LibGuides: Business: Industry

Industry Codes - Tip Box

The federal government developed a numerical coding system to identify what a company does. Many of the company databases allow a search using a NAICS or SIC code; this can be an easier way to search for companies within the same industry. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) is a 4 digit code that identifies an industry. This code was developed in 1937 by the U.S. Government, the last volume was published in 1987. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a 2-6 digit classification code that identifies an industry according to economic activity in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. It was developed during the 1990’s to replace SIC codes.

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Simmons Databases

+ IBISWorld - IBISWorld is the largest publisher of industry analysis in the world, covering every segment of the economy. This information is based on official data sources, like the U.S. Census Bureau, and is updated every 3-4 months, ensuring access to the latest information

+ Gale OneFile Business - Industry and Company Research can be found in this database in academic journals, videos, magazine, and books.
Gale e-Books offers e-books on a variety of topics and industries around the world

+ Kanopy - Kanopy is a leading source of online educational videos across a wide variety of subject areas. Kanopy has thousands of videos in the Humanities, Education, the Arts, Business, Health, Sciences and Media & Communications

Rankings

These ranking lists are not specific to any particular industry - two of the most frequently used are from Fortune and Forbes. Some focus on a particular geography others on specific themes. They can be useful for those trying to understand the nature of a company and tell you information not always evident but are often helpful just as general background. For example:

BloombergBusinessWeek has published many different lists including Best 50 Performers and the Global 1000.
Fast Company is a publication that looks to focus on "the world's most interesting and innovative companies." They publish the "Most Creative People in Business."
Forbes publishes many lists though it is most known for the Forbes 500 which began in 1959. They also publish America's Best Small Companies, Global 2000 Leading Companies, and America's Largest Private Companies. You can find current and some past lists in a tab titled Lists.
Fortune is most known for the Fortune 500 which first published in 1955, however, they also publish other lists including the Global 500, 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Small Business 100, Americas Most Admired, Global Most Admired, and 100 Best to Work for. Their current lists (and some historical) can be found on the Fortune Rankings page.
Financial Times publishes the Global 500 - a list of the world's biggest companies in Europe, the UK, US, Japan and Asia Pacific. The list is only available to subscribers.
Inc. publishes the 500/5000 - a list on America's Fastest Growing Companies.
InformationWeek publishes the InformationWeek 500 that tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of some of the best-known organizations in the country.
American City Business Journals publishes the local City Business Journals mentioned in Private Company Research. Each issue generally contains a list or lists. At the end of the year these are compiled into a single publication called the Book of Lists. Regular subscribers get the book as part of their subscription, however, they can be purchased separately.

Government Sources

Economic Census
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) - download, graph and track 212,000 U.S. and international time series from 62 sources.
Who's Buying -
Market Share Reporter