Common sources of company information include:
TIPS
If you are having trouble finding information about your company:
Mergent Online Financial and business information and data on United States and international companies; includes history, company details, executives, ownership, financials, equity pricing, reports, filings, news, competitors.
You can search for a company by entering its name or ticker in the search box at the top of any screen. This search box is to the right of "NetAdvantage." You can also search for a company by using the "Companies" tab in the blue banner near the top
The following sites can provide additional information on companies such as major holders of stock or a listing of manufacturers (ThomasNet).
Annual Reports: Most companies will post their current and some previous annual reports on their corporate websites. AnnualReports.com provides the most recent annual report for most corporations in pdf and html versions.
SEC Filings:
Select Government Filings tab. Company search option include Ticker, Central Index Key, and SIC code. Various filing date search options. Filing types include 10K, 10Q and others.
EDGAR
Provides public access to corporate financial information and operations by reviewing registration statements, prospectuses and periodic reports filed on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Information about recent corporate events is reported on Form 8-K but that a company does not have to disclose to investors.
This tutorial from Chad Boeninger from Ohio University demonstrates how to create a company comparison report using Mergent Online.
This tutorial from Ohio University demonstrates how to use S&P Net Advantage to compare companies.
Company’s address and phone number
- Telephone Books
- Thomas Register of Manufacturers - Although limited to manufacuring companies, it is quite comprehensive.
- Hoover’s Company Records (Select database from ProQuest list)) - brief capsules on many public and private enterprises in the United States and around the world.
Key facts or a quick profile on a company (address and phone number, annual sales, number of employees, type of business, chief executives, and year founded.)
- Hoover’s Company Records - brief capsules on many public and private enterprises in the United States and around the world.
Company summary/profile
- Annual report to shareholders (if it is a public company).
- EDGAR - Financial reports, of U.S. corporations from reports submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Includes annual reports, quarterly reports, balance sheet, income statement, security activity and analysis and much more.
- Mergent Online - background and financial data on public companies
- Standard & Poor's Net Advantage -provides financial data on public companies.
- LexisNexis - Search Company Dossier and Company Profile under Companies tab (left frame) or "Get Company Info".
Private Companies
-Hoover's Directories - limited information on private companies.
-LexisNexis - type company name in the "Get Company Info" box. Note: in the results page, click on the View All Companies button for more info.
-Mergent Online - Dun & Bradstreet private companies
-ThomasNet - find manufacturers, distributors and service providers
Information on or a list of subsidiaries of a company
- EDGAR - Financial reports, of U.S. corporations from reports submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Includes annual reports, quarterly reports, balance sheet, income statement, security activity and analysis and much more.
- Mergent Online - background and financial data on public companies.
- Standard & Poor's Net Advantage -provides financial data on public companies.
- Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
Company’s annual report
- Look under Investor Relations on company's website.
- The Public Registrar -free annual reports.
- EDGAR - All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, annual and quarterly reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through EDGAR.
Company’s history
- Mergent Online - Provides a history for each company. Only public companies are included, and some histories are extremely brief.
Key resources for international companies