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                       The Investment Company of America
                             333 South Hope Street
                         Los Angeles, California 90071
                              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, Vice 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 June
     30, 2005 (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.


Principal Executive Officer                   Principal Financial Officer

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA             THE INVESTMENT COMPANY OF AMERICA


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

Date:  September 7, 2005                      Date:  September 7, 2005


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.