Download Sources for Financial Data

SOME SOURCES FOR FINANCIAL DATA
Rex C. Mitchell
There are a number of sources to get comparative financial data on individual companies and
industry averages, including the following.
Print Resources
Robert Morris’ Annual Statement Studies (RMA) - In library reference room: HF5681.B2 R6
- Ratios for industry groups, based on sample financial statements of businesses, covers nearly
350 industry groups, providing figures based on company asset size for 17 popular financial and
operating ratios. Current and historical data are given; this publication goes back more than 60
years.
D&B’s Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios - In reference room HF5681.R25 I525
- Based on Dun & Bradstreet credit reports, covers 800 industry groups, but less information
than in RMA is given for each industry group; only 14 ratios are calculated. Not grouped by
company size and no historical data are given.
Value Line Investment Survey - HG4501 .V262 (latest issues at Reserve Desk, earlier ones in
Floor 4 East microfiche. Data on individual companies.
Electronic Resources
Brokerage web sites (if you or friends have an account with a firm)
Individual company web sites (often limited to current data, although annual reports frequently
give historical comparisons)
The Research Center of Reuters Investor includes key ratios and statistics for publicly traded
companies. http://www.investor.reuters.com/StockEntry.aspx?target=/stocks
- gives company, industry, sector, S&P500 ratios, primarily current data; easy free sign-up
The Financial Profiles in Factiva’s Company and Markets give summaries of comparative
financial performances between U. S. companies and industries, while the Financial Profile
provides all the key financial ratios of publicly traded companies for the past 5 years. Access
through the library
The Stock Center of MorningStar - http://www.morningstar.com/
- Includes valuation ratios for over 300 companies. You must sign up for free membership to
receive this information.
Public companies are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to release
periodic financial statements (e.g. 10K's and 10Q's) and an Annual Report to
Shareholders(ARS). The annual report must contain financial statements and often contains an
operating review of the company's achievements. The following four sources provide access:
Edgar - http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml - free and searchable
Mergent Online (formerly Moody’s) Through the library, and
http://www.mergentonline.com/compsearch.asp
- Provides annual financial ratios for domestic and international corporations dating back to
1989. Search by company name or ticker symbol, or create a search using criteria such as
financial data, ratios, or industry codes. Information for each company typically includes
financial data (which can be downloaded to Excel), selected ratios, news, history, subsidiaries,
stock, executives, etc. You can even select companies for comparison purposes.
Hoover’s Company Records on Proquest Access through library at
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?RQT=302&COPT=REJTPTJkMzImSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&
clientId=17859&cfc=1
- Comparisons of key ratios with top competitors and an industry composite
LexisNexis Academic - has a file named "SEC Filings and Reports" in its business category
which includes EDGAR filings, annual(10K) & quarterly(10Q) reports & proxy statements.
for investment analysts' review of financial statements, select the file "Company Financial" from
the business category. Use the pull-down 'Source' menu to access such services as Disclosure
Reports and Hoover's Company Reports.
last modified 9/4/07