Primary sources in the context of company research refer to sources & content created by the company such as annual reports and press releases. Most companies will have a web presence, but keep in mind that many will have both a "public" web site and a "private" web site (e.g. a password-protected intranet or internal site) so you may or may not be able to find out much this way.
What kinds of documents are you after? You want to answer the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, why).
Annual reports, quarterly reports, and other securities filings for public companies (e.g. management information circulars) are usually posted on a company's web site in an area labeled "Investor Relations". However, companies usually only archive the most recent few years of their reports. If you require access to older annual reports or financial statement data, you should consult one of the following sources:
Use Company research databases to compare your famous family business to major competitors in the industry. Company profiles usually include:
For additional guidance in identifying top competitors, consult recent company profiles from well-known sources such as GlobalData, Hoover's, and MarketLine.
Publication Title | Database |
Hoover's Company Records |
|
GlobalData Company Profiles - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review |
|
MarketLine Company Profiles |
|
If you still need more company or industry information for your research report, consult the additional sources on this research guide: