Skip to content

Explore 25 years of private equity investment trends by industry

We've compiled 25 years of our investment data to showcase how private equity investments in specific industries have shifted over the last quarter century — for better or worse. Search the interactive chart below and view the complete timeline of investments for each changing sector.

NAICS Industry % of Total PE Deals % Change Graph Reports
541 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 10.3% 56% View View full report
511 Publishing Industries (except Internet) 7.5% 71% View View full report
325 Chemical Manufacturing 4.0% -13% View View full report
561 Administrative and Support Services 3.7% 17% View
424 Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 3.4% -49% View
523 Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments 3.3% -14% View
518 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 3.2% 164% View View full report
621 Ambulatory Health Care Services 3.1% 55% View View full report
333 Machinery Manufacturing 3.0% -18% View
488 Support Activities for Transportation 2.3% 6% View
453 Miscellaneous Store Retailers 2.0% -45% View
423 Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 2.0% -30% View
211 Oil and Gas Extraction 2.0% -72% View
339 Miscellaneous Manufacturing 1.9% 4% View
221 Utilities 1.8% 29% View
311 Food Manufacturing 1.6% -12% View View full report
722 Food Services and Drinking Places 1.5% -35% View
332 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 1.4% -26% View
522 Credit Intermediation and Related Activities 1.4% 0% View
517 Telecommunications 1.3% -68% View
493 Warehousing and Storage 1.3% -26% View
446 Health and Personal Care Stores 1.3% 36% View
213 Support Activities for Mining 1.2% -73% View
326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing 1.2% -36% View
335 Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing 1.2% 12% View
334 Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing 1.1% 183% View
238 Specialty Trade Contractors 1.1% 44% View
519 Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 1.1% -20% View
926 Administration of Economic Programs 1.1% 232% View
711 Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries 1.1% -16% View
611 Educational Services 1.1% 7% View
336 Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 1.0% -47% View
454 Nonstore Retailers 1.0% 213% View
524 Insurance Carriers and Related Activities 0.9% 2% View
445 Food and Beverage Stores 0.9% -43% View
532 Rental and Leasing Services 0.8% 4% View
531 Real Estate 0.8% -2% View
713 Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries 0.7% -12% View
562 Waste Management and Remediation Services 0.7% 56% View
448 Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores 0.7% -2% View
312 Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing 0.7% -5% View
327 Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing 0.7% -19% View
212 Mining (except Oil and Gas) 0.6% -67% View
324 Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 0.6% -43% View
442 Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores 0.5% -31% View
111 Crop Production 0.5% -24% View
525 Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles 0.5% -35% View
812 Personal and Laundry Services 0.5% 110% View
331 Primary Metal Manufacturing 0.5% -47% View
486 Pipeline Transportation 0.4% -44% View
313 Textile Mills 0.4% -67% View
721 Accommodation 0.4% -60% View
323 Printing and Related Support Activities 0.4% -59% View
811 Repair and Maintenance 0.4% 128% View
515 Broadcasting (except Internet) 0.4% -92% View
321 Wood Product Manufacturing 0.3% -2% View
624 Social Assistance 0.3% 51% View
441 Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers 0.3% -32% View
623 Nursing and Residential Care Facilities 0.3% -46% View
337 Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing 0.3% -43% View
237 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 0.3% -37% View
444 Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers 0.3% -26% View
236 Construction of Buildings 0.3% -23% View
924 Administration of Environmental Quality Programs 0.2% 110% View
922 Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities 0.2% 20% View
483 Water Transportation 0.2% -16% View
622 Hospitals 0.2% -13% View
923 Administration of Human Resource Programs 0.2% 11% View
484 Truck Transportation 0.2% 27% View
322 Paper Manufacturing 0.2% -80% View
112 Animal Production and Aquaculture 0.2% 192% View
492 Couriers and Messengers 0.2% 87% View
512 Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries 0.2% -53% View
113 Forestry and Logging 0.1% 6% View
114 Fishing, Hunting and Trapping 0.1% -45% View
452 General Merchandise Stores 0.1% -92% View
451 Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores 0.1% -62% View
447 Gasoline Stations 0.1% 0% View
485 Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation 0.1% 0% View
481 Air Transportation 0.1% -5% View
482 Rail Transportation 0.1% 44% View
315 Apparel Manufacturing 0.1% -47% View
115 Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry 0.1% 117% View
928 National Security and International Affairs 0% 0% View
712 Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions 0% 0% View
314 Textile Product Mills 0% 0% View
316 Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing 0% 0% View
425 Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers 0% 0% View
443 Electronics and Appliance Stores 0% 0% View
927 Space Research and Technology 0% 0% View
491 Postal Service 0% -89% View
813 Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations 0% 0% View
921 Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support 0% 0% View
925 Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development 0% 0% View
521 Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 0% 0% View
814 Private Households 0% 0% View
487 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation 0% 0% View
M&A Research Database

Close more deals with cutting-edge M&A research tools

Search and identify firms, companies, and executives

Build, manage and download lists of targeted M&A contacts with an intuitive user experience.

Comprehensive and accurate data

Connect with 127,000 key executives across 16,000 firms and 33,000 funds in the M&A industry, plus more than 1.3 million private companies.

Tools that expedite your search

Save and export lists, receive automated alerts, and map the landscape of an entire industry in minutes.

Best-in-class customer service

Our team can accelerate your workflow with research guidance, project-oriented assistance and custom research.
Explore features and data

Solutions for...

Investment Bankers

Build private equity buyer lists, follow new transactions, find new clients, and better understand industries.

Learn more

Private Equity Investors

Improve intermediary deal flow, build an executive recruiting network, and stay up-to-date with competitors in your markets.

Learn more

Consultants & Advisors

Get private equity intelligence to help you generate new business and better understand your existing client base.

Learn more

Executive Recruiters

Recruit industry-leading executives and develop business development prospects with private equity firms.

Learn more