Finding market intelligence

Company information 

Before researching a company, there’s some key information you’ll need to consider. Watch the video below for more details. 

Types of company 

Understanding more about the type of company you are researching will help you anticipate how much information is available, and where you might find that information. 

• Public vs private companies  

Public companies, like ASX-listed companies, are required to disclose a lot more information than private companies. 

• Parent vs subsidiary companies  

Information about parent companies is easier to find than information about subsidiary companies. 

• Australian vs international companies  

There may be more information available to you about Australian companies, since some of the Library’s databases are Australia-specific. 

Where to find company information

There are several sources of information you can use to research a company. 

• Company websites 
  Information on company websites includes products and services, values and mission statements, and history. Public companies will have even more information available, including annual reports, Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports, presentations to investors, and press releases. These are sometimes found in separate, investor-focused websites. 
• News and business magazines 
  In addition to publishing press releases, various news sources may have reported on the company or its industry. 
• Databases 
  The Library has a number of databases that provide company profiles, financial data, analyst reports, journal articles written about the company or industry, and more. 

Build a company list 

You may wish to build a list of companies based on criteria like location, industry or revenue. Several Library databases [link to Company tab in Market Intelligence Browse section] are useful for this purpose. See the table below. 

Find more resources to identify public sector and NFP organisations.

Industry information 

All companies are part of at least one industry, and some are part of multiple industries. 

When conducting industry research, first look at a company’s primary industry. Once you understand this industry, you can also identify related industries. 

Watch the video below to learn about: 

• industry reports and the information they can provide 
• types of information you may need to find 
• classification codes and related industries. 

Where to find industry information

See resource recommendations for industry information.

Consider industry competitors 

Industry research helps you understand the competitive landscape of a group of products or services. Identifying major players and key competitors within an industry is vital to strategic planning and benchmarking a company’s success. 

It’s also worth considering the competitors a company might have outside of its own industry. Think about the other products, services or resources that may fulfil your consumers’ needs, desires and lifestyle. 

Read more about finding consumer information.

Country information 

Country information in this context relates to research done before investing or doing business in another country. 

As part of this research, you may need to find information about a country’s economic system and political environment, regulations, business practices, culture and various risk factors. 

Where to find country information 

Look through our list of country information resources for where to find country reports, profiles and analyses, statistics, and trade and export information.