“Information You Can Trust”
Alverno College Library
Researching a company or industry
The purpose of a pathfinder is to assist you in organizing your library research strategy. Use the information provided below to guide
your search for information about a company and to research an industry. See link http://depts.alverno.edu/library/dbsubject.html#busi
A) Databases for company information (under library website link ‘Databases A to Z’)
Mergent Online
• The database offers information on companies, industries, executives and a way to search for 10-K reports.
Business Source Premier
• Use the link ‘Company Profiles’ for reports on companies, many of which include a SWOT analysis.
Business and Company Resource Center
• Company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, and periodicals.
Value Line Investment Survey (also helpful for industry information)
• Tracks companies and their stocks, offering historical data as well as ratings, reports and opinion.
B) Sources for industry information
Industry Surveys (published quarterly by Standard & Poor’s) Ref 338.S785
• Gives current, in-depth profiles, with trends, statistics, and comparative company analyses for 52 industries.
RMA’s Annual Statement Studies: Financial Ratio Benchmarks - Ref 658.1512 R642
• Lists financial data on manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, service, agricultural, and other industries.
Industry Norms & Key Business Ratios (Dun & Bradstreet) Ref 658.1512 K44
• Organized by SIC code, this source provides 14 important ratios for major industries.
C) Databases for articles & news: (under library website link ‘Databases A to Z’)
Business Source Premier
• Provides full-text articles from over 900 Business, Economics, Management, and Accounting journals.
ProQuest National Newspapers Core Collection
• Includes citations and full-text articles from the Wall Street Journal other national newspapers.
General BusinessFile ASAP
• Includes some full-text articles from Business and Management journals and investment reports on major
companies and industries.
10/8/2010 JD
D) Alverno College online catalog (TOPCAT)
https://topcat.switchinc.org/search/
• Search for books, DVDs, eBooks, etc.
• Request items from seven other libraries in the SWITCH consortium
E) Additional sources for information
Many sources organize industry information by SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) or NAICS (North American Industry
Classification System Code). They also offer a description of each industry.
• Market Share Reporter 2010 – 2 volumes Ref 658.834 M345
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) from the U.S. Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html
*Provides conversion tables between SIC and NAICS.
• North American Industry Classification System - Ref 338.02 N155
Lists SIC codes by industry name.
F) Research guides
• Successful Business Research - Ref 658.072 A161
• The Skeptical Business Searcher - Ref 650.072 B513
• The Core Business Web - Ref 650.072 C797
• Strauss’s Handbook of Business Information: A guide for librarians, students & researchers
Ref 650.072 M913
G) Websites
• Corporate Information
http://www.corporateinformation.com/
• Edgar database of corporate filings (SEC)
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
• Business journal serving greater Milwaukee
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/
H) See also: Business Subject Guide
http://depts.alverno.edu/library/busiguide.html
This pathfinder is only a beginning. For additional information and assistance, please ask the Reference librarian on duty.
10/8/2010 JD