Industrials sector: Investing in big companies that do big things

The economy’s quiet titans.

Written byKarl Montevirgen

Fact-checked byDavid Schepp

Updated: July 03, 2024

Gears of growth; captains of industry.

When envisioning the pillars of American industry, numerous products and services come to mind: heavy machinery for transportation, farming, and defense; building products, electrical equipment, and machine parts; and an array of functions, from supply chain consulting to basic facility services, like plumbing and janitorial duties.

All of these, and more, are produced by companies that fall within the industrials sector.

Key Points

Industrials comprise an extensive array of products and services.
The sector’s focus is on the production of capital goods (and supportive services).
Capital goods are products used to make other products and services that are sold directly to businesses rather than consumers.

What is the industrials sector?

The industrials sector comprises companies that produce capital goods—products used to make other products—and services that directly support other businesses and manufacturers rather than consumers.

The importance of industrials in the economy

The industrials sector is a bellwether for the economy. When there’s strong demand for capital goods, it often signals both business confidence and economic expansion; conversely, when demand dries up, businesses are hesitant to invest in capital goods either in response to, or in anticipation of, economic contraction (recession).

Risky business

Investing in stocks involves risk, and although risk can sometimes bring rewards, it can also result in losses. You can minimize risk by diversifying your assets across different sectors or asset classes, smoothing out the volatility in your stock portfolio by incorporating higher- and lower-risk investments.

Industrials is one of the smaller sectors among the 11 Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sectors in the stock market—about 9%, but its functions are far-reaching, essential, and underlie the most basic and critical operations of society.

How large is the industrials sector in terms of market cap?

Compared with the dominant information technology (IT) sector, industrials are a third of the size, with a market cap of about $5 trillion. If you compare industrials to the size of all 11 sectors, it sits in the middle, sixth from the top (as of mid-2024). It’s reasonably small, but it carries a huge load.

Industries that make up the industrials sector

The industrials sector can be broken down into three industry groups, 14 industries, and 25 subindustries, according to S&P Global Inc.

The three industry groups are:

Capital goods. The largest of the three groups includes a diverse range of industries—like aerospace and defense, construction and engineering, industrial conglomerates, and more—all of which produce heavy machinery and parts for industrial production. This group makes up about 70% of the S&P 500 industrials and includes top stocks like General Electric Company (GE), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Deere & Company (DE), RTX Corporation (RTX), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT).
Commercial and professional services. The smallest of the three groups (about 7% of the S&P 500 industrials) comprises a diverse array of service subindustries, from employment and environmental services to printing, office supplies, security, and consulting. One of the largest and most recognizable companies in this industry group is Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP), which provides payroll and other employer services.
Transportation. Comprising more than 22% of the S&P industrials weighting, this group includes all types of sea, air, and land transportation, from ships and airlines to rail and trucking subindustries. The largest names in this group are FedEx Corporation (FDX), United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), Union Pacific Corporation (UNP), and The Boeing Company (BA), which also falls under the capital goods industry group.

Distinctive aspects of the industrials sector

Every sector has its unique characteristics—areas of focus and production, customers, and even economic cyclicalities. As an investor, it’s best to take a nuanced approach when analyzing stocks in individual sectors.

For instance, industrials stocks tend to exhibit these distinctions:

Cyclicality. The performance of stocks in the industrials sector tends to closely follow the economic cycle. When the economy is booming, the demand for goods in the industrials sector increases, as businesses are also in investment and expansion mode. When the economy is contracting or in a recession, the demand for industrials tends to decline.
Subindustries are highly diverse (and diversified). This sector covers an expansive range of services, from home alarm systems and farm machinery to consulting services, railroads, and fighter jets, giving the sector some internal diversification. So, although industrials are vulnerable to the economic cycle, their subindustry diversification and global exposure can also give them a degree of resilience.
Government spending and long-term, capital-intensive projects. Some companies in the sector focus on long-term projects, like building public infrastructure or manufacturing military defense systems and equipment. Government policies, regulations, and spending can significantly impact the valuations of the companies in this sector.
Global reach. Many industrial companies operate on a global scale. With supply chains and customers spanning numerous countries, these companies may be more exposed to geopolitical opportunities and risks, international government policies, and currency rate fluctuations.

Tips for investing in industrials

Look for strong dividend payers. Many industrials are well-established, durable (not vulnerable to new entrants due to high barriers to entry), and have a history of paying attractive dividends to shareholders. Purchasing these shares at a reasonable price can provide you with a steady—though not guaranteed—stream of income.
Pay attention to the economic cycle. Industrials are cyclical, so pay attention to what’s happening in the broader economy. Investing (or adding shares) during the economy’s recovery and early expansion phases can mean higher yields and greater capital appreciation.
Diversify within the sector. What do office printers and tractors have in common? Besides occupying the same sector, not much. And it goes to show that you can diversify within the same sector to mitigate risks from specific market segments.
Pay attention to technological and regulatory developments. Companies that can adapt quickly to regulatory changes and technological disruptions (like automation technologies) may fare better than those that can’t. Industrials may not be as fast-moving as tech, but it isn’t static, either.
Pay attention to global exposure. If a company has strong global exposure (international diversification), its chances of weathering regional economic downturns may be greater than a company that operates in just one country. At the same time, it’s also more vulnerable to geopolitical risks.

The bottom line

Although industrials isn’t the largest of the GICS sectors, if you look around, you can see its traces everywhere. Its impact is vast, spreading across multiple industries both regionally and internationally, while also mirroring (or leading) the economic tide.

There are plenty of reasons to consider investing in the industrials sector, whether it’s to capture dividends issued by well-established companies or to boost your portfolio’s diversification.

Specific companies and funds are mentioned for educational purposes only and not as an endorsement. The lists in this article are representative and not intended to be comprehensive.