Company Research FAQs
Where and how can I find my company’s annual report?
Given that public companys' annual reports are required by federal law to be self-published on a yearly basis, then visiting a company’s website is often a good place to start. The ease in finding such annual reports on individual websites may vary from company to company however, so it is best to avail ourselves of our subscription based resources.
Mergent Online is an excellent, easy to learn database that will provide a wealth of company financial information. On the main page, do a company search by either company name or ticker symbol, if the latter is known. On the main Business Summary results page, click on the Annual Reports tab. It is then possible to download said reports as a PDF file, and most company annual reports are available for the last ten years.
LexisNexis Academic also provides the same information, but many students find the Mergent display and interface easier to use. After clicking on the Business tab on the LexisNexis main page, type in the company name or ticker symbol, then choose Financial Information.
The SEC also maintains annual reports and other financial filings which can be accessed at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. Some users often have trouble locating exactly the report they want among the plethora of search results, so unless you need a specific SEC filing, stick with Mergent.
I need information on my company’s long term debt, its subsidiaries, and property holdings.
Stay with Mergent and as above, after doing a company search, all the relevant information can be accessed by clicking on the corresponding tabs on the Company Details page, i.e. Long Term Debt, Subsidiaries, Property.
After doing a company search in Mergent as in question one above, click on the Executives tab to find information on the company’s officers and directors.
Company websites will normally disclose their executives’ names and contact information, but not their salaries and/or compensation.
Where can I research a company’s patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property?LexisNexis is the easiest way to do this. After doing a company search on the Business tab, click on Intellectual Property Information and all domestic and international trademarks and patents will be found.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office also provides a searchable database at http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. After selecting Quick Search, type in the company’s full name.
How can I research a company’s competitors?For in-depth research, Mergent is preferred since it allows for the creation of detailed competitor reports containing financial highlights and other company information.
Use Mergent to do a company search, then select the Competitors tab. This will typically list the top ten competitors along with brief financial and stock information. This same page also allows for the creation of reports that compare the competitors in an industry (where it says Click here to create a competitor report).
In LexisNexis, after doing a company search, click on the hyper-linked Hoover’s Company Records—In-depth Records just below the company’s Business Description near the top of the company Snapshot page. On the next page, scroll two thirds down to the Competitors list.
Standard and Poor’s NetAdvantage: first click on the Companies tab, then do a company search. On the left-hand side, under Vital Statistics, click on Competitors to retrieve company names and brief financial information. Competitors covered by S and P will be hyper-linked.
What is a SWOT analysis and where can I find one?SWOT is an acronym standing for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats. A SWOT analysis is used to provide an overview of companies in their current operating environments.
MarketLine Business Information Center is the best place to begin. Start by clicking Browse All Companies Information, then run a company search, either using the company name or ticker symbol. On the left-hand side, under the company overview, click on SWOT Analysis.
Business Source Premier also provides SWOT analysis for many different companies. On the Basic Search page, type in the full company name. In the results box, click on SWOT Analyses. Typically, a company’s last three years of SWOT analysis is available.
My instructor has asked me to compile a company profile for my company. How can I do so?Use Factiva. On the main page, click on the Companies/Markets link. On the following page, click on the Company link. Next, under Get Company Snapshot, run a search for your company using its name or ticker symbol. On the company results page, click on the Reports link in the box on the left. You can then choose either a Detailed Company Profile Report, or a Detailed Company Profile Report with Financial Results.
How can I conduct an investment analysis of a company?
Value Line will provide authoritative investment analysis of not only companies and their competitors, but industries as well. On the main page, under Quick Index, click on Standard Edition, and then under Look Up Company type in the company’s name or ticker symbol and hit the Value Line icon. A new page will open, and the company’s investment analysis report is then available in either PDF or HTML formats.
Business and Company Resource Center will also provide investment analysis from a wealth of stock and company analysts. On the main page select Company Search from the drop down menu and type in the company’s name or ticker symbol. Gale will typically produce multiple results matching your search request, so be sure to read the results carefully before clicking on the correct company name. The next page will be the Company Profile covering your company, and from there select the Investment Reports tab. There will you find investment analysis reports from a variety of reputable sources.
Standard and Poor’s Net Advantage provides stock reports and investment analysis by their own analysts. On the main start page, click on the Companies tab, then run a company search. On the Company Profile results page, on the left hand side, click on Stock Reports to get stock statistics and investment analysis.
