The Boston Public Library has several databases that can be helpful for advanced projects. Massachusetts students, residents and those who work in the state can obtain a BPL eCard for accessing these databases. An online application and more information are at the BPL web site.
Use this Getting Started guide to gather initial information and to find out if the company is:
Public Companies
There is a great deal of information available on companies which trade on the stock market - SEC filings, annual reports, analysts' reports, news stories, books and case studies.
Private Companies
Information on private companies is usually limited to brief information in directories, news stories, and sometimes books. All 50 states make some level of corporate and business filings available online.
International Companies
The amount of information on international companies varies. If the company trades on the U.S. exchanges it must file annual reports (20-F) with the SEC. Other information can be found in directories, databases, newspapers and magazines.
Nonprofit Organizations
Finances and other general information can be found in Form 990 which nonprofits must file with the IRS annually. Many are posted on the web at Guidestar.org. Some information can also be found in newspaper and journal articles.
Sources below provide corporate financials that can be downloaded into spreadsheets:
Find company reports, market news, downloadable 5-year financials, S&P analysts reports & Industry Surveys, Argus Industry Reviews and SEC filings. Create charts and link to calculations and data sources.
Visit our Capital IQ (S&P) Guide for more details
Search by company name or ticker symbol to obtain annual 10K, 10Q, proxy, S1 and other required filings. Annual filings are critical sources of company & industry data. The annual report to stockholders may also be included, but not always.
Morningstar Direct is an online research platform that provides coverage of Morningstar's global investment database and analytics, including worldwide investment data and global market indexes. Access in the Mucci Capital Markets Lab, McQuade Library workstations, or through Morningstar Direct desktop software.