Simplify your research and keep things consistent by FIRST defining your industry by selecting the industry code that classifies your business or service.
You could search by company within the databases and be on the lookout for the NAICS or SIC code. Or, you can search by a keyword that describes a particular product/service using the links below.
Resources on this page are largely geared toward publicly-traded companies. That said, don't overlook the strategies and resources on the private/non-profit page when researching a public company!
For more help, visit the guides below:
Is the company publicly-traded or privately-held?
This sets the expectation for how much information is available and where to look.
Does the company exist as a subsidiary or is it owned by another company (parent company)?
If it is a subsidiary, it is often helpful to research the parent company as well.
What is the real name of the company?
Example: GE versus General Electric. Be aware of this when searching.
If publicly-traded, what is the ticker symbol of the company?
Some resources are searchable by ticker symbol.
What industry or industries is your company, product or service classified under?
Identify the NAICS or SIC code(s) as some resources are searchable by industry code.
When locating reports and profiles on companies or industries, pay attention to the publication date.
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
Online Resources (for off-campus access, you will be prompted to login with your SU username and password - same as for Gullnet, MyClasses, etc.)
These two databases also provide company information, but with a stronger focus on finance (stock prices, valuations, etc.)
The SEC requires that public companies disclose meaningful financial information to the public in order to achieve the concept that all investors, rather they be large institutions or private individuals, have basic information about an investment before they buy it and so long as they hold it. The filings collected by the SEC are searchable through EDGAR.