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Finance 602

This guide will help students with their research project in FIN 602 .

Researching Companies

Researching Industries

Finding financial ratios

This tool should provide the ratios you need: Mergent.

Mergent allows you to create a specific list of competitors and generate a report comparing them.

  • Open Mergent.
  • Type your company name into the search box, and select your company from the auto-complete list. Hit search.
  • Find the tab that says Competitors. It should be near the end of the row.
  • You can accept the competitors listed, or add additional ones. Once you have the list you want, go to Add all to Company Analysis List on the far right. A menu will pop up, and you will need to click on the top option, Company Analysis List
  • This opens the My Mergent Tools screen. The graphic below shows you what to do next on this screen.

  • Open your report, which will be divided by each company in your list. Ratios are near the end of each company's information.
  • Need more help? This video link explains how to find them by choosing your competitors. 

Finding articles and news

These library databases and open websites will have articles, profiles and analysis of your companies.

Searching with industry codes

The North American Industry Classification System (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. It is important to know the NAICS codes associated with your business because you will use them while searching for resources. 

NAICS Code Tutorial

Identifying NAICS (Industry) Codes. From the University of North Carolina Greensboro business librarian. Run time: 5:18.

Searching Mergent Market Atlas