Chapter 6

Other Research Databases and

Tools

Business information needs can arise

for various reasons, such as Understanding the industry of a

client Financial news that may affect a

client Background of new corporate

executives Understanding a company’s new

products and patents

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 1:

Information Needed

Commercial databases advantages Ability to improve database

features Better search tools Comprehensive retrieval systems Often more user friendliness

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 2:

Determine the Sources

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 2:

Determine the Sources (cont’d)

Industry information sourcesSometimes need gov. industry code

Government agenciesTrade associations

Find all relevant sources If keyword search, consider

Alternative keyword terms Segment searching Date restrictions Changing connector terms Understand any search engine

limits Use reminder tools

i.e. search histories

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 3: Use

Search Techniques

Search results come in various formsCitation, abbreviated, or full document views

Descriptive graphics or charts Additional documents or info.

may exist through tabs or listings on the side

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 4: Manage

the Results

Other Database Research Strategies: Step 4: Manage

the Results (cont’d) Consider reformat the

citation of sources to conform to the style needed. APA Style uses author’s last name

and first name initial (year of publication), article title, journal volume number (issue), article pages.

American Accounting Association (AAA) style slightly varies from APA.

Checkpoint has a financial research library in some subscriptions

CCH’s Accounting Research Manager Access to FASB’s codification,

government accounting, various auditing standards, SEC authorities, and helpful secondary sources

Advertises additional SEC materials not found in the FASB’s Codification

Weekly newsletter available to subscribers

Accounting Research Tools

U.S. GAAP Financial Statements – Best Practices in Presentation and Disclosure

IFRS Financial Statements – Best Practices in Presentation and Disclosure

Audit and Accounting Manual Accounting and Tax Index

AICPA Accounting Research Tools

GASB – GARS Government Accounting

Research System for state and local accounting

Summary information on GASB’s website

The Current Text provides GASB’s codification of government acc. standards

Hierarchy of authority exists

Government Accounting Databases

Government Accounting Databases

(cont’d) FASAB – Handbook of

authoritiesAccounting for the Federal government

No hierarchy of authorities exists

Provide financial statements of companies

Examples of investigations: Unfunded pension liabilities Dual date audit reports Size ranking of a company Pending government

investigations Info. valuable for partner

negotiations Ratio analysis for credit ratings

Financial Research Databases

Separate news on the market, bonds,

the economy, and industries Quick links to industry surveys,

investment publications, investment advisory reports

Includes both private & public companies

Powerful search functions exist Able to make various database

reports Bond info available in spreadsheet

formatincluding its type, rating, & callability

S&P NetAdvantage

Public company info. is brief Access to company financials,

history, joint ventures, property locations

Daily stock prices Financial ratio analysis Industry comparisons Foreign companies provided

Mergent Online

Analyst reports are historical strength Provide more comprehensive view

of a company Analyzes implications of new

developments Historical corporate data

(from 1962) Content profile includes financial

data, SEC filings, auditor’s report, accounting practices, and financial ratios

Thomson Research

Thomson Research (cont’d)

Nonfinancial information includes Overview of markets and

technology Companies’ joint ventures Product announcements

Business Insights: Essentials – Thomson Financial content

Hoover’s OnDemand – comprehensive company, industry, and market intelligence

Other Financial Databases

Other Financial Databases (cont’d)

Morningstar Investment Research Centerparticularly valuable for mutual funds

Factiva – joint venture between Dow Jones and Reuters – 25 years of pricing on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and global market indices.

OSIRIS – database of listed companies, banks and insurance companies

Physically visiting the library for sources

Hedge funds and private equity info.

Mergers & acquisition info Academic accounting research Professional accounting

concerns Specialized research, such as

UCC filings

Financial Research Challenges

Provides relevant, non-authoritative analysis on various topics

Search for leading periodicals, such as Wall Street Journal, or academic journals

Article Index Databases

Article Index Databases (cont’d)

Article Index databases includeBusiness Source Premier, part of EBESCO Host

ABI Inform GlobalSpecialized databasesBroader databases, such as Factiva & LexisNexis

GlobalEDGE Resource Desk – web directory of international topics

International organizations such as World Bank and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development

Government agencies such as International Trade Administration

Foreign Databases

International Business Sources

USA Trade Online – current and historical data on business, international trade, … by the U.S. Dep’t of Commerce.

Various notable hardbound sourcesS&P’s statistical serviceStatistical Abstract of the U.S.

Statistical Sources

Use to find authoritative legal sources, news, business information, public records

Potential searches: Earnings reports Which companies have reorganized A company’s subsidiaries,

divisions, branches. Includes securities and tax laws,

newspapers, magazines, wire services, accounting journals, law reviews

LexisNexis

A subset of the information on LexisNexis

Five areas: general, business, legal research, news, and people

Company dossier are particularly helpful

Some search engine limitations exist Go to the area of interest before

searching Accounting information is weak,

instead use an accounting database, such as CCH’s Accounting Research Manager

LexisNexis Academic

Westlaw, Westlaw Business … Alternative to Lexis especially for legal

materials Search tools facilitate keyword

searches Research tools especially noteworthy

for court cases, such as headnotes Hein Online provides full-text access

to law reviews Wilson Web is an article index

database for business and legal sources

Other Legal Databases