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Accounting Resources: Research Companies/Financial Disclosures

This research guide provides high quality resources for Masters of Accounting program and others studying accounting at UC San Diego

How do I find publicly traded companies easily?

These resources are great for identifying key companies operating within an industry and/or browsing to get ideas about which companies you'd like to research. Note - if you need absolutely accurate company financials for your course or, do not use Yahoo Finance or Business Insights: Global. Instead, once you find your company/companies, then go and use any of the resources under the "Company Financials & Annual Reports" or "SEC Filings" boxes of this page.

Option A: Browsing

Yahoo Finance Path = pick an Industry, then once in the industry, use Company Index

Option B: Look up a known company's name:

Gale Business Insights Try a company name in the search box. Click on a company name in the results list, you will see detailed profile information. Public companies have a ticker symbol, the exchange, NAICS codes in the industry section, company website and more.

Mergent Market Atlas Do a company search, then either inspect the results for that company or look up what's under the ‘competitors’ or the ‘equity reports’ tabs to find additional companies.

LSEG Refinitiv Workspace Do a company Search. Inspect the results for that company or look up the Peers section of the profile.

Option C: Create Company Lists

Nexis Uni Click Find a Company, then click dots in upper left corner and choose Nexis Dossier. Click on "Create a Company List" or "Compare Companies."

LSEG Refinitiv Workspace There is a company screener function. From the landing page choose Search Tools > Companies.

Mergent Market Atlas Use the filters on the landing page to create a company list.

 

Company Financials & Annual Reports

How do I find the SEC filings for my companies?

There is more than one way to get the SEC filings of a public company.

Which SEC filings give me the most relevant information for my analysis?

  • The form 10-K , an annual financial disclosure overview, is a good place to be thorough. Especially check out the footnotes to the financials and the Management Discussion.
     
  • Other frequently-used filings are ARS —the annual report; SC-13 changes in beneficial ownership, S-8 changes in employee benefit plans, DEF 14 proxy series. For a complete list of filing types and what they cover see http://www.sec.gov/about/forms/secforms.htm