The Investment Company of America
            333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071-1406
                              Phone (213) 486 9200




                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



R. MICHAEL SHANAHAN,  Chairman and CEO, and THOMAS M. ROWLAND,  Treasurer of The
Investment  Company of America (the  "Registrant"),  each certify to the best of
his knowledge that:

1)   The  Registrant's  periodic  report  on Form  N-CSR  for the  period  ended
     December 31, 2003 (the "Form N-CSR"),  fully complies with the requirements
     of  Section  13(a) or  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
     amended; and

2)   The  information  contained  in the  Form  N-CSR  fairly  presents,  in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


Chief Executive Officer                 Chief Financial Officer

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA       THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA



/s/ R. Michael Shanahan                 /s/ Thomas M. Rowland
R. Michael Shanahan, Chairman           Thomas M. Rowland, Treasurer

Date:  March 8, 2004                    Date:  March 8, 2004


A signed  original  of this  written  statement  required  by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002 has  been  provided  to THE  INVESTMENT  COMPANY  OF
AMERICA and will be retained by THE INVESTMENT  COMPANY OF AMERICA and furnished
to the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission") or its staff upon
request.

This  certification  is being furnished to the Commission  solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C.  Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.