FOOL SCHOOL
Getting Company Information

February 20, 2002

Having singled out a company you want to know more about as a potential investment, where can you get more information? Your first port of call should the company itself. These days, most quoted companies have a website. As a rule, the larger the company, the more investor-specific information will be contained on the site. Many companies now have a special section of their website, just for investors.

One of the most useful pieces of information a company can supply prospective investors is their annual report. Published once a year by every listed company, this report contains details of the company's latest operational and financial performance. Examining the annual report is an essential part to assessing the fundamentals of any company. Companies also have to produce half-yearly results but they have much less information. Some even provide quarterly updates as well.

Most companies provide a downloadable version of their latest annual report on their website. Alternatively, you may wish to order your reports (free of charge) through our annual report service. And if you contact the company direct, you could also ask for any historical annual reports to help judge the company's record in more detail.

Perhaps the best website around for a one-stop-shop overview of every listed company is Hemmington Scott. The site presents very informative corporate summaries, covering financial records and consensus profit forecasts of every listed company. Another useful site for investors is FT.com, a site that provides a news-based service that allow extensive searches for archived stories. And UK-Wire provides raw RNS statements for those wanting the full nitty-gritty of company announcements.

But of course, if you're looking for opinion, then look no further than the Motley Fool. The Fool's message boards are widely recognised as being the best in the business. Numerous well-informed investors post their thoughts and other interesting links to help others evaluate the company's investment merits. And the Foolish writers regularly venture their opinions on popular companies too, the latest of which can be seen here.