farming, Fishing, Ranching and Plantations (45102010) Food Products (45102020) Fruit and Grain Processing (45102030) Sugar (45102035) Tobacco Tobacco (45103010) Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores Food Retailers and Wholesalers (45201010) Drug Retailers (45201015) Personal Products (45201020) Nondurable Household Products (45201030) Miscellaneous Consumer Staple Goods (45201040) Industrials Construction and Materials Construction and Materials Construction (50101010) Engineering and Contracting Services (50101015) Building, Roofing/Wallboard and Plumbing (50101020) Building: Climate Control (50101025) Cement (50101030) Building Materials: Other (50101035) Industrial Goods and Services Aerospace and Defense Aerospace (50201010) Defense (50201020) Electronic and Electrical Equipment Electrical Components (50202010) Electronic Equipment: Control and Filter (50202020) Electronic Equipment: Gauges and Meters (50202025) Electronic Equipment: Pollution Control (50202030) Electronic Equipment: Other (50202040) General Industrials Diversified Industrials (50203000) Paints and Coatings (50203010) Plastics (50203015) Glass (50203020) Containers and Packaging (50203030) Industrial Engineering Machinery: Industrial (50204000) Machinery: Agricultural (50204010) Machinery: Construction and Handling (50204020) Machinery: Engines (50204030) Machinery: Tools (50204040) Machinery: Specialty (50204050) Industrial Support Services Industrial Suppliers (50205010) Transaction Processing Services (50205015) Professional Business Support Services (50205020) Business Training and Employment Agencies (50205025) Forms and Bulk Printing Services (50205030) Security Services (50205040) Industrial Transportation Trucking (50206010) Commercial Vehicles and Parts (50206015) Railroads (50206020) Railroad Equipment (50206025) Marine Transportation (50206030) Delivery Services (50206040) Commercial Vehicle-Equipment Leasing (50206050) Transportation Services (50206060) Basic Materials Basic Resources Industrial Materials Diversified Materials (55101000) Forestry (55101010) Paper (55101015) Textile Products (55101020) Industrial Metals and Mining General Mining (55102000) Iron and Steel (55102010) Metal Fabricating (55102015) Aluminum (55102035) Copper (55102040) Nonferrous Metals (55102050) Precious Metals and Mining Diamonds and Gemstones (55103020) Gold Mining (55103025) Platinum and Precious Metals (55103030) Chemicals Chemicals Chemicals: Diversified (55201000) Chemicals and Synthetic Fibers (55201010) Fertilizers (55201015) Specialty Chemicals (55201020) Energy Energy Oil, Gas and Coal Integrated Oil and Gas (60101000) Oil: Crude Producers (60101010) Offshore Drilling and Other Services (60101015) Oil Refining and Marketing (60101020) Oil Equipment and Services (60101030) Pipelines (60101035) Coal (60101040) Alternative Energy Alternative Fuels (60102010) Renewable Energy Equipment (60102020) Utilities Utilities Electricity Alternative Electricity (65101010) Conventional Electricity (65101015) Gas, Water and Multi-utilities Multi-Utilities (65102000) Gas Distribution (65102020) Water (65102030) Waste and Disposal Services Waste and Disposal Services (65103035)

Per the FTSE Global Total Cap Index, Information Technology is the biggest sector, with 25% of world capitalisation.

See also