Below is a comprehensive SIC and NAICS code lookup tool for United States publicly traded securities. This tool helps investors understand company classifications, industry groupings, and peer companies using both the legacy SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) system and the modern NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes.
The database includes all publicly traded securities that file with the SEC, with classifications updated directly from SEC EDGAR filings. Data is refreshed regularly as companies file new documents.
This tool is new and I'm still working out the issues. Please let me know about issues on our Contact Form.
SIC and NAICS Code Lookup Tool
Note: Industry classifications are self-reported by companies in their SEC filings. Some companies may have multiple NAICS codes – there isn't an official 1:1 mapping.
Basic SIC Lookup tool features
- Ticker Search: Enter a company's ticker symbol to find its classification. The tool shows the company's SIC code as filed with the SEC, and for most codes will guess at a NAICS code (or codes) based upon the SIC.
Tool outputs
After you run the tool, you'll see a few things:
- Company information: see the last stock price per share (and daily return and volume), the exchange the security is traded on, the type of security, the currency it trades in, and the company CIK (Central Index Key with the SEC) code. You'll also find a quick link to the most recent SEC filings for the company.
- SIC Classification: find the company SIC code and a description of the industry.
- NAICS Classification: find the related NAICS Codes and NAICS industry descriptions for a given SIC code. Note that not all SIC codes have a mapping in the crosswalk... and some have many (see, for example, UBER).
- Company Description: find the company's description of its own operations. I source this data from Tiingo's Meta API.
Here's an example run of the tool for Apple Inc:
Why Two Classification Systems?
The tool shows both SIC and NAICS codes because both systems remain relevant for different purposes in financial analysis and regulatory compliance.
SIC Codes: legacy but still relevant
The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system – despite being officially replaced by NAICS in 1997 – remains important for several reasons:
- SEC Filings: Some Government agencies – including, most relevant for this website(!), the SEC – still use SIC codes. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires companies to report SIC codes, making them a standard reference in securities filings
- Historical Analysis: SIC codes have a long history, so they enable consistent historical analysis of industries going back many decades
- Financial Software: Many financial databases beyond the SEC and analysis tools still use SIC codes for industry classification
- Broad Categories: The simpler four-digit system makes it easier to group similar companies at a high level (the 2022 NAICS ranges up to 6 digit codes)
The first 2 digits of SIC are the major group for the company (there are 11). The first three group the industry, while the first four digits designate the industry itself.
A SIC History
The first edition of the Standard Industrial Classification was developed in the 1930s, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last updated the SIC in 1987.
Rapid industrial development in the early 90s made it (more) evident the SIC wasn't equipped to deal with a changing economy. The US tasked the Economic Classification Policy Committee (with representatives from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Department of Labor) with establishing a "revised SIC". Instead, working with Statistics Canada and Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI) of
Mexico, we three allies harmoinized our classification systems in the NAICS.
The 1997 and 2002 releases of the NAICS come with correspondance tables for converting from the SIC, though later editions leave it up to us. I used the NAICS Association's crosswalk in the tool, though there are (of course!) other valid options for converting between the two.
NAICS Codes: modern and detailed industry classifications
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) modernized our approach to industry classification:
- Greater Detail: Six-digit codes provide more granular industry classifications. The first two digits denote the sector a business belongs to (for example, "11" is Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting), and subsequent digits divide an industry further.
- Multiple Classifications: Companies can list multiple NAICS codes to reflect diverse operations
- Modern Industries: Regular updates capture new and emerging industries, especially in technology and services
As I mentioned above, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997. Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America harmonized their data for NAICS, so NAICS codes are valid across the three neighbors. Public companies listed on US Stock Exchanges don't file their NAICS codes with the SEC, so this tool uses a crosswalk from the NAICS Association to guess the mapping.
Source and Methodology
The tool sources its data from multiple authoritative sources:
- SEC EDGAR: Primary source for company SIC codes and basic information. Note that I only update company information once every 30 days to ease the burden on SEC systems.
- NAICS Association: NAICS-SIC code crosswalks and NAICS descriptions come from the NAICS Association.
- Tiingo: Tiingo provides pricing and volume data and other security metadata.
Limitations and Disclaimers
While we strive for accuracy, you should be aware of some limitations:
- SIC codes are self-reported by companies, and codes determine how the SEC reviews company filings
- The tool only updates company metadata at most every thirty days. I have the tool list the last time metadata was refreshed.
- There isn't a 1:1 mapping of NAICS codes and SIC codes. You may have multiple NAICS codes per company... or none.
- Officially, you might find company NAICS codes with other databases (or on tax returns or other agency documentation). This tool only uses a SIC to NAICS crosswalk to guess NAICS codes. These are not official codes, but should get you started.
Related Tools and Resources
This isn't my only security tool. Here are a few more you might find interesting:
- Stock Return Calculator - See returns of companies you may have looked up in this tool!
- Stock Drawdown Calculator - Analyze the maximum historical drawdown of a stock, or its drawdown in a particular time period
- Stock Daily Moving Average Calculator - See stock daily moving averages and trend crossovers
That's just scraping the surface. Try our Investing category page to find a few more (or just search the site!)
