Research on Publicly-Traded Companies
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Research on Publicly-Traded Companies
Are you interested in publicly traded companies? A publicly traded company is one which offers publicly traded stocks or bonds. Individuals may invest in these companies in hopes of future returns. Investors provide the funding necessary for companies to expand, buy supplies, and cover other costs. As a company's business improves their stock will increase and those providing an initial investment may see a return greater than the original amount put in. Public companies often work under a separate set of rules than private business.
If you are thinking of either bringing your business public, or if you are considering investing, it is essential to learn both how investment works and the rules under which a company operates when public. There are a number of sources which specialize in public companies, from how to take a company public to the right way to invest. It is important to research the background of any company specializing in public companies.
It is wise to consider a number of sources prior to choosing one. Not every company is the same and which is right may vary for your individual needs. Business.com offers a number of quality links.
View the links to the left and find the publicly traded companies that could be the right investment.
Research on Publicly-Traded Companies Key Terms
Learn about the types of research available for publicly traded companiesBy Terri Deno All investors, whether individuals or businesses, should do research on publicly-traded companies before buying stock. Research on publicly-traded companies can come from a number of reliable resources, including the company itself, the federal government and a host of independent financial organizations. A research report on a publicly-traded company will take time to compile, but will give investors a clear picture of the stability or volatility of any publicly-traded company.
Publicly-traded company
A publicly-traded company offers shares of common stock to the public. Investors are able to purchase these shares; the buying and selling process is completed in organized exchanges. Publicly-traded companies are also regulated by the SEC.
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Business Knowledge Source provides information on the benefits of a company becoming a publicly-traded company.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission is the federal regulatory agency for all securities and stock exchanges. Since a publicly-traded company provides shares on exchanges, the SEC regulates these companies.
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Search for any publicly-traded company through the Securities and Exchange Commission website. The commission provides annual reports, IPOs and registration statements for these companies.
Annual report
An annual report is a statement prepared by a company to share information with customers, shareholders and the general public about the financial status of the company, future projects and information on management. A more detailed annual report is filed with the SEC.
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IBM provides tips on how to read an annual report from a publicly-traded company.
Company ownership
Company ownership refers to the actual owners of a company. Many smaller companies are owned by larger companies, so this information is valuable when compiling research on a publicly-traded company.
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NOLO provides information on the different types of company ownership structures.
Earning estimates
Earning estimates are the monthly or quarterly estimates of a company's profit. They are based on the average of the highest and lowest estimates from analysts.
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The Street provides a primer on understanding earning estimates and how to interpret earnings reports.
Stock performance
Stock performance is the information provided by the daily trading price of a stock. Stock performance can be tracked over a specific period for research purposes.
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The Stock Market Wizard provides information on how sales and earnings growth can affect stock performance.
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