Company Research Guide Overview – Video Link |
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Public Companies |
Private Companies |
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Public companies in the United States are required by law to file periodic reports and other forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These include the 10-K (annual) and 10-Q (quarterly) reports. Do not overlook the 8-K (other events) reports, these will outline significant changes affecting the company's management or organizational structure. For example; CEO deaths or resignations, layoffs, bankruptcy, etc. |
Private companies are not required by law to file reports or forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, if a private company has public subsidiaries the information is reported out. And some of the larger private companies push financial information to the public voluntarily. |
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Use Google Finance to determine if your company is public or private. |
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ONE |
Company Profiles | Get an overview of the company, public companies will have financials, private companies will not. | |
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TWO |
SWOT Analyses | Review the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity & Threats) analysis report. | |
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THREE |
Investment banks and other financial service bureaus produce reports about both public and private companies. | ||
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FOUR |
SEC Filings | Public companies are required to file a series of reports for the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC.gov). Check out the chapter titled "Risk Factors" within a company's 10-K. | |
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FIVE |
Private Company Information | Private companies do not have SEC filings, however Data Axle may have "business expenditure" information. | |
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SIX |
Non-Profit Company Information | Non-profit companies must update their status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS.gov) annually. |
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