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Business Resources at CSU Libraries

Industry Resource Guide

It is helpful to begin your research by identifying the specific industry in which you want to conduct research and either it’s SIC and/or NAICS code. Many databases and other search tools use these codes to identify and index industries so it’s helpful to start your search with these codes.

Contents:

*See also Company Resource Guide and Marketing Guide.

SIC and NAICS codes

These are the codes used by the U.S. government to classify industries. SIC codes are 4 digit codes that the government used until approximately 1997 when NAICS codes replaced them. These codes were most recently updated in 2007, so you may see 1997 and 2002 NAICS codes slightly differing from 2007 NAICS codes for the same industry. NAICS codes are more extensive and account for the growing number of service industries in the economy. However, often times you will see both SIC and NAICS codes assigned to a company. Some publications still use SIC codes, some use NAICS, and some use both. A company may fall into many different classifications. For more detailed information, please see the url links below.

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General Industry Information

  • LexisNexis Academic (database)
    To find Hoover's reports. Click on "sources" tab (upper left of search screen). Under "find a source" (upper right of screen), type in " Hoover's" and hit "go." At the results, choose "Hoover's company & industry reports" and then click "ok continue" (upper right red area). At the next search screen, type in your industry and hit search. At the results look for a tag on the left menu to limit the search to industry reports. Clicking on this should bring up the most recent report on the industry if available..
  • Associations Unlimited (database)
    Provides the ability to search for associations and organizations in a particular industry and their contact information. Often times industry-related associations can provide a good deal of information.
  • Business and Industry
    HF1001 .B796 2004 Ref
    An encyclopedia that provides a good overview of business and industry topics.
  • Business Source Premier (database)
    Industry reports are available from Datamonitor and provide valuation, market segmentation, forecasting, and top competitors.
  • Encyclopedia of American Industries
    HC102 .E53 2001 Ref
    Two volume set. Industries are listed by SIC, but it’s quite easy to browse and find the industry you need. Volume one contains manufacturing industries and volume two contains service and non-manufacturing industries. This is a good place to start in an industry search.
  • Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources
    HF5351 .E53 Ref Desk
    A good place to start with any business-related search.
  • Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries
    HD2324 .E528 Ref
    Helpful for hard to find information on new industries (i.e., fiber optics)
  • Encyclopedia of Global Industries
    HD2324 .E53 2003 Ref
  • Investext (database)
    Industry reports by brokerage houses.
  • Gale Virtual Reference (database)
    Type in industry name in basic search to retrieve reports from various reference sources.
  • Plunkett’s Industry Almanacs
    Cover various industries. These are available in reference. Search in Sage using Plunkett Industry Almanac as a keyword to find the locations of specific titles.
  • Standard & Poor’s Industry Surveys
    HC106.6 .S74 Ref
    Excellent resource for industry overviews. Updated quarterly.
  • U.S. Census Bureau - Economic Census
    http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/
    Industry reports available at national and state level.
  • Tekrati: The Industry Analyst Reporter
    http://www.tekrati.com/index.asp
    Techy news on tech market research.
  • Value Line Investment Survey – Selection & Opinion (database)
    A comprehensive source of information and advice on approximately 1,700 stocks, more than 90 industries, the stock market, and the economy.
  • Yahoo!Finance
    http://finance.yahoo.com
    Industry Center provides up-to-the minute news, a market summary as well as company profiles and comparisons for an impressive number of industries.

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Industry Ratios

  • Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios
    HF5681 .R25T68 Ref
  • Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios (D&B)
    HF5681 .R25I52 Ref
  • Mergent Online (database)
    Some ability to compare a company to peers under "Create Reports" tab once in company pages.
  • Robert Morris Annual Statement Studies (RMA)
    HF5681 .B2R6 Ref

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