Global Industry Classification Standard


The Global Industry Classification Standard is an industry taxonomy developed in 1999 by MSCI and Standard & Poor's for use by the global financial community. The GICS structure consists of 11 sectors, 24 industry groups, 69 industries and 158 sub-industries into which S&P has categorized all major public companies. The system is similar to ICB, a classification structure maintained by FTSE Group.
GICS is used as a basis for S&P and MSCI financial market indexes in which each company is assigned to a sub-industry, and to an industry, industry group, and sector, by its principal business activity.
"GICS" is a registered trademark of McGraw Hill Financial and MSCI Inc.

Classification

Revisions

The classification standard is regularly updated by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MSCI. Numerous changes over the years have resulted in the addition, deletion, or redefinition of various sub-industries, industries, or industry groups. Since 1999, there have been two revisions at the sector level: