260 likes | 359 Views
Chapter 6. Other Research Databases and Tools. Other Database Research Strategies: Step 1: Information Needed. Business information needs can arise for various reasons, such as Understanding the industry of a client Financial news that may affect a client
E N D
Chapter 6 Other Research Databases and Tools
Other Database Research Strategies: Step 1: Information Needed • 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 2: Determine the Sources • 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 (cont’d) • Industry information sources • Sometimes need gov. industry code • Government agencies • Trade associations
Other Database Research Strategies: Step 3: Use Search Techniques • 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 4: Manage the Results • Search results come in various forms • Citation, 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 (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.
Accounting Research Tools • 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
AICPA 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
Government Accounting Databases • 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 (cont’d) • FASAB – Handbook of authorities • Accounting for the Federal government • No hierarchy of authorities exists
Financial Research Databases • 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
S&P NetAdvantage 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
Mergent Online 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
Thomson Research • 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 (cont’d) • Nonfinancial information includes • Overview of markets and technology • Companies’ joint ventures • Product announcements
Other Financial Databases Business Insights: Essentials – Thomson Financial content Hoover’s OnDemand– comprehensive company, industry, and market intelligence
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
Financial Research Challenges 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
Article Index Databases Provides relevant, non-authoritative analysis on various topics Search for leading periodicals, such as Wall Street Journal, or academic journals
Article Index Databases (cont’d) • Article Index databases include • Business Source Premier, part of EBESCO Host • ABI Inform Global • Specialized databases • Broader databases, such as Factiva & LexisNexis
International Business Sources 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
Statistical Sources • USA Trade Online – current and historical data on business, international trade, … by the U.S. Dep’t of Commerce. • Various notable hardbound sources • S&P’s statistical service • Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
LexisNexis • 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 Academic • 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
Other Legal Databases • 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