How to Find a Company Using SIC Codes

The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) was actually replaced by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) system starting in 1997, but both SIC and NAICS classify companies by their primary type of activity. This activity is commonly referred to as the "industry." SIC codes are industry specific and will help you to narrow your search to a very narrow group of companies that share that SIC code. It is particularly useful for company look-up tools like the one provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine what you are looking for. You are looking for a specific company in a particular industry. Gather all the information you have about that company.

2. Use the SIC look-up tool managed by the The Department of Labor. If you only have the SIC code, look-up the SIC group description using the SIC look-up function provided in Resources.

3. Look up the SIC code using the SIC division structure. If you do not have the SIC number, but you know the industry of the company, use the SIC division structure to find a matching SIC number.

4. Use SEC's company look-up to find a list of companies based on the SIC, company name, state, country and/or ticker symbol.

References

• SIC Manual

Resources

• SIC Code Lookup
• SEC Company Lookup
• SIC Division Structure