Intro to Company & Industry ResearchShana Gass, MSLSsgass@towson.eduReference LibrarianCook LibraryTowson UniversitySeptember 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