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Industrial shares: Popular companies to invest in
Discover popular stocks plus considerations when investing in the industrial industry.
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Popular industrials stocks
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Industrial companies are ones which produce machinery and equipment or provide services for a series of different sectors, such as aerospace, construction, transportation and waste management. As this is such a broad sector, it can be difficult to predict the way the stocks will perform, so it’s worth researching the individual stocks or their more specific categories in more detail. Find out how to buy industrial shares in the UK and what challenges the industry faces.
UK industrial stocks
If you’re interested in investing in industrial stocks that are in the UK, there are several major ones, such as:
Investing in global industrial stocks from the UK
Below are some of the industrial companies worldwide that you’re able to invest in with some information about their stock prices and what they do. We’ve also got an A-Z list further down if there are any specific industrial companies that you want to invest in.
Rolls Royce (RR.LSE)
Rolls-Royce is an aerospace and defence company based in the UK, although it’s best known for its luxury cars. It’s share price is often impacted by how well the aerospace travel industry is doing. Rolls-Royce is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Compare brokers to buy Rolls Royce shares
Boeing (BA.US)
Boeing designs, manufactures and sells aircraft, including aeroplanes, rockets and missiles. Boeing has some of its operations in the UK and has a manufacturing site in Sheffield. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Compare brokers to buy Boeing shares
Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX.LSE)
Spirax-Sarco is an engineering company which manufactures steam management systems to heat or sterilise industrial processes. This means that it’s used for oil refining, food manufacturing, beer making and drug manufacturing. Spirax-Sarco is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Compare brokers to buy Spirax-Sarco Engineering shares
Why invest in industrial stocks?
Industrial stocks are typically cyclical. This means that their performance tends to depend on where we are in the economic cycle. Typically, industrial stocks perform best during an economic boom, and don’t do quite as well during recessions. If you’re worried about losing money in economic downturns, you might choose to move your investments during different parts of the cycle.
How to invest in industrial stocks
- Choose stocks to invest in. You can check out some industrial stocks above and find out more about them.
- Choose an investment platform. You’ll need one that lets you invest in the stock exchange that your chosen stocks are listed on.
- Sign up and fund your account. You might need to wait for your account to be verified and for your funds to hit the account before you can begin.
- Find your chosen stock. You can search its name or ticker.
- Review and buy. It’s as easy as that!
The risks of industrial stocks
The industrial sector is impacted by the current state of both the UK and global economies. When there’s an economic boom, you could see great growth, but the opposite is also true — during recessions there may be low demand.
Another risk of industrial stocks is tariffs. These are sometimes put in place during geopolitical unrest and might raise the cost of goods or materials.
Bottom line
While they might not be the most exciting stocks available to invest in, the industrial sector has some good opportunities which could make some good investment returns. Make sure you’re aware of what the companies you want to invest in actually do and the risks and challenges they face.
Browse all industrial stock guides
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Zoe was a senior writer at Finder specialising in investment and banking, and during this time, she joined the Women in FinTech Powerlist 2022. She is currently a senior money writer at Be Clever With Your Cash. Zoe has a BA in English literature and a Diploma for Financial Advisers. She has several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. Zoe has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink.
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