Frequently Asked Question about
Research at McFarlin Library

I need to do research on a specific company. Where should I look?

Answer:

McFarlin Library offers numerous databases, as well as books, newspapers, and journals, that will help you track down information on most companies. A list of the major library business databases is available on the McFarlin website.

To find out if a company is public or private, or if it is a subsidiary or parent, use Hoover’s Online, Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage or Business & Company Resource Center.

To locate information on a company's industry or its competitors, you may need to determine its NAICS or SIC number. For NAICS use the North American Industry Classification System (ask at Reference Desk). Though superceded by the NAICS, it may be helpful to determine a company's SIC number. Use the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 (HF1042.S73 1987). Information on competitors and industries may also be found in Business & Company Resource Center, Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage, and Hoovers Online.

To locate a company's financial statements, use EDGAR, Business & Company Resource Center, and Mergent Online.

To find information on stock price performance, use Value Line Investment Survey, Standard & Poor's Stock NetAdvantage, and Daily Stock Price Record (Ref HG4915.S664).

For additional information, please contact the McFarlin Reference Desk at 918-631-2880, or contact Rita Howell, Business Liaison Librarian, at 918-631-2876 (rita-howell@utulsa.edu).