Stock Market Sectors Explained
A calm walk through each of the eleven GICS sectors — Energy, Utilities, Health Care, Industrials, Real Estate, Communication Services, Materials, Consumer Staples, Financials, Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary — and what makes each one tick.
- 1Part 1 of 11 9 min
The Energy Sector Explained
What the stock market's Energy sector actually is: oil and gas explorers, refiners and pipelines, what drives it, and why it's so cyclical. A clear guide.
Read part 1 - 2Part 2 of 11 9 min
The Utilities Sector Explained
What the Utilities sector is: electricity, gas and water companies, why they're defensive and high-yield, and why they fall when interest rates rise.
Read part 2 - 3Part 3 of 11 9 min
The Health Care Sector Explained
What's in the Health Care sector: pharma, biotech, devices, and insurers. Why it's part defensive and part growth, plus patent cliffs and policy risk.
Read part 3 - 4Part 4 of 11 9 min
The Industrials Sector Explained
What's in the Industrials sector: aerospace and defense, machinery, railroads and logistics. Why it's a cyclical bellwether for the whole economy.
Read part 4 - 5Part 5 of 11 9 min
The Real Estate Sector Explained
What the Real Estate sector is: REITs that own warehouses, data centres, towers and more, why they pay big dividends, and why they move with interest rates.
Read part 5 - 6Part 6 of 11 9 min
The Communication Services Sector Explained
Why the Communication Services sector mixes Google and Meta with phone companies, how it was created in 2018, and why it's really two sectors in one.
Read part 6 - 7Part 7 of 11 9 min
The Materials Sector Explained
What's in the Materials sector: chemicals, metals and mining, construction materials and packaging. Why it's deeply cyclical and a play on global growth.
Read part 7 - 8Part 8 of 11 9 min
The Consumer Staples Sector Explained
Consumer Staples explained: food, drinks, household and personal products — why it's the classic defensive sector and how it differs from Discretionary.
Read part 8 - 9Part 9 of 11 9 min
The Financials Sector Explained
What's in the Financials sector: banks, insurers, payment networks like Visa, and asset managers. Why it's cyclical and how interest rates drive it.
Read part 9 - 10Part 10 of 11 10 min
The Information Technology Sector Explained
What's in the Tech sector: software, hardware and semiconductors led by Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia, and why it dominates and concentrates the market.
Read part 10 - 11Part 11 of 11 9 min
The Consumer Discretionary Sector Explained
What's in the Consumer Discretionary sector: cars, retail, travel and dining, led by Amazon and Tesla, and why it's the cyclical 'wants' opposite of Staples.
Read part 11