Good Places to Start
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Standard & Poors NetAdvantage This link opens in a new windowBest source of detailed info!
Detailed financial info, bond ratings, industry overviews and trends, stock reports, etc.
Tip: Use Simple Search to find company. In results, note numerous links to the left leading to detailed info. -
Hoover's Company Records (via ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowBrief description, history, sales, competitors, etc.
Annual Report to Shareholders
Look for the Annual Report to Shareholders on the company web site.
It's often behind a link called Investor Relations or just Investors.
The Annual Report will provide basic financial figures and discussions of recent developments/possible future directions of the company.
If you can't find it on the web site or need an older annual report, see Other Sources for Annual Reports or Old Annual Reports, below.
SEC Filings
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EDGAR - company searchAll companies traded on U.S. stock exchanges must file various reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC makes these reports available via EDGAR. This includes the 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, proxy, registration, and other forms (but often not the Annual Report to Shareholders).
Articles
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ProQuest One Business This link opens in a new windowArticles from major business periodicals, the Wall Street Journal, and academic journals.
Brief Instruction Video: Using ProQuest PowerSearch
Great for Background Info!
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International Directory of Company Histories
Call Number: REF (2nd Level) HD 2721 .I63Essays on companies discuss history & recent developments.
Other Sources for Annual Reports (current and past years)
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ProQuest Annual Reports CollectionEasy place to find some older annual reports by company.
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AnnualReports.comAt AnnualReports.com you can find PDF files of current annual reports for a large number of public companies. Includes reports from some international exchanges.
Free. No registration. Quick and easy. -
Public Register's Annual Report Service (PRARS)At this site you can request that annual reports for participating companies be mailed to you.
Old Annual Reports
You may find Annual Reports for a few years back on a company web site but they rarely post reports from the 1990s or earlier.
Moody's Manuals
Some information from annual reports is in Moody's Manuals.
EMU Library has the following Moody's Manuals in hard copy or on microfiche (MF):
Storage copies can be requested via the EMU Library catalog and retrieved in <10 minutes.
MF copies are on the EMU Library 2nd floor in the microform area.
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Moody's bank and finance manual.1955-1996, 1998 on MF, 1995-2000 in ARC storage
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Moody's industrial manual.1954-1996, 1998 on MF, 1997-2001 in ARC storage
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Moody's international manual.1981-1996, 1998 on MF, 1996-1998 in ARC storage
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Moody's municipal & government manual.1955-1996, 1998 on MF
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Moody's OTC industrial manual.1970-1996, 1998 on MF, 1997-2000 in ARC storage
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Moody's OTC unlisted manual.1986-1996, 1998 on MF, 1997 in ARC storage
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Moody's public utility manual.1954-1996, 1998 on MF, 1995-2001 in ARC storage
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Moody's transportation manual.1954-1996, 1998 on MF, 1997-2001 in ARC storage
Research Tips
Companies traded on U.S. stock exchanges (public companies), must disclose information to shareholders and to the Securites and Exchange Commission (SEC).
These companies are also analysed for investors and often covered in the press. There is a lot of info available.
Standard & Poors NetAdvantage is an especially useful source.
If you are looking for a lot of detailed info on the company, try searching EDGAR for a recent 10-K form. These lengthy reports often offer details on company strategy and marketing practices. Because the 10-K documents are quite long, it can be helpful to use your browser's keyword search function (Ctrl + F keys).
Articles can help you look for specific info on a company or recent developments.
Also, try the Esearch to see if the EMU Library has books about the company.
And of course, look around the company's web site. Remember that info from the company may be biased or not include important negative info on the company.
