Research Guides: Business: Company/Industry Research

Databases and Websites

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
NAICS is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
Access detailed information for a specified SIC, Division, or Major Group; and browse through the manual structure.

GlobalEDGE
Includes Market Potential Indicators and the Database of International Business Statistics from Michigan State University.
Business Dictionary
Over 20,000 terms, and brief articles.
Bloomberg Business News
News and analysis from Bloomberg.
20th Century American Leaders
Harvard Business School's database chronicles the lives of 20th century men and women whose business leadership shaped the ways that people live, work, and interact.

Key Business Ratios
Provides competitive benchmarking data compiled from Dun & Bradstreet's database of public and private companies. Choose from a three-year set of 14 key business ratios for over 800 lines of business. Updated twice a year.
RMA eStatement Studies
- This link opens in a new window
(Annual Statement Studies: Financial Ratio Benchmarks)
Includes 19 ratios such as current, liquidity, operating, leverage, expense to sales and other ratios for over 750 industries.

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios
For historical research on ratio analysis. Available in library 1982-2008. Call #HF5681.R25 I525. Please ask at the Research Consultation desk for assistance in locating required volume.
Value Line Investment Survey
Value Line research system is an in-depth, regularly updated database spanning approximately 1,700 of the most actively traded U.S. exchange-listed stocks, drawn from over 90 industry sectors and representing about 95% of total U.S. stock market capitalization. Has 3 sections: Selection & Opinion, Summary & Index, Ratings & Reports for company and industry analysis.
Market Share Reporter
Presents comparative business statistics. Each entry features a descriptive title; data and market description; a list of producers/products along with their market share; and cites original sources.

See Links page for statistical resources