Competitive/Comparative Financial Analysis Using S&P's Research Insight Database
This guide outlines a research strategy for obtaining competitive/comparative financial data for a set of companies utilizing the Research Insight database.
Standard & Poor's Research Insight Database
(MCOB Lab Use - Business Students & Faculty Only)
Standard & Poor's Research Insight database is a well-known & powerful financial analysis software and database program combined. Under an academic subscription, the company provides 20 years of annual data, 12 years of quarterly data, 7 years of business and geographic segment data, and 240 months of stock prices and dividend data for approximately 16,000 active and inactive companies. It is updated quarterly or 4 times a year.
S&P Research Insight is available for use in the MCOB Labs. If you are a first time user, please ask for assistance by contacting Deborah Harrington (251-460-7998) to set up an appointment.
S&P RI Manuals are now available on the Web in PDF Format. To learn the basics of the system, which includes more information on how to run preformatted reports such as the ones outlined below, refer to the 'Getting Started Guide'.
I. To compare the financial performance of a group of companies, first create a set file that can only be used in Research Insight. Set files can be created in one of two ways as indicated below.
Screen the database for current companies with the same SIC Code:
Creating Sets (Publisher File)
- From the left toolbar menu, click on the 4th button from the bottom 'Open Screen'.
- Highlight the open screen 'Find Matching Companies by SIC' and click 'Finish' at the bottom.
- A box that helps you enter data to run the report will appear on the screen. Enter the ticker symbol and click 'OK' at the bottom of the screen.
- When the set appears, review the list of companies. Delete companies not wanted by highlighting the company name on the left and clicking remove company. To add a company to the set, enter the ticker symbol to the top right 'Add company to set' and click on 'Add Company'.
- When you are finished reviewing the list, click on the 'Save As' button under 'Save Set' in the middle of the box. Name your file as a .set file.
Compile a customized list:
- From the left toolbar menu, click on the 1st button from the bottom 'Open Set'.
- Click on 'New Set', Select 'Company' as the set type and click OK at the bottom.
- Either enter ticker symbols or use the 'LookUp' button at the top of the screen to locate ticker symbols.
- When you are finished reviewing the list, use the File pull-down menu at the top of the screen and click on 'Save As'. Name your file as a .set file.
Back To Top
II. The following competitive/comparative reports may be useful in your analysis. Use the set file for those reports that have ... 'for a user defined set' ... as part of the title. You may also include other comparative reports which are run for 6 companies at a time for one year (just enter the ticker symbols for those companies and select the time period needed).
Locating Predefined Reports (Publisher File)
- From the left toolbar menu, click on the 3rd button from the bottom 'Open Report' .
- Scroll down the list of folders and click on any of the following folders.
Under the 'Sector & Industry Reports' topic folder: (1) Annual Balance Sheet for a User-Defined Set ; (2) Annual Income Statement for a User-Defined Set ; (3) Average Annual Balance Sheet for a User Defined Set ; (4) Average Annual Income Statement for a User-Defined Set ; (5) Average Annual Ratio for a User-Defined Set ; and (6) Financial Summary including Industry Comparison.
Under the 'Comparative Reports' topic folder: (1) Comparative Annual Balance Sheet [6 companies for 1 year at a time] ; (2) Comparative Annual Income Statement [6 companies for 1 year at a time]; (3) Comparative Annual Ratio [6 companies for 1 year at a time] ; (4) Comparative Average Composite Annual Balance Sheet for a User-Defined Set; (5) Comparative Average Composite Annual Income Statement for a User-Defined Set ; (6) Comparative Common Size Annual Balance Sheet for a User Defined Set ; (7) Comparative Common Size Income Statement for a User-Defined Set.
- Highlight the report you wish to run and click 'Finish' at the bottom.
- Choose the time period needed, current will get the latest year. If you need another year, click on 'Select' and then 'Absolute' and then choose your year.
- Next, Click in the 'Set' box and click on 'Lookup'. Then click on 'Sets' and the browse button. Locate your saved .set file, click 'Close' and then click on 'OK'.
- When the report appears, click the print button.
To save your report for use in Excel:
1. Pull down the 'File' menu at the top of the screen and select 'Save As'
2. Name file and saves as a .txt file
3. Click the button on the right 'Text Options'
4. Click on 'Comma' and 'Use Labels'
5. Click OK
6. Put disk in drive--choose--directory--OK
To open your file in Excel:
1. Open Excel
2. Use the 'File' pull-down menu and select 'Open'
3. Browse and locate drive and file name [see 'All Files]
4.
Choose, 'Delimited', then Next
5. Take the check mark off of 'Tab' and click on 'Comma', then Next
6. Click 'Finish'
7. Review Columns and Rows in Excel in comparison to your printout and adjust as needed.
Back To Top
III. The following competitive/comparative charts may also be useful in your analysis. Use the set file for those reports that have ... 'for a user defined set' ... as part of the title. Follow the publisher file for directions on how to enter the set file name.
Locating Predefined Charts (Publisher File)
- From the left toolbar menu, click on the 2nd button from the bottom 'Open Chart' .
- Scroll down the list of folders and click on any of the following folders.
Under the 'Fundamental' topic folder: Comparative Compound Growth- Sales 5 Yr
Under the 'Peer' topic folder: (1) Debt to Equity vs. Peer Companies; (2) Earnings Before Depreciation vs. Peer Set ; (3) Net Profit Margin vs. Peer Companies (Quartiled) ; (4) Return on Assets vs. Peer Set ; (5) Return on Average Equity vs. Peer Companies (Quartiled) and (6) Return on Equity vs. Peer Set.
- Highlight the report you wish to run and click 'Finish' at the bottom.
- A box that helps you enter data to run the report will appear on the screen. Enter your company's ticker symbol and click 'OK' at the bottom of the screen.
- Next, Click in the 'Enter Peer Set' box and click on 'Lookup'. Then click on 'Sets' and the browse button. Locate your saved .set file, click 'Close' and then click on 'OK'.
- When the chart appears, click the print button.
Back To Top
Last Updated: 7/22/07 DLH
