Public Company Data Source Options 📰
After we have the list of key metrics to monitor, what are the available options to get this data?
Hi all, when it comes to making informed investment decisions, having access to reliable financial data is crucial. Luckily, there are readily available sources that provide a treasure trove of information on public companies. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most commonly used sources for obtaining this valuable data.
Company Websites: Start your search by exploring the websites of the companies you're interested in. Many public companies have dedicated sections on their websites that provide comprehensive financial information, such as annual reports, quarterly earnings releases, investor presentations, and more. This direct source of information can give you insights into a company's financial health and its future prospects.
Pros: you can have historical performance of certain company from the beginning
Cons: time-consuming, website structure may change overtime, different format for each company
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Filings: Public companies in the United States are required to submit regular reports to the SEC, providing detailed financial information. These filings, which include forms like the 10-K (annual report), 10-Q (quarterly report), and 8-K (current report), are publicly available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) database. The SEC filings offer a wealth of financial data, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and important disclosures.
Pros: well-structured document and regularly updated
Cons: usually only captures data from the last 3-4 years
Financial News and Data Providers: Financial news platforms and data providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Yahoo Finance are go-to sources for investors. These platforms offer a range of financial information, including company profiles, financial statements, stock prices, historical data, news articles, and analyst reports. They provide a user-friendly interface and allow you to track multiple companies and receive updates on various investment metrics. Notes: there is a python package for Yahoo Finance data for personal use here : https://github.com/ranaroussi/yfinance
Pros: well-structured webpage and regularly updated
Cons: usually only captures data from the last 3-4 years (also applies to Yahoo Finance package)
Stock Exchanges: If you're interested in specific stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ, their websites can be valuable resources for accessing financial data. These exchange websites typically offer company profiles, historical stock prices, dividend information, and other financial metrics for public companies listed on their exchanges.
Trading View: While this platform can be considered in the same group as [3] Financial News and Data Providers, I think this website provides pretty comprehensive historical data for the last 5-6 years. Since I want to strike a balance between scalability (easy-to-get) and completeness (monitor historical performance), I chose this web as the main data provider combined with NASDAQ website.
Remember, owing to the vast amount of information available, it's important to be selective and focus on the data that aligns with your investment goals and strategies. Additionally, understanding financial statements and key financial ratios will further empower you to make informed decisions based on the data you gather.
In conclusion, these public company financial data sources will be your guiding light in exploring and analyzing investment opportunities. In the upcoming articles, we will delve deeper into how to interpret and utilize this data effectively to make insightful investment decisions.
Keep an eye out for our next installment, where we will discuss scraping and processing the publicly available financial data for deeper analysis. Happy investing!