Finance Subject Research Guide

Online Databases for Finding Business Articles:

Ebsco's Academic Search Premier

Although this is a general database covering all subjects, it includes many business journals and is an excellent starting place.ABI Inform Global Business database indexing and providing full-text content from over 1800 business publications. Coverage: 1971 - present.

Lexis/Nexis Universe

A news, law, and business information service with full‑text access to nearly 6000 newspapers, periodicals, and reference sources. Especially useful for trade journals. Provides indexing for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal

Financial Information:



Edgar: Developed by the SEC, offers financial statements of publicly traded companies.
Hoover's Online: Offers company, industry, and market information. 12 million companies listed, with in-depth coverage on 40,000 of the world's top business enterprises.
Lexis-Nexis Universe: Select Business under Academic Search Forms, then choose Company Financial under Company Information. Includes U.S. Public Companies, U.S. Private Companies, International Companies, Standard & Poor Corporate Descriptions, Hoover's Company Reports, Disclosure Reports, Stock Reports, NAARS Annual Reports 1972-1984.
Mergent Online: Information on approximately 11,000 companies listed on the NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ exchange. Company history, overview, historical finanicals, and annual reports. Allows you to build a report on companies, create a standard peer group analysis or a custom peer group analysis.
S&P Netadvantage: Business Analysis Pkg - includes Industry Surveys, Stock Reports, Bond Rpts, Register & Co Profiles.
Tax Research: RIA Checkpoint --: Once connected you will need to create your login ID. This ID must be created from an on campus computer. Once you have a login, connect via http://checkpoint.riag.com/login
Worldscope: Financial reports on companies worldwide. RWU FirstSearch subscription database. Campus use only.

Resources Found in the Library's Reference Area:

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios: REF HF5681 R25 A45 2002
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios: REF HF5681 R25 I525 2000-01
Market Share Reporter: REF HF5410 M35
Value Line: DESK Reserve HG4501 V21
Wall Street Journal Index/Corporate: REF Index HG1 W26 1999
(located at beginning of Periodicals Area)
Moody's Industrial Manual: REF HG 4961 M67
(only up to 2000, continues online with Mergent Online)
Moody's Industry Review: REF HG 4961 M6
(only up to 2000, continues online with Mergent Online)
International Directory of Company Histories: REF HD2721 D36
Offers 3-5 page historic analysis of major public and private companies.

Useful Web Links:


BizLinks: Comprehensive resource with links to information on company and industry research, starting a small business, patents and trademarks, marketing, business forms, etc.
Business.Com: Specialized search engine and portal for the business professional offering both general industry background information as well as links to companies and their particular product lines.

Encyclopedia of Management - 5th ed.: A searchable version of the Encyclopedia of Management.
Hoover's Online: Capsule information, basic financials, and news available for free, detailed reports require purchase.