Stocks in the Industrial Sector: Major U.S. Exchanges

Here is a little info on each of the sub-industries within this category to help you find trade setups or potential investments in areas that interest you.

Aerospace and Defense: These companies supply the aircraft, combat vehicles, communication systems, defense systems, drones, mission support services, missiles, naval systems, satellites and numerous other items used by both the commercial aviation and defense markets. Some of the largest companies in this section include:

Boeing Company (The) (BA)

General Dynamics Corporation (GD)

Honeywell International Inc. (HON)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)

Raytheon Company (RTN)

Rockwell Collins, Inc. (COL)

United Technologies (UTX)

Air Freight and Logistics: Large-cap companies in these sections include:

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (CHRW)

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD)

FedEx Corporation (FDX)

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)

Airlines: Large-cap companies in this section include:

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK)

American Airlines Group, Inc. (AAL)

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL)

JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU)

Southwest Airlines Company (LUV)

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAL)

Industrial Conglomerates: These companies are engaged in a number of different activities crossing not only the industrial sector but oftentimes other sectors as well. Some of the largest industrial companies by market cap can be found in this section including:

3M Company (MMM)

Danaher Corporation (DHR)

General Electric Company (GE)

Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP)

Machinery: The companies in this section manufacture equipment, products, tools and provide services that are used in a wide range of markets. Some of the larger companies in this category include:

Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT)

Cummins Inc. (CMI)

Deere & Company (DE)

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW)

Road and Rail: Included in this section are many large-cap railroads and trucking companies including:

CSX Corporation (CSX) (Railroad)

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (JBHT) (Trucking)

Kansas City Southern (KSU) (Railroad)

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) (Railroad)

Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) (Railroad)

Manufacturing

Batteries: The companies in this section manufacture batteries, battery related products and alternative charging systems. Most of the companies in this category are small-cap companies with a few exceptions including Johnson Controls (JCI) and Enersys (ENS).

Cable and Wire: These companies either manufacture or distribute electrical and mechanical wire and cable products.

Components, Materials and Parts: We have three categories fitting this description: industrial, electrical and metals.

Dispensing Equipment: Products can include adhesive dispensing systems, aerosol valves, dispensing pumps, dispensing closures and equipment used to spray fluid and powder materials.

Electrical Equipment: Includes manufacturers of electrical equipment with a wide range of uses. Larger companies include Emerson Electric Company (EMR), Eaton Corporation (ETN) and Rockwell Automation (ROK).

Engines, Generators and Motors: These companies manufacture products which can include diesel engines, electric motors, gasoline engines, industrial engines and natural gas engines.

Filtration Products: Examples of products manufactured by companies in this section include industrial filtration products, water filtration products and filters used in gas and liquid purification.

Fluid Handling: Products manufactured by these companies can include flow meters, level monitors, pipes, pumps, seals, temperature and pressure equipment and valves.

Food Service Equipment: There are a quite a few larger companies in this category including Carlisle Companies (CSL), Dover (DOV), Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and The Middleby Corporation (MIDD). Examples of their products can include catering, beverage dispensing, kitchen, food warming and refrigeration equipment.

Forestry Equipment: Examples of the forestry equipment manufactured include chain saws and related parts, log splitters, wood processing systems and replacement parts.

Heat Exchange and Transfer Equipment: Products manufactured by these companies include air-cooled heat exchangers, heat exchange coils, heat transfer equipment, plate heat exchangers and shell-and-tube heat exchangers.

Industrial Distributors: These companies distribute a wide range of products including fasteners, facility maintenance items, industrial and electronic components, metal products, parts, plastic products, power products, tools and wires and cables.

Industrial Gases: The companies in this section manufacture industrial gases which include carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.

Magnets: Products manufactured in this category include industrial use magnetic materials, magnetically soft products and permanent magnets.

Manufacturing Services: This is a very large group of companies that provide either devices, equipment, products, software and/ or systems for manufacturing companies or manufacturing services which can include design, engineering and manufacturing.

Measurement and Testing: This section includes companies that create test, measurement and control products.

Safety Products: The companies in this section distribute or manufacture safety products which can include fall protection products, fire equipment, respiratory protection products and gas monitoring equipment.

Thermal Products: Includes companies that manufacture products that provide heart sources to pipes, thermal protection to temperature sensitive fluid applications and thermal insulation.

Valves and Flow Control Products: These companies manufacture valves, pumps and other flow control products used in industries such as chemicals, oil & gas, power generation and water resources.

Welding Equipment: These companies design, develop and manufacture welding equipment.

Related Links:

List of Publicly Traded Companies

List of Industrial Sector ETFs