Company Research - Key Terms
- 10-KA report similar to the "Annual Report" but usually containing more details. It is submitted annually by public companies to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is due within 60 days after the end of the fiscal year. 10-Q is the quarterly report.
- Annual ReportAn annual document that public companies must provide to their shareholders to describe their operations and financial health. It is often available through the company's website. It is similar to the 10-K but often contains commentary and pictures.
- Parent CompanyA larger firm that owns or controls subsidiary companies.
- Private CompaniesUsually owned by the company's founder(s), family, or a small group of private investors. They do not have the same requirements as public companies to file with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The amount of information available on private companies is very limited.
- Public CompaniesAuthorized to sell stock to the general public. They are legally required to file financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and must share information with their shareholders.
- SubsidiaryA company that is partly of fully owned or controlled by another company (parent company).
- Ticker SymbolAn arrangement of characters that represent a publicly traded company.
Find Company (Competitor) Information
When locating reports and profiles on companies or industries, pay attention to the publication date.
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowBusiness Source Complete is an essential tool for business students. It covers all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, banking, finance and more. Content includes many full-text journals and topical video content.
- Morningstar This link opens in a new windowFind a stock or fund to meet your needs, research current or prospective holdings or see how your investments work together. Morningstar's data reports cover more than 20,000 securities.
Select Books
Strauss's Handbook of Business Information by Call Number: HF1010 .M67 2012ISBN: 9781598848076This book is located in the Reference Collection on the 1st floor of Library. Industry Information is the subject Chapter 4 (p. 57-74); you may find this information helpful.
A Basic Guide to Exporting by Call Number: HF1416.5 .B37 2008ISBN: 9780160792045Publication Date: 2009-01-02
More Books and Articles
For more resources, check out the Books, Scholarly Articles, and News pages on this guide.
Find Industry Reports & More
To supplement company-specific information, get a better sense for the total market by researching the overall industry.
When locating industry reports, pay attention to the 1) publication date, and 2) geography (global, US, India, etc.).
Online Resources (for off-campus access, you will be prompted to login with your SU username and password - same as for Gullnet, MyClasses, etc.)
- ABI/INFORM Global This link opens in a new windowFor Industry Reports: Go to Advanced Search. After entering your search terms, use the options below to limit your Document Type to Industry Report.
- Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowStart your search using the NAICS code for the industry, or some keywords relating to the industry. Narrow the publication or document type to Industry Profile, Industry Report, or Market Research.
- Statista This link opens in a new window--Select Industry Reports from the Reports tab, then click on "Show more industry reports." You can search for an industry by keyword or browse the available reports. These are limited the US, France, UK, and Germany.
--OR, click on Consumer Markets. Select a market then choose a country from the drop-down menu at the top of the following page. More countries exist here. - Value Line Investment Survey This link opens in a new windowCheck out the Markets tab. You can browse industry and market news, or scroll down to click on "View all industry analyses" to view all reports. Another option is to search directly for a company (using the search field at the top of the screen), then locate the Industry Analysis box on its page. This section will likely have more brief, yet up-to-date commentary.
--To get a different perspective, try using the Browse Research tab, then select an industry from the drop-down menu for "Industry Screens."
Print Resources (in the library)
Industry Surveys by Call Number: HC106.6 .S74Publication Date: July 2016 - PresentMost current 2 years kept in Reference Collection (1st floor). This series continues S&P Capital IQ Industry Surveys (Feb. 2013 - Apr. 2016).
For older surveys...
- S&P Industry Surveys, Feb. 2013 - Apri. 2016Most current 2 years kept in Reference Collection (1st floor)
Older than 2 years: General Collection (3rd floor) - S&P Industry Surveys, 1981-2011General Collection (3rd floor)