University Libraries, University at Albany, SUNY Need Help? Search this Site Site Index
Home Catalog Database Finder Journals

Researching Company Information

Updated: January 17, 2007
[Before You Begin Your Research] [Company Directories] [Company Information Sources] [Company Rankings]
[Periodical Articles] [Patents]

This guide is intended to serve as a starting point for researching company information using both print and electronic resources available through the University at Albany Libraries. Call numbers for print materials listed here are for materials located in the University Library. Call numbers beginning with the prefix “Ref” are in the Reference area on the first floor, and those with the prefix “RBR” are at the Reserve Desk on the basement level. Many, but not all, of the electronic resources covered here are accessible from off campus for registered University at Albany library borrowers. For more information on accessing these resources remotely, see Off-Campus Access to Databases and Online Journals.

Many additional resources are available than are covered here. More business-related Internet web sites are linked from the Business Internet Resources page, and the Business Key Resources page links additional business subscription databases available for University at Albany library borrowers. If you would like more assistance, please contact a reference librarian.

Before You Begin Your Research

Establishing a few basic facts about the company first will simplify the research process. To find answers to these questions, use Wards Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies (Ref HG 4057 A2 W365x), the Directory of Corporate Affiliations (Ref HG 4057 A219XA), or web sites given below. For more ideas on how to research private companies or subsidiaries, see How to Find Information About Companies (Ref HD 2771 H68).

Is the company public or private?
Publicly held companies in the United States are required by law to disclose a great deal of information, while privately held companies are generally not. It is usually more difficult to research a private company than a public company.

Is the company a division, branch or subsidiary of another company?
Some of these entities may have different names than their parent companies. Usually, only the financial statements of the parent companies are made public.

What is the company’s ticker symbol?
Many of the electronic resources available through the University Libraries use the ticker symbol, the symbol which identifies a company’s stock on an exchange. To find a ticker symbol on the web, try:
Yahoo! Finance Ticker Symbol Lookup
What are the company’s SIC or NAICs codes?
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes provide a mechanism for classifying like businesses together. They can be used to identify a company’s competitors and to determine industry financial norms. Search the 1987 SIC manual:
Standard Industrial Classification Search

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes are being phased in to replace SIC codes, but many standard reference works still use the SIC codes. You can look up NAICS codes and convert SIC codes to NAICS codes at:
North American Industry Classification

Company Directories

Company directories provide basic information, such as addresses, telephone numbers, and the names of select executives. These are a few of the more popular directories.

Company Information Sources

These sources provide financial and other background information on companies.

Electronic Databases

Please note:  databases having the Accessible to University at Albany users only icon can only be accessed from off campus if you are a registered library borrower.  You must have a SUNY card issued by the University at Albany AND currently be affiliated with the university as faculty, staff or student.

Print Resources

Company Rankings

Periodical Articles

While newspaper, trade magazine and journal articles are important for researching all companies, they are often the major source of information about private companies. When searching for articles about a company, always make sure to check sources that cover the geographic areas where the company has an impact on the local economy.

Electronic Databases

Please note:  databases having the Accessible to University at Albany users only icon can only be accessed from off campus if you are a registered library borrower.  You must have a SUNY card issued by the University at Albany AND currently be affiliated with the university as faculty, staff or student.

Print Indexes

Patents

A patent is a legal asset that gives its owner the right to make, use or sell an invention. By examining the patents assigned to a given company, it is often possible to gain insight into the company's research and product development plans. Patent information can be a valuable tool in performing competitive intelligence. Note that while many freely available sources of patent information are good for identifying particular patents, they are usually inadequate for performing a patentability search for a new invention, which generally requires a professional searcher with access to more specialized tools.

Please note:  databases having the Accessible to University at Albany users only icon can only be accessed from off campus if you are a registered library borrower.  You must have a SUNY card issued by the University at Albany AND currently be affiliated with the university as faculty, staff or student.

This page is maintained by Mary K. Van Ullen.
Comments to mvanullen@uamail.albany.edu