A wealth of detail on company financials, ratios, business segments, descriptions, sustainability, officers and directors. Powerful and intuitive search capabilities combined with an easy to learn and use interface provide quick access to a multitude of company, industry, index, ESG and economic data views and reports. The same comprehensive suite of financial information used by professionals under LSEG's Refinitiv and FTSE Russell brands.
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Public Company vs. Private Company
Public companies have "public debt" or are traded on a stock exchange, and they have to file their financials with the SEC or the regulatory body of the exchange that they are traded on to give investors the information necessary to manage their investments. Private companies only have to disclose their financials to the IRS or the tax revenue service in their home country and their investors.
Why it matters:
Detailed financial information is available for ALL public companies, and there is limited financial information available on private companies.
Brands and Subsidiaries vs. Parent Companies
If a company sells a product that has a different name than the legal name of the company, it is called a brand. If a company is wholly owned or has a controlling stake owned by another company, it is called a subsidiary.
Why it matters:
In both of these cases, any financials that are reported to the IRS, U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), or appropriate governing body, are reported at the parent company level. To find reports, news, and filings for a subsidiary or a brand, you must look at the parent company.
Pro Tip: Use Wikipedia
Wikipedia can tell you whether a company is a brand or a subsidiary or whether it is public or private. You can then adjust your Mergent Online search accordingly.
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