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Financial Statement Analysis (Atra)

Public vs. Private Companies

U.S. companies that are publicly held must file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are also more likely to be covered in the business press. It can be difficult to find reliable information on private companies, which do not have to provide information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or investors. 

Finding Financial Information about Public Companies

Form 10-K is the principal document used by most public companies to disclose corporate information to shareholders. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of the company's business, including financial data, results of continuing operations, market segment information, new product plans, subsidiary activities and research, and development activities on future programs. Form 10-K is the version of the annual report that most reporting companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To search for a company, enter it in the Company Name box. In the list of filings, select 10-K (annual report) or 10-Q (quarterly report) for financial statements. To just see the 10-K reports, type 10-K in the Filing Type box at the upper left. Filings are generally available from 1994-present.

Company Websites

Company websites often include:

  • Financials, archived quarterly investor calls, and quarterly and annual corporate reports (look for an Investor Relations page)
  • Contact information
  • Company mission and values
  • Board of directors
  • Corporate governance policies.

Tips for Finding Information about Private Companies

Try these tips for finding and using information on private companies:

  • Look for directory listings, company profiles, and news articles using library databases like Business Source Complete and LexisNexis Academic.
  • Try to find local news coverage in the areas where the company's headquarters or other facilities are located.  The Regional Business News database is one source of local news.
  • Financials for private companies are often reported as "estimates."  The figures may be outdated by a year or more.  Use with discretion, and always cite your source.
  • Many private companies have websites with useful information.

Source: Butler University Libraries

Finding Financial Information about Private Companies

Library databases

Free online resources