**Don't forget the company's web site!** **Don't forget to check the local newspapers!** **Often, company profile sources can be found through various business databases (e.g. Datamonitor in Business Source Elite, Hoovers in Lexis)** |
Other Company Information Resources (mostly print):
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***Don't forget the company's web site!*** Resources on how to get financing or start a business:
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Other Company Finance Resources:
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Databases and other proprietary resources to check for industry info:
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Other Industry Resources (mostly print):
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Some print resources
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Some explanations & tools
Other tips: Look for articles on benchmarking and "best practice"or similar terms for your industry and try to find special issues of trade journals. |
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NAICS and SIC codes can be useful tools when doing research on an industry or looking into a company's competitors. Essentially, NAICS and SIC codes classify the industry areas in which a company operates. A helpful analogy is the Library of Congress classification system and the Dewey Decimal code. A company can have more than one SIC or NAICS code; a primary code to identify its main area of business and additional codes to indicate other areas of activity. A caveat: Companies determine which SIC/NAICS classification should describe them. Using SIC/NAICS codes will not necessarily produce an exhausitive, comprehensive list of an industry's players. NAICS, North American Industrial Classification System, codes are intended to replace/supercede SIC, Standard Industrial Classification, codes but this hasn't been fully implemented. Some resources still use SIC, others only NAICS. Generally you will need to know corresponding codes in each system. Finally, Standard and Poor's is developing GIC or Global Industry Classification codes. These are relatively new and have yet to be implemented widely. More information can be found here: http://www.sptopix.com/icp_e/industry/peers/gics_e.html Not all industry resources utilize NAICS or SIC codes (or the GIC system) in their indexing, but being aware of these classification systems can help you make best use of those that do. |
Some print resources for NAICS/SIC:
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International Trade Indices:
International Annual Reports:
Dictionaries and translators:
Other resources for international information:
Mostly fee-based:
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Country Information
***Don't forget country homepages (yes, they exist!) and tourist bureaus.*** Don't forget the regional versions of various search engines and Hoovers and:
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General Business Statistics
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Consumer Behavior/Demographics
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Here are some resources that can help you examine stock prices and related information or just learn about the stock market and other investment areas: Sites with a little bit of everything:
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Bond Information
Some web sites like Big Charts and Yahoo! Finance will give you data going back a few years. For older data, Mergent (Moody's) manuals can be useful. Use old Wall Street Journals for daily stock prices--watch out for name changes of companies as well as acquisitions, etc. NOTE: Online sites will not track historical data for old/defunct ticker symbols. If a company has merged or gone bankrupt you will likely need print or specialized, proprietary sites to get stock data. Some Print Resources:
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Here are some other sites that may be useful to you:
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Here are a few:
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General Business Databases:
Contain articles, some directory information, some financial information, company profiles, etc.
Global/Country/Statistical Information:
Guides to Business Resources
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Company & Industry Information (including Financials):
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Case Study Exercise: Timberland
Follow the instructions below to find information on the Timberland Company.
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