The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is a four-digit code for a company's main line of business. The SEC assigns one to each registrant and shows it on the company's EDGAR profile. Examples: 2834 pharmaceutical preparations, 6021 national commercial banks, 7372 prepackaged software.
Limits
- The system dates from the 1930s and was last revised in 1987. Many modern businesses fit it awkwardly.
- A company gets one code, even if it does several things.
- Codes are not always updated when a company changes what it does.
On Listed
Sector pages group companies by SIC code, because it is the classification the SEC itself provides. A company's code is shown on its page. If a company seems to be in the wrong sector, its SIC code is usually why.