A good place to start your research for this project is finding a report/profile on your chosen company. Use the instructions below to find information on your company both online and through the library databases.
Publicly traded companies in the U.S. are required to file documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Two of these documents, the Annual Report and the 10k, can provide a wealth of knowledge about a company. These financial statements are designed to inform the public (shareholders, investors, analysists, etc.) about the performance of the company.
Where can I find these reports?
Companies will host these reports on their corporate websites (be aware that these sites may differ from their user-facing websites). When navigating these websites, look for an “About," “Company Information,” "Financial Reports," or “Investor Relations” link. If you are having trouble finding your company's public records, reach out to a librarian for help.
Example: LEGO Group Annual Reports
CityU Library subscribes to a number of specialized business databases that carry high-quality company reports. Keep in mind that you may have to search in multiple databases to determine which database offers the most relevant and substantial reports for your company or industry.
Here is a list of databases that carry company reports:
Company financials, industry reports, investment analysis, and competitive benchmarking data
Articles from 1,400+ business, law, and I.T. journals plus 27,000+ videos from industry leaders
Profiles of companies, industries, and executives
Pro Tip: Two key pieces to look for in a company report are SWOT analyses and top competitors. You can find more in-depth how-to guides for finding these items here:
Magazine, journal or news articles on your company adds recent data on trends, consumer behavior, advertising, mergers, pricing, etc. Articles are especially useful for finding information about private companies. You can find this type of information by searching the following databases:
Articles from 1,400+ business, law, and I.T. journals plus 27,000+ videos from industry leaders
Articles analyzing industries, countries, economies, and markets
When searching, combine your company name plus any relevant keywords. Make sure to limit your search by date and source type using the filters (located on the left-hand side of the results screen).
Puget Sound Business Journal + Book of Lists
To access, create an account with your CityU email address.
Looking for news and information on local, Seattle-area businesses? Check out Puget Sound Business Journal via the National Business Journal Portal linked above.
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