Clicking on any link below will take you to the applicable section of this research guide.
| Term | Definition |
| 8-K (Form 8-K) | A report filed by public companies with the SEC to notify shareholders of significant events that may impact the company's financial position. |
| 10-K (Form 10-K) | An annual report filed by public companies with the SEC, providing a comprehensive overview of the company's financial performance, risks, and management discussion. |
| 10-Q (Form 10-Q) | A quarterly report submitted by public companies to the SEC, summarizing financial results and disclosing key information between annual reports. |
| Annual Report | A comprehensive document, typically including financial statements and management analysis, summarizing a company's performance over the past year. (See 10-K). |
| Business Entity Search | A process to look up and retrieve information about a business entity conducted through state government databases which provides information such as a company's registered name, business status, registration date, registered agent, business address, and sometimes details about its officers or owners. |
| Case Study | An in-depth analysis of a particular business situation or problem, often used in business education to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. |
| Company Profile | A concise summary highlighting key information about a company, including its history, products, financials, and other relevant details. Availble through the Data Axle, Mergent and PrivCo in the Data Sources for Businesses section. |
| Corporation | A legal entity separate from its owners, offering limited liability to shareholders and often characterized by centralized management. |
| LLC | Limited Liability Corporation. A flexible business structure that combines elements of partnerships and corporations, providing limited liability to its owners (members). |
| NAICS | North American Industry Classification System. A standard system used to classify business establishments based on their primary economic activity. |
| Patent | A legal document granting exclusive rights to an inventor for a new and useful invention for a limited period. |
| Press Release | An official statement issued to the media to announce news, events, or updates about a company, often used for public relations and marketing. |
| Private Company | A company that is not publicly traded on stock exchanges and does not have shares available to the general public. |
| Public Company | Also known as a Publicly Traded Company. A company whose shares are traded on a stock exchange, allowing the public to buy and sell ownership stakes. |
| Regulatory Agency | A government body responsible for overseeing and enforcing regulations within a specific industry or sector. These agencies also publish a wealth of material about businesses in those industries and sectors. |
| SEC | United States Securities and Exchange Commission. A federal agency regulating the securities industry, enforcing securities laws, and overseeing financial markets. |
| SIC Code | Standard Industrial Classification Code. A system for classifying industries to facilitate the collection, analysis, and presentation of industry data. |
| Subsidiary | A company controlled by another company (parent company), often through ownership of a majority of its voting stock. |
| SWOT Analysis | An evaluation of a company's internal Strengths and Weaknesses, as well as external Opportunities and Threats, to inform strategic planning. |
| UCC Filing | Uniform Commercial Code Filing. A public notice filed to establish a creditor's security interest in personal property, often used in financing transactions. |