BUS 495 & MG 495: Team Project Research Guide

Overview

Industry ratios are commonly used to evaluate the operating efficiency and profitability of a industry (or company). Financial ratios and industry averages are often used for benchmarking purposes. For this strategic plan, you are asked to report on a number of key financial statistics. Some of these numbers can be found through company reports and profiles. However, looking at how your firm's finances compare to their competitors or how they have performed year over year can help provide a more complete picture. 

Use some of the below databases to compare ratios across both your company, as well as the industry as a whole.

1. Enter your Company name or Ticker Symbol in Company Search box
2. Select company from drop-down list
3. Use green tabs to navigate to “Company Financials” tab (default view is “Company details”)
4. Under Company Financials, click on “Ratios” section.
5. Default display is filtered by "Revenues" but can be re-sorted by any column. Create customized report or use Excel download option.
6. These ratios are specific to the company you searched.

1. Enter your Company name or Ticker Symbol in Company Search box
2. Select company from drop-down list
3. Use green tabs to navigate to “Competitors” tab (default view is “Company details”)
4. Delete or add companies to create a Competitors list based on your view of the company/industry (optional)
5. Click “Add all to Company Analysis List"
6. Select “Company Analysis List”, and then select “Company Comparison Report” in the pop up window
7. Select companies from the list to load "Company Comparison Report" section
8. Under “Select Data Items”, click “Ratios” and select specific ratios to add to report items
9. Specify date range
10. Be sure to click “Include average” (this provides a peer average for each ratio which is reported at the top of each column)

In IBISWorld reports, you can find ratios under the "Key Statistics" sections of the report, located in the left-hand navigation.

NOTE: In IBISWorld, you will be searching for your company's industry, not the company name. For example, if you are working with Starbucks, you would look at an industry report on Coffee & Snack Shops.