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FAQs for Business Research

A collection for business research frequently-asked-questions, how-to's, and other random research tips.

Screenshot of the Investext databaseInvestment Publications (stock reports, analyst reports, equity reports) offer a glimpse of what professional brokerage firms think about a company.  

  • If you just need a quick stock report, use either Mergent Equity Reports or D&B Hoover's below.  
  • If you need more extensive company analysis, your best choice is Investext.
  • For a more balanced view of a company, make sure you consult reports from different sources.

Sources for stock reports

  • Search by company name, ticker, or industry. 
  • Investext can be quite clunky to search, so you may have to page through a few reports before you find the right one for your needs. 

Video Tutorials for Using Investext

S&P Stock Reports are a favorite of many business researchers when looking for concise, up-to-date analysis of a company. This video demonstrates how to find those reports, as well and other stock/equity reports, in Investext via the Mergent Online database.

 


 

 

MarketLine reports give a good introduction to a company, and can be especially useful for novice business researchers. The reports contain financial information, executive biographies, SWOT Analysis, and more. This video demonstrates how to find the reports in Investext, using the Mergent Online database.

  • Search for a public company, then find the "Analyst Reports" link on the left side of the company profile page. 
  • Ford/Mergent Equity Research Reports contain individual analyst equity reports on over 4,000 large and mid-cap U.S. companies. Each company report is updated quarterly with weekly updated reports on over 100 companies.
  • These reports are found in the Mergent Online database.  
  • Search by company, then look for the "Reports" tab to find "Equity Reports".