MBA 721

There are many sources of company information, both internal and external. Company reports are an authoritative source of data for company background, structure, products and/or services, and financials, among other data. Company reports typically draw on: information available via the company's public website, government sources such as SEC filings (for public companies), the news, company press releases, and more.

Before you start researching your company, you'll want to determine whether it's public or private. Public companies are publicly traded on a stock exchange, whereas private companies are not. Because they are publicly traded and have an obligation to their investors and the public, public companies are required to file regular reports with the SEC, which include lots of detailed information, such as financials. Keep in mind that private companies don't have these same standards, so it is usually more difficult to find information about them.