Scholarly articles, also called academic articles, can be found using databases and cover a wide range of topics and can either be original research or analysis of an issue or topic.
Company information, in the form of profiles, histories, government filings, financial data, analyst reports, and more, can be a great way to get an overview of a company.
Significantly more information is available on public U.S. based companies because they have to make information available to the Securities and Exchange Commission. There is less information on private companies out there.
And you may need to search multiple sources to find what you need.
Financials for public companies can be found in the Mergent database, which includes income statements, balance sheets, ratios, and stock prices that can be downloaded to an Excel spreadsheet.
Company comparisons are also available.
Industry info will give you an overview and in-depth understanding of a particular industry. Oftentimes you will be able to get specific industry reports or information within a specific geography as well, such as the dog food industry in Germany.
However, industry research is rarely straightforward, so keep an open mind and follow these tips.
Search tips:
You can search the library website for books and other materials and request them for pick up at the library.
UIS Library is also a member of I-Share, which means our students can request materials available at other Illinois colleges and universities. Watch this short video to learn more about how to search and request materials.