GICS Micro-& Nano-Sectors (Thematic Portfolios)

Within GICS Eleven, the relationship between TIER 1 (CORE), TIER 2 (TREND) and TIER 3 (MICRO) is not conceived as a break, but as a logical continuation within a finely graduated relationship and dependency structure. The tiers build on each other and complement each other instead of functioning separately.  TIER 1 (CORE) forms the overarching framework. It serves to structurally classify companies, business models and value chains and provides orientation at a meta-level. TIER 2 (TREND) and TIER 3 (MICRO) start where thematic consolidations, accelerated developments or focused priorities emerge within this framework. Market dynamics and changing information situations can lead to overlaps that make clear categorization difficult or deliberately leave it open. However, this is not a shortcoming, but a conceptual feature. The levels are always related to each other and allow different perspectives on the same market context.

Whether a perspective is perceived as particularly relevant, purely informative or subjectively significant is ultimately at the discretion of the user. GICS Eleven therefore does not see itself as a conclusive authority, but rather as a structured orientation framework. A claim to completeness or interpretative sovereignty is expressly not associated with this

This symbiosis is particularly evident in the example of the Feingold Research information portal. The Materials meta-sector forms the overarching frame of reference: All companies assigned to the sector are fully covered and linked to the relevant news. This creates a complete sectoral sounding board that covers the breadth of the market. At the same time, trend sectors are derived from this core as independent info streams. These no longer follow complete coverage, but rather a focus on content. The range deliberately extends from meta to micro: from Materials as a superordinate sector, to Mining as a functional and operational consolidation, to Rare Earths as a thematically highly specific section within the same value chain. The dividing line is not in the object - some of the companies are the same - but in the perspective. 

Tier 1 (Core) answers the question: Where does a company structurally belong? 

Tier 2 (Trending) answers the question: Why is a part of this sector currently in focus?

Trend sectors are therefore not created by new classifications, but by thematic weighting, news intensity and market attention. They form dynamic observation areas in which developments emerge earlier and more concentrated than in the broad core. 

Like GICS Alpha or GICS IPO, these trend sectors act as curated layers of information: They filter out those segments from the core that are currently characterized by technological, geopolitical or demand-side impulses. This creates direct added value for journalists, editorial teams and analysts: instead of having to sift through the entire meta-sector, the system provides thematically precise information streams that pre-select relevance. 

As a result, GICS Eleven thus forms a multidimensional classification system: The core provides structure and completeness, tier 2 for focus and topicality, tier 3 for analytical depth. Trend sectors are not a counter-design to the meta-sector - they are its moving projection.

GICS Mining / Critical Materials bundles developments relating to the mining, extraction and strategic importance of mineral raw materials. The focus is on metals and minerals that are of central importance for industrial value creation, technological applications and geopolitical security of supply - including rare earths, battery metals, industrial metals and other critical resources. In terms of content, the topic area covers exploration and mining, project developments, production expansion, cost and extraction structures, as well as environmental regulations, approval procedures and political framework conditions. Particular attention is paid to raw materials that are considered key components for future technologies, such as energy infrastructure, electromobility, semiconductors, robotics and artificial intelligence. GICS Mining focuses on supply, scarcity and dependency issues. It highlights developments in which demand forecasts, production capacities and geopolitical interests overlap. Topics such as securing resources, national extraction strategies, new mining regions and technological advances in mining characterize the dynamics of the field. The subject area is deliberately designed to be interface-oriented. Raw materials are at the beginning of many value chains. Accordingly, relevant impulses arise at the transitions to Industrials, Energy, Information Technology and Defense, where availability, price development and supply chain stability have a direct economic impact. Target and interest groups correspond in principle to those of the overarching CORE sectors Materials and Industrials - with a clear focus on strategic raw materials, extraction markets and technology-driven demand developments.

Typical users of GICS Mining think of raw materials as a strategic prerequisite for technological development. They observe scarcity, dependencies and extraction structures. It becomes relevant where resources determine the industrial future.

GICS Cannabis is aimed at players who understand regulated cannabis markets as a medical, economic and political field of the future. It is aimed at advertisers, agencies, manufacturers, platforms and service providers from the fields of medical applications, research, processing, distribution and related technology, compliance and financial services whose offerings are anchored in a clearly regulated environment. For agencies, PR and communication service providers, GICS Cannabis offers an environment in which content is placed in a factual, responsible and contextualized manner. New products, studies, regulatory milestones, market entries or partnerships have an impact here because they meet an audience that differentiates between medical use, market structure and social classification. Manufacturers, platform operators and specialized service providers find a focused space in GICS Cannabis for offers that support the development, scaling or professionalization of regulated markets. Whether medical products, research collaborations, distribution models, data and analysis offerings or capital market-related solutions for participation or hedging - visibility is created where cannabis is not seen as a trend, but as an emerging, structured market. In addition, the portal addresses industry information services, specialist media, research providers, stock market letters as well as conference and trade fair organizers whose content is based on credibility, topicality and regulatory classification. Studies, publications and events reach an audience that actively observes, evaluates and professionally accompanies cannabis markets.

The Materials sector brings together companies that provide the physical raw materials from which economic activity is created in the first place. The focus is on raw materials, intermediate products and materials that are further processed and are at the beginning of numerous industrial, technological and consumer-related value chains. Materials is not an end market, but a foundation sector. The companies grouped here supply materials that are used in construction, industry, energy, technology, mobility, consumer goods and infrastructure. Their products are rarely visible to end customers, but are found almost everywhere. The Materials sector is characterized by its wide range of content. It ranges from basic, often raw material-related activities to highly specialized materials with clearly defined applications. The areas of application are correspondingly diverse: from structural building materials, metals and minerals to chemical products that are specifically tailored to certain industrial or technological requirements. What the companies in this sector have in common is their close connection to real production processes. Cost structures, energy use, transportation, economies of scale and regulatory framework conditions play a central role. At the same time, global demand cycles, geopolitical factors and technological developments have a direct impact on supply, pricing and investment decisions. Materials therefore plays a connecting role in the economic system. The sector is at the interface between natural resources, industrial processing and downstream industries. Changes in this area often have a time-delayed but profound impact on other sectors. Within GICS Eleven, Materials serves as a stable frame of reference for numerous specialized topics. It forms the content bracket for developments ranging from classic basic materials to highly developed material solutions - and thus creates the basis for further trend, micro and application perspectives.

The content of the GICS Materials information portal is aimed at anyone who deals with markets related to raw materials, materials and basic materials, either professionally or for their own interest. Anyone following developments relating to industrial precursors, chemical products, materials, building materials or strategic materials will find clearly focused access here. The focus is on markets that are at the beginning of many value chains. GICS Materials bundles information on companies and developments that provide, refine or process materials and thus create the basis for industrial production, infrastructure, technology and consumption. Thematically, the spectrum ranges from classic basic materials to specialized materials with high technological or strategic relevance. The targeted bundling of news, market movements and relevant information at sectoral level creates a clear overall picture of what is important in the materials environment - without having to search for a long time. For journalists, research units, market observers, media players and professional market participants, this approach enables direct access to content that would otherwise be spread across many sources. The Materials sector also provides an important orientation framework for investors - from institutional players and family offices to specialized market participants. It helps to better classify price developments, supply and demand structures and structural shifts along global supply chains. Private investors benefit in particular from the compact presentation of a market environment that is often difficult to understand and is strongly characterized by cycles, geopolitical influences and technological trends. Regardless of perspective or experience, the key benefits are time savings, condensed information and the consistent reduction of noise. GICS Materials thus creates a structured environment in which relevant developments relating to materials and raw materials become visible more quickly, easier to categorize and can be used in a more targeted manner.

Typical users of GICS Materials are market participants who see commodities and materials as the starting point for industrial and technological development. They do not observe price movements, supply situations and supply chains in isolation, but as early indicators of changes in industry, energy and technology. Relevance arises for them where material markets become more concentrated and structural shifts become visible before they reach the end markets.

GICS Materials is aimed at players who are positioned at the beginning of industrial and technological value creation. It is aimed at advertisers, agencies, raw material and material manufacturers, chemical and material companies, technology providers as well as financial and information services whose business models are based on preliminary products, materials and raw materials. For agencies and PR service providers, GICS Materials offers an environment in which communication is not abstract but cause-oriented. Topics such as funding projects, production capacities, new material applications, sustainability or geopolitical dependencies have an impact here because they meet an audience that sees materials markets as an early indicator of industrial and technological developments. In GICS Materials, product manufacturers, technology providers and financial service providers find a precisely focused space for offers that enable participation, hedging or strategic positioning along raw material and material cycles. Whether physical materials, innovative materials, structured products or market analyses - visibility arises where materials have an upstream influence on economic decisions. At the same time, the portal addresses industry information services, trade media, stock market letters, conference and trade fair organizers whose content thrives on depth, classification and relevance. Publications, studies and events reach an audience that does not view materials markets in isolation, but in the context of global value creation.