Company Information
The focus of this guide is to provide resources for locating information on domestic and international companies
International Companies
International companies are those with headquarters outside of the United States. If they are not publicly traded on US stock exchanges and therefore do not file annually with the SEC, it can be difficult to find publicly available information on international companies.
Some useful considerations and tips:
- Languages differences: Be aware of spelling variations, transliteration issues, and terminology differences that may impact your research.
- Cultural differences: Business practices, in particular, can vary among cultures, as can observed holidays.
- Currency: Financial reporting may be in a different currency.
- Think about who tracks data and who may collect information on the company or industry, and remember that the US government tracks a lot of international data.
For more tips and resources, check out the library guide below:
Recommended Databases
- A to Z International Business This link opens in a new windowComprehensive country-by-country resource for success in international business and trade.
- CIA World Factbook This link opens in a new windowThe Factbook provides information, including history, people, government, economy, etc., for 267 world entities."
- Reference Solutions - Data Axle This link opens in a new windowDatabase of over 10.5 million public and private businesses.
- Mergent ONLINE This link opens in a new windowIn-depth public and private company profiles, financial information, and industry overviews. Includes Mergent EventsData, Mergent Horizon, and Investext. Read this FAQ for information on how to access and use Investext. Read this FAQ on how to access income statements and balance sheets in Mergent Online. Read this FAQ for information on Mergent Horizon.
- MarketLine (Explorer) This link opens in a new windowQuality business reports including company profiles, market reports, industry outlooks and country economic and demographic conditions. To access data click "Explorer" under Cross Industry Intelligence Center.
- Statista This link opens in a new windowStatista is one of the leading statistics companies on the internet. With a team of over 200 statisticians, database experts, analysts, and editors, Statista provides users with an innovative and intuitive tool for researching quantitative data, statistics and related information.
- Euromonitor Passport This link opens in a new windowPassport is a global market research database providing statistics, analysis, reports, surveys and breaking news on industries, countries and consumers worldwide.
Web Resources
- globalEDGE This link opens in a new windowA knowledge web-portal that connects international business professionals worldwide to a wealth of information, insights, and learning resources on global business activities.
- World Bank Open Data This link opens in a new windowFree and open access to global development data
- International Trade Administration Trade Data and Analysis This link opens in a new windowExplore a wealth of trade data, innovative tools, and analysis provided by experts at ITA’s Industry & Analysis unit. Gain insights to help businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders navigate international markets, identify emerging trends, and strengthen global competitiveness.