The Handbook of Financial Instruments

Chapter 5Sources of Information for Investing in Common Stock

Pamela P. Peterson, Ph.D., CFA

Professor of Finance Florida State University

Frank J. Fabozzi, Ph.D., CFA

Adjunct Professor of Finance School of Management Yale University

There is a wealth of financial information about companies available to financial analysts and investors. The popularity of the Internet as a means of delivery has made vast amounts of information available to everyone, displacing print and fax as a means of communication. Consider the amount of information available about Microsoft Corporation. Not only can investors find annual reports, quarterly reports, press releases, and links to the company’s filings with regulators on Microsoft’s web site, anyone can download data for analysis and listen-in on Microsoft’s conversations with analysts.

A key source of information in analyzing the earnings of a company as well as its economic well-being is provided in various financial reports required to be published by the company. In this chapter we look at these reports and other sources of information.

SOURCES OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

There are many sources of information available to analysts. One source of information is the company itself, preparing documents for regulators and distribution to shareholders. Another source is information prepared by government agencies that compile and report information about industries and the economy. Still another source is information prepared by financial service ...