Intro to Company & Industry Research

Shana Gass, MSLSsgass@towson.eduReference LibrarianCook LibraryTowson University

September 2009

Why Company & Industry Research?

• What would you want to know?

• Which sources would you

consult to find out?

LexisNexis Academic Company Dossier

• Smorgasbord of company information• Background, business description,

competitors, financials, news, law cases, patents!!

• Custom reportCook Library Database

Also in Lexis Nexis: Hoover’s In-Depth Company Profiles• Public & private, US & International

• Financials, personnel, subsidiaries

• History & Recent happenings

• Updated frequently

In LexisNexis Academic, Cook Library Database

Company Web Site: Annual Report• Means of communicating with shareholders

• Annual 10-K req’d by SEC & includes detailed financials

• Where to find Annual Reports:• Company web site: Investor Relations• LexisNexis Academic > Business

• Key section: Letter to Shareholders, Management’s Discussion & Analysis

• Learn about:• Biz details, Strategy, Competition• Financials• Lawsuits, shareholder action• How company wants to present itself

Company Web Site:Annual Report• Communication w/shareholders

• SEC official filing: Annual 10-K includes additional financials, fewer glitzy graphics

• Key sections of AR: Letter to Shareholders, Management’s Discussion & Analysis* (*this also in 10-K)

• Learn about:• Biz details, Strategy, Competition, Risks• Financials• Lawsuits, shareholder action

Look for link to Investors

Industry Associations• Represent the industry – members are

companies• Can be regional, national, international• Goldmine of info: news, statistics, advocacy• Strategy: Identify a relevant industry association

and mine its web site• Tips: try a directory (ex: Gateway to Associations) or a

Google Search: [industry name] association OR organization

• NB: They also publish trade publications & are quoted as authorities in newspaper articles

ValueLine

• Industry & Company Information

• Investment perspective

• Financials & Stock performance

• Analysis

• Ranking of companies & industries Timeliness =

how well VL analyst thinks stock will perform in next 6-12 mos. 1 is the best

Safety = VL’s measure of volatility1 is the least volatile

Cook Library Database

Datamonitor SWOTs & Industry Profiles

• In Business Source Complete• Steps:

Do a simple search for company or industry

• Under narrow by source…click on …SWOT Analyses…Industry Profiles

• Datamonitor reports embargoed for academic market – may be a bit old

In Cook Library Database

Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage – Industry Surveys• Environment

• Trends

• How the industry operates

• How to analyze the industry

• Financials for leading companies

• Sources of Industry info

Industry publications

Trade organizations

Cook Library Database

More Research Tips!

• http://pages.towson.edu/sgass/courses

Questions?

…feel free to contact me!

Shana Gass (410) 704-2395 sgass@towson.edu *preferred

Or any reference librarian:

Cook Library Web Site > Ask a Librarian for options