Introduction  Selecting a Company  Locating the Annual Report  Examining Financial Position
 Industry Comparison  Ratios  Ratings  Riskiness

Ratings

"A published ranking, based on detailed financial analysis of corporate/organizational financial history, specifically as it relates to the ability to meet debt obligations. The highest rating is usually AAA, and the lowest is D." 

Ratings Sources:

Morningstar
Morningstar's data reports cover more than 20,000 securities with historical data back to 1996.  Off-campus, sign in using your Gull Card barcode and last name. 

• Under 'Reports', enter a company's ticker or name and click on 'Go'.
• The left hand side menu provides several excellent options such as ratios, valuation ratios, and a Morningstar Rating.
• On the bottom of your company's page is a link to detailed financial information and a professional analyst review of your company. 
  
• Remember to click on 'End Session' at the top right to exit program.
• Morningstar is an suburb source for ratios.

 Standard & Poor's Research Insight Database
Access in the labs or in the library on campus only

To run a Company Highlights Report which will include S&P Credit Ratings:

• Click on the Company Highlights Report button (4th button on the left toolbar).
  
• When the run assistant box appears, type in the ticker symbol of the company in the 'Companies' text box & click on the 'OK' button at the bottom.


• S&P ratings will be listed on the left in the center of the report.
To locate explanations for the ratings, use the pull-down menu under 'Help' at the top of the screen and choose 'Data and Reference'.  When the indexes appear, click on the 'Find' tab and enter the term 'rating'.  When the results list appears, choose 'Short-term Issuer Credit Rating' and 'Long-term Issuer Credit Rating'.
• Note:  1-3 ratings are assigned per company.

ValueLine Database
 

• Click on the link to 'The ValueLine Investment Survey Online - Standard Edition.
  
• On the left toolbar, click on the link to 'Lookup Company'.


• Type in your company name or ticker symbol.

Want to learn more regarding how to read and interpret the reports?  See 'How to Use the Value Line Investment Survey Page.'

Gale Business Insights: Essentials  [10 seats shared with consortium]
 Provides  reports researched by leading stock analysts. 

• Click on the 'Company' icon from the main screen.


• Enter the company name or ticker symbol, choose 'ultimate parent', and click the 'search' button at the bottom of the screen.
• At the top of the screen are various tabs to company information. Feel free to explore all tabs in addition to the Rankings tab. The Financials tab will provide ratios.