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Marketing at Harrisburg

Finding Company Information

You can also locate company profiles in following databases, but coverage may vary.

Public and Private Companies

Public Companies

Public companies, which have shareholders and are traded on the stock exchange, are legally required to release specific financial information and other information about their business practices, making them much easier to research. You will often find much more information about public companies when conducting database research for companies.

Private Companies

Private companies are not traded publicly and therefore can keep much of the information about their financials and business practices private. Laws regarding private company disclosures vary from country to country, but private companies in the US are not required to release much information to the public. If you choose to research a private company, you may want to locate public competitors as a way of identifying information about the industry that would also apply to the private company. 

Locating SWOT Analyses

What if I can't find one for my company?

Look at the list of competitors and see if you can find a SWOT analysis for any of those companies. Companies in the same industry will face similar opportunities and challenges. This is also helpful if you are research a private company -- look for public companies in the same industry for more information.