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AGR739 Agribusiness Management

This guide will help agribusiness management students find authoritative sources to research companies and industries.

Selecting a Company

These sites are merely suggestions for where to look for public companies.

If you're not sure if your company is public, see the box below.

How can I tell if a company is public or private?

The University of Vermont Libraries suggest these tips to tell if your company is public or private:

  • Try to find the company's Web site and look for a link called "investor relations" or similar heading. Many public companies will provide information here about the stock exchange on which their shares are sold. If the company's stock is sold on an exchange, it's a public company.
  • Go to EDGAR, the free Web database provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. Click "Search for company filings" then "Company or fund name..." and enter the company name. If you find reports in EDGAR, that means the company is public.
  • Ask for help at the reference desk in Waterfield Library.

Finding background information

Why start with background information?

  • Gain familiarity with the topic
  • Identify more specific aspects of the topic on which to focus
  • Provide context and identify differing perspectives

Source: University of Texas at Arlington