Finding Business Data
Where to Find Data?
We need all kind of data for our analysis. Here I will give you some resources, mostly are free, this way you can have access to Global Data, Industry Insights, and Business specifics.
Global Data
CIA World Factbook
A tool that provides fast access to economic, political, geographic, and business-related information for any country.
FRED
FRED, short for “Federal Reserve Economic Data,” is a database developed by the St. Louis Federal Reserve, part of the U.S. central bank. It offers hundreds of thousands of data series covering the U.S. and other countries. FRED is great for quantitative data. It can also create maps that overlay facts and figures on geographic areas, from local counties to global regions.
Learn the steps to locate data on FRED.
Follow this guide to download data from FRED.
Industry Data
When comparing your company to others in the same industry, it helps to know how businesses are classified. That’s where SIC and NAICS codes come in. These systems group companies by their industries and are primarily used in the U.S.
The older system, SIC codes, organizes businesses into 10 broad groups. The NAICS, in 20. The SEC uses SIC codes to track stock market and accounting data. If you need to search SIC codes, you can do so here.
SIC
https://www.osha.gov/data/sic-search
NAICS
The more modern NAICS system is a better fit for today’s economy. It expands the categories to 20, breaking down the service sector into more detailed groups like “Information” and “Educational Services.” This system is especially valuable for tracking employment and trade data, and the Census Bureau uses it extensively. You can explore NAICS codes here.
The Economic Census
If you want a broader view, the Census Bureau’s data platform is worth exploring. It covers over 100,000 geographies in the U.S., everything from states to zip codes. You can create custom maps or dive deep into topics like education, employment, health, and housing. Take a look at the platform here.
This data gathers extensive statistics from businesses of all sizes across the country. The data is invaluable for businesses making decisions about locations, investments, and new products.
Company Data
If you need insights into public companies, the SEC’s EDGAR system is the gold standard. EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is where you’ll find all the documents public companies are required to submit to the SEC. The most important filings include:
- 10-K reports, which are detailed annual financial statements audited by independent accountants. These include the company description, income statement, and balance sheet.
- 10-Q reports, which provide quarterly updates. While these aren’t audited, they’re still reliable indicators of how a company is tracking toward its yearly goals.
- 8-K reports, which disclose significant events affecting a company’s finances.
- DEF-14A proxy statements, which outline board structures, executive compensation, and stock performance over time.
Accessing these reports is simple: go to EDGAR’s search tool, enter the company name or stock ticker, and look for the filing you need. Once you open it, you’ll find an option to view the interactive report for a more user-friendly experience.
For private companies, the go-to resource is Dun & Bradstreet, which assigns each business a unique D-U-N-S number. This system tracks detailed information about companies and their subsidiaries. You can explore it here. Additionally, I have access to the Mergent Online Database, a subscription service that’s perfect for private company data, courtesy of my University ID, this was nice perk of doing my business degree.
Until the next one,
J