Source: freedombunker.com
The process for researching a public company differs somewhat from researching a private company. Public companies are required to report lots of information about themselves to the federal government, as required by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Public companies also have to provide regular financial reports to their shareholders, which are also available to the public. Databases collect all of this freely available information and compile it into company and industry profiles, which you can find in the library's subscription databases.This makes it very easy to research a public company.
Privately-held companies, on the other hand, are not required to report their financials to the SEC or the general public, making information difficult and sometimes impossible to find. Nonetheless, private company data can turn up in articles because reporters often write about a company's new products and services, opening of a new location, or involvement in a scandal. The information available will vary from company to company but can be used to develop an impression of the company's operations.
When beginning your company research, note the ticker symbol of the company if it is publicly-traded, as this symbol can be used to search within the library's databases and other resources.
Examples:
Ticker Company
WMT Wal-Mart
VLO Valero Energy Corporation
T AT&T
RAX Rackspace
The links below will take you to a database available through your University Library. This selection offers information regarding business topics.
This link opens in a new windowIncludes premium content of peer-reviewed, business related journals, company and industry profiles, country reports, market research reports, SWOT analyses, business videos, and more.
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Use this tool to research company profiles and do market research with content from journal articles, e-books, annual reports, business plans, templates, video clips, and more. Full-text titles included from publishers like Dow Jones and Company.
This link opens in a new windowThis database includes information on both public and private U.S. and international companies. Also included is a residential database, company executive biographies, industry information, and a job search database of employers.
This link opens in a new windowA great source for business and financial research on various types of private companies. Find information on financials, marketing/advertising, venture capital transactions, deal terms, valuation multiples, and ownership breakdowns.
Users will need to click the "Direct Access" button on the initial screen to use this resource.
This link opens in a new windowUse this database to search through more than 15,000 sources for U.S. and world news. Look up legal cases including U.S. Supreme Court decisions as old as 1790, find company information, state profiles, legal reviews, state legal research and more.
This link opens in a new windowHelps users create marketing plans, conduct competitive analysis, raise funds, and locate people by providing access to more than 20 Million Businesses, 222 Million Consumers, U.S. New Businesses, U.S. New Homeowners and Movers.
This link opens in a new windowAccess to most of S&Ps print publications, e.g., Industry Surveys, and resources such as Security Dealers of North America. Provides a Learning Center with tutorials on a variety of finance investment basics.
The links below specifically provide information regarding the workforce in the state of Texas.
This link opens in a new windowContains full-text journals and books about Texas history, ethnic & cultural diversity, gender studies, literature, public health, business, home & garden, and sports & leisure, as well as biographies portraying famous historical and contemporary Texans.
The following links will direct you to a website that allows you to research a company. Search multiple companies within an industry to learn how they compare.
Don't forget to check the company's own website!
Some websites have an "About Us" or "Investor Relations" page where you might find some useful details about their financials or operations. Check for press releases or annual reports with information about company financials and activities.
EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, provides up to ten years of company filings, including basic business operation facts, to ensure everyone has fair access to information upon which to base investment decisions.