Finding Company Data
When researching a company, first determine whether it is public or private, a parent or a subsidiary and whether it is U.S. based or international.
| OWNERSHIP | |
|---|---|
| PUBLIC | PRIVATE |
| Publicly traded companies are required to file certain financial information with the Government, which makes that data available to the public. | Private companies are not required to disclose financial information and so it is harder to obtain information on these companies. |
|
STRUCTURE |
|
|---|---|
| PARENT | SUBSIDIARY |
| A parent can own any number of subsidiaries. Revenue is usually reported at the parent level. | Subsidiaries are owned by other companies and, while they are often operated as a completely separate business, it may be hard to get financial information on a subsidiary. |
|
LOCATION |
|
|---|---|
| DOMESTIC | INTERNATIONAL |
| Domestic companies are located or headquartered in the U.S. | International companies may operate in various countries, which may affect the kinds, amount and quality of data you can obtain. |
For a quick answer to these questions, try searching Mergent Intellect:
- Mergent Intellect
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Provides access private and public U.S and international business data, industry news, facts and figures, executive contact information, and the ability to access industry profiles.
Top Databases for Company Information:
- MarketLine Advantage
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Original industry and company reports based on published research and primary and secondary data sources. - Mergent Online
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Database of corporate information covering over 22,000 US and foreign public companies. Includes access to Investext reports written by analysts at investment banks, brokerage houses, and consulting firms. Reports cover financials and analysis on companies and select industries. - D&B Hoovers
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Integrates business and financial information from data providers throughout the world.