GICS stands for Global Industry Classification Standard, which is a system used to classify companies into 11 sectors and 157 sub-industries based on their business activities. The GICS was developed by MSCI and Standard & Poor's in 1999 and is widely used by investment managers, institutional investors, and market analysts to analyze and compare the performance of different companies and industries. The 11 sectors in the GICS are: Energy, Materials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Health Care, Financials, Information Technology, Communication Services, Utilities, and Real Estate. The 157 sub-industries are more specific categorizations within each sector, and are used to provide a more detailed view of the performance of individual companies. The GICS helps to provide a standardized and consistent framework for classifying companies, which can be useful for investors who are looking to build portfolios based on specific industries or sectors. By using the GICS, investors can compare the performance of different companies and industries, and make informed investment decisions based on their market knowledge and investment objectives.
