Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) was developed by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and S&P to enhance research and investment process and to classify a company according to its principal business activity.

GICS consists of 10 sectors, 24 industry groups. There are also industries and sub-industries introduced in GICS methodology to fine tune all business activities. The classification can be applied to companies globally and is widely accepted as an industry analysis framework.

The GICS sectors have own numbers and are marked with color according to the Table 1.

Energy sector covers mainly commodity related companies whose business is connected with energy related services and activities. The sector consists of one energy group with the same name.

Materials sector consists of one material group that includes commodity manufacturing industries with chemicals, glass, paper, packaging, metals, minerals, construction materials, steel and mining companies.

Industrials encompass a range of companies with manufacture and distribution of goods, construction and engineering, building etc. The sector consists of Capital Goods, Commercial and Professional services and Transportation groups.

Consumer Discretionary relies on consumers to spend a part of paycheck that is discretionally on things that are not really needed by them. Therefore it is an industry that highly depends on economic cycles and is considered to be the largest segment of the economy with automobile, retail, media, entertainment, fast foods industries. The sector consists of Automobiles, Consumer Durables, Consumer Services, Media, and Retailing.

Consume Staples The main difference from Consumer Discretionary industry group is that these products are necessarily for consumers and would be used with little regard to their cost or the overall economy cycles. The sector consists of Food, Beverage, Tobacco and Household and Personal Products.

Health care sector says for itself and includes two main industries such as manufacturers and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and life science

Financials companies provide financial services to commercial and retail customers. The sector consists of Banks, Diversified Financials, Insurance and Real estate group.

Informational technology includes Technology Software companies, Hardware and Equipment and Semiconductors equipment manufacturers.

Telecommunications Services provides communications services, one of the largest company is Verizon.

Utilities includes nuclear and none nuclear facilities such as water, gas, electricity.