September 21, 2020

FTSE Russell completes ICB sector migration for Russell US Indexes and adds 46 IPOs for its third quarter US index update

  • FTSE Russell successfully completes Russell US Indexes sector migration to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB®) framework from Russell Global Sectors (RGS).
  • ICB enhancements well received by market and supported by extensive public consultation and notification process, affecting over $9 trillion in benchmarked assets.
  • Russell US Indexes add 46 new initial public offerings (IPOs) for the third quarter reflecting US equity market surge and Covid-19 investment trends.

FTSE Russell has completed the third quarter update for its Russell US Indexes, completing the migration to the enhanced ICB framework and adding 46 new US IPOs. The changes, which impact the US large-cap Russell 1000 Index, small-cap Russell 2000 Index and Russell Microcap Index, became effective after the close of the U.S. equity markets on Friday, September 18th and were reflected today.

Susan Quintin, Head of Equity Index Product Management, Information Services, LSEG:

“We are pleased to provide the new ICB framework to Russell US index clients following a multi-year consultation and enhancement process. This important project combines the best-in-class sector classification framework with the widely-tracked Russell US equity benchmarks and is an important step toward even greater consistency around our global family of equity benchmarks.”

Initially planned to become effective in June during the height of the Covid-19 global crisis, the Russell US index ICB migration, which impacts over $9 trillion in investor assets benchmarked to the Russell US Indexes, was postponed to September to ensure a smooth process for investors. The enhancements to the ICB framework and index transition were based on extensive client feedback and consultation, which FTSE Russell initiated in 2016 and finalized in 2019. Importantly, the US migration to ICB is the first step toward a consistent industry classification framework across FTSE Russell’s equity indexes globally, with the FTSE Global Equity Index Series expected to transition to ICB in 2021.

Under the new ICB framework, the Russell US Indexes now follow the ICB classification system, comprised of 11 industries, 20 supersectors, 45 sectors and 173 subsectors. Notably, with the transition, nine RGS sectors become 11 ICB industries at the top level, including the creation of a separate ICB Real Estate industry and expansion of the ICB Telecommunications industry, which now includes Telecommunications Equipment (moved from Technology and includes companies such as Cisco Systems and Motorola Solutions) and Cable Television Services (moved from Consumer Discretionary and includes companies such as Comcast and Liberty Broadband). ICB adopted the Consumer Discretionary / Staples framework from RGS and has renamed ICB Oil and Gas to ICB Energy. FTSE Russell provides more details on these changes in a recently published research paper.

FTSE Russell also welcomes forty-six new IPO additions to its Russell US Indexes as a result of this quarter’s regularly scheduled IPO addition process, reflecting a surge in U.S. equity markets and prevalent Covid-19 era investment trends. Notably, online used car marketplace Vroom Inc. (VRM) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX), the provider of late stage funding for pharmaceutical companies, have joined the Russell 1000.

Vroom has been assigned to the newly created ICB Consumer Digital Service subsector within the ICB Technology industry, and Royalty Pharma has been assigned to the ICB Pharmaceuticals subsector within the ICB Health Care industry. Thirty companies have joined the Russell 2000, with 18 of the companies joining the ICB Biotechnology subsector within the ICB Health Care industry. For a complete list of third quarter Russell US index IPO additions, go to the FTSE Russell website.

Catherine Yoshimoto, Director, Equity Index Product Management, FTSE Russell:

“Our quarterly index update process is a hallmark of the time-tested, robust and consistent methodology that governs FTSE Russell indexes globally. This quarter, we are very excited to complete our extensive ICB migration to our Russell US Indexes and welcome a new class of Russell US index IPO additions reflecting a vibrant US equity market. These updates reinforce the relevance of our indexes for investors.”

John Worth, Executive Vice President, Research & Investor Outreach, Nareit:

“These changes to ICB by FTSE Russell will appropriately recognize the growing importance of stock exchange-listed real estate companies, including REITs, engaged in the ownership, leasing and management of real estate.”

For more insight on the ICB migration process, you can access the FTSE Russell research paper – Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) reclassification. And for a list of the third quarter Russell US index IPO additions, you can go to the FTSE Russell website.

– Ends –

Media contacts

Tim Benedict, FTSE Russell, +1 (917) 582-0641; TBenedict@lseg.com

Jelena Nedelka, FTSE Russell, +1 (917) 635-9183; JNedelka@lseg.com

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. 

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $16 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. 

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance and embraces the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and customer partnerships as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering. 

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. 

For more information, visit FTSE-Russell site.

© 2020 London Stock Exchange Group plc and its applicable group undertakings (the “LSE Group”). The LSE Group includes (1) FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”), (2) Frank Russell Company (“Russell”), (3) FTSE Global Debt Capital Markets Inc. and FTSE Global Debt Capital Markets Limited (together, “FTSE Canada”), (4) FTSE Fixed Income Europe Limited (“FTSE FI Europe”), (5) FTSE Fixed Income LLC (“FTSE FI”), (6) The Yield Book Inc (“YB”) and (7) Beyond Ratings S.A.S. (“BR”). All rights reserved.

FTSE Russell® is a trading name of FTSE, Russell, FTSE Canada, FTSE FI, FTSE FI Europe, YB and BR. “FTSE®”, “Russell®”, “FTSE Russell®”, “FTSE4Good®”, “ICB®”, “The Yield Book®”, “Beyond Ratings®” and all other trademarks and service marks used herein (whether registered or unregistered) are trademarks and/or service marks owned or licensed by the applicable member of the LSE Group or their respective licensors and are owned, or used under licence, by FTSE, Russell, FTSE Canada, FTSE FI, FTSE FI Europe, YB or BR. FTSE International Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a benchmark administrator.

All information is provided for information purposes only. All information and data contained in this publication is obtained by the LSE Group, from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, however, such information and data is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors make any claim, prediction, warranty or representation whatsoever, expressly or impliedly, either as to the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability of any information or of results to be obtained from the use of FTSE Russell products, including but not limited to indexes, data and analytics, or the fitness or suitability of the FTSE Russell products for any particular purpose to which they might be put. Any representation of historical data accessible through FTSE Russell products is provided for information purposes only and is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

No responsibility or liability can be accepted by any member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors for (a) any loss or damage in whole or in part caused by, resulting from, or relating to any error (negligent or otherwise) or other circumstance involved in procuring, collecting, compiling, interpreting, analysing, editing, transcribing, transmitting, communicating or delivering any such information or data or from use of this document or links to this document or (b) any direct, indirect, special, consequential or incidental damages whatsoever, even if any member of the LSE Group is advised in advance of the possibility of such damages, resulting from the use of, or inability to use, such information.

No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors provide investment advice and nothing in this document should be taken as constituting financial or investment advice. No member of the LSE Group nor their respective directors, officers, employees, partners or licensors make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in any asset or whether such investment creates any legal or compliance risks for the investor. A decision to invest in any such asset should not be made in reliance on any information herein. Indexes cannot be invested in directly. Inclusion of an asset in an index is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that asset nor confirmation that any particular investor may lawfully buy, sell or hold the asset or an index containing the asset. The general information contained in this publication should not be acted upon without obtaining specific legal, tax, and investment advice from a licensed professional.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Charts and graphs are provided for illustrative purposes only. Index returns shown may not represent the results of the actual trading of investable assets. Certain returns shown may reflect back-tested performance. All performance presented prior to the index inception date is back-tested performance. Back-tested performance is not actual performance, but is hypothetical. The back-test calculations are based on the same methodology that was in effect when the index was officially launched. However, back-tested data may reflect the application of the index methodology with the benefit of hindsight, and the historic calculations of an index may change from month to month based on revisions to the underlying economic data used in the calculation of the index.

This document may contain forward-looking assessments. These are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking assessments are subject to risks and uncertainties and may be affected by various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. No member of the LSE Group nor their licensors assume any duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking assessments.

No part of this information may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the applicable member of the LSE Group. Use and distribution of the LSE Group data requires a licence from FTSE, Russell, FTSE Canada, FTSE FI, FTSE FI Europe, YB, BR and/or their respective licensors.