Q. How do I find information on a company?

General Company Information

The Business Source Ultimate and Hoovers databases provide a great deal of information about companies including financial data, lists of officers and competitors, stock quotes, and news items. For specific information on how to use them, please see: Business Research: Finding Company Information.

Annual Reports

A company's annual report discusses its financial performance during the previous year and provides information about plans for the company's future direction. For more information see: Business Research: Finding a Company's Annual Report.

Finding a Company's Competitors

You can use the Hoovers database to find a company's competitors. For more information see: Business Research: Finding a Company's Competitors.

Finding a Company's Financial Information

You can find a company's financial information on its own website, through the SEC's EDGAR, and via several of UMGC Library databases. You can also find financial information at free websites like Yahoo Finance or MSN Money. For more information see: Business Research: Finding a Company's Financial Information.

Finding a Company's Mission Statement

A company's mission statement briefly explains the its purpose, goals, and/or strategy. Usually the best place to find this information is on the company's website. However, you might have to search for this information in a database, book, or ebook. For more information see: Business Research: Finding a Company's Mission Statement.

Finding a Company's Org Chart and/or Leadership Information

The best place to find current information about the executives and other key people who work at a particular company is usually the company's own website. However, you might have to search for this information in a database. For more information on how to do this, see: Business Research: Finding a Company's Org Chart and/or Leadership Information.

SWOT Analysis Research

Some business and management classes at UMGC require analyzing a company's external and internal environments for its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as part of building a strategic plan for success. Two UMGC Library databases that contain SWOT analyses are Business Source Ultimate and Gale Business: Insights. For more information please see: Business Research: SWOT Analysis Research.