BUSN100 Contemporary Business & Free Enterprise

Some things to keep in mind as you start research on your company:

• Many databases allow you to search using a public company’s stock ticker symbol.
  • (Example: Papa John’s ticker symbol is PZZA.)
• Public companies are required to file financial information with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). 10-K’s and 10-Q’s are examples.
• Public companies also have to provide investors with an Annual Report (sometimes the 10-K serves as the Annual Report; sometimes it is a separate document).

Fortune 500 company list 

Another alternative is to check the print edition of Forbes (June issue) which is available in the library on the first floor (if it is unbound), or on the second floor (if the issue has been bound with other print issues of Fortune.)

Free company websites:

• Lists products or services
• Contact information
• May have background/history
• If public, may have latest filings or news
• Not likely to have financials  
• This is the information the company is making available about themselves.  It won't be critical or unbiased.       

Library business databases:

• Revenues (either estimated for private companies or from filings)
• Top Executives & brief bios
• Lines of business –
  •    aka Industries (either NAICS or SICs)
  •    What it does (makes, services or both)
• Designates if private or public (subsidiary, branch, parent)
• Competitors (either designated by company or within SIC)
• Option: financials and background/history
• Ability to compile lists comparing competitors   
• This is information and analysis written by those OUTSIDE the company.  This information is more likely to be critical.