Business & Company Research Guide

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Introduction to Company Research

Welcome to the UC Law SF guide on company research! This resource is designed to help you, as a law student, navigate the complex world of corporate information. Whether you're preparing for a case, conducting due diligence, or simply expanding your knowledge, understanding how to effectively research companies is essential.

In this guide, we'll cover the key resources and strategies for gathering comprehensive information about companies. You'll learn how to access and utilize public registries, databases, and online tools to find company filings, land records, and court documents from around the globe. These skills will enable you to analyze a company's financial health, market position, and operational history with confidence.

Understanding Companies

Public vs. Private vs. Subsidiary

Public Companies

Ownership: Public companies are owned by shareholders who can buy and sell shares on public stock exchanges.

Disclosure: They are required to disclose financial and business information to the public, including quarterly earnings reports and other important data.

Examples: Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google are public companies.

Advantages: Access to capital markets for raising funds through the sale of stock or bonds.

Private Companies

Ownership: Private companies are owned by a small group of investors, such as the company's founders, management, or private investors.

Disclosure: They are not required to disclose financial information to the public.

Examples: Companies like Mars, Cargill, and Koch Industries are private companies.

Advantages: More control over business decisions and less regulatory scrutiny.

Subsidiary Companies

Definition: A subsidiary is a company that is controlled by another company, known as the parent company.

Ownership: The parent company owns more than 50% of the subsidiary's shares.

Disclosure: Subsidiaries may have to disclose financial information, depending on the regulations and the parent company's requirements.

Examples: Instagram is a subsidiary of Meta (formerly Facebook).

For more detailed information, you can check out these reliable sources:

News

General News Sources

U.S. News 

You can run a search for your specific topic in these general news sources.

Legal News

Company Profiles

Key Information Lawyers Look For In Company Profiles

  1. Company Overview: Basic details such as the company’s name, location, industry, and a brief description of its business activities.
  2. Financial Information: Detailed financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. They also look at financial ratios and performance metrics.
  3. Corporate Structure: Information on the organizational structure, including subsidiaries, affiliates, and any parent companies.
  4. Management and Governance: Profiles of key executives and board members, including their backgrounds, roles, and any interlocking directorates.
  5. Shareholder Information: Details on major shareholders, stock ownership, and any recent changes in ownership.
  6. Regulatory Compliance: Information on compliance with industry regulations, any past or ongoing regulatory issues, and relevant licenses and permits.
  7. Litigation and Lien History: Records of any past, pending, or potential litigation or liens involving the company. This may reveal regulatory compliance.
  8. Intellectual Property: Details on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and any pending IP litigation.(outside of the scope of this research guide).
  9. Contracts and Agreements: Key contracts, leases, and agreements that the company is a party to.
  10. Market Position and Competitors: Information on the company’s market position, key competitors, and market share.
  11. Recent News and Developments: Updates on recent news, press releases, and significant developments affecting the company.

Not all sources will provide all of this information, so you may have to look in multiple places.

Private Company Profiles

Investigating private companies, which are not listed on stock exchanges, presents numerous challenges. This task often demands a high level of ingenuity and persistence.

Unlike their public counterparts, private companies are not obligated to submit filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Therefore, the detailed information typically found in these filings is generally unavailable for private firms. However, there are two notable exceptions. First, if a private company has merged with or been acquired by a public company, the public entity might disclose details of the transaction in its SEC filings. Second, if a company transitioned from public to private, its previous SEC filings remain accessible and can be useful for a limited period.

The following sources and strategies may uncover additional information, however, for many private companies, it may be difficult to find more than just their name and location.

Many of the best sources are behind a paywall. eg. Pitchbook, FactSet, D&B Hoovers, and CapitalIQ, Westlaw Company Investigator. 

Some private companies will put some information on their website and you can find whatever information they have by Googling the company and examining the About page:

Google Web Search

Larger private companies may have more financial information on their websites:

Google Web Search
Google Web Search
Free Web Sources

For the company address and names of officers, try:

State Filing Offices

In the U.S., corporations are generally registered with the Secretary of State's office in the state where they are incorporated. You may be able to find the address of the company and the registered agent for free online by searching in something like a Business Entities database (each State is different). The charter is usually a public document filed with this office. So if you want corporate governance information:

  • You can often search for business filings online through the Secretary of State's website for the relevant state. 
  • Some states might charge a fee to access or obtain copies of these documents.
Subscription Sources

With an SFPL card, you can also access much more comprehensive company profiles that you can build, that include financial details, names of officers, family trees (showing subsidiaries and parents) and industry details:

Public Company Profiles

Public companies, which are listed on U.S. stock exchanges, are generally easier to research compared to private firms due to regulatory requirements. Key information is often accessible via the company's Investor Relations page, various websites, or through specialized subscription databases.

Free Web Sources
If you just need the address of the company and the names of the officers, try:

You can find a lot of free information, including financial information and you can pull data like the stock prices during a certain time period, using:

Subscription Sources for Company Profiles
San Francisco Public Library Databases

Company directories and databases provide information beyond what's on a company's own website, like details on competitors and sales figures. Resources like Mergent Intellect and Mergent Online are useful for this, allowing customized searches by location, industry, and company type, and even letting users download specific data.

San Francisco Public Library cardholders can access these in-depth company profiles, which they can customize, and which include financials, leadership details, corporate family trees, industry information, and SEC filings.

SEC Filings for Corporate Governance Documents

If the company is publicly traded in the United States, its charter (usually called "Articles of Incorporation") and sometimes its bylaws are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

  • Search for the company by name or ticker symbol.
  • Look for filings like Form S-1 (for new companies) or Form 10-K (annual report). These often include the charter as an exhibit.
  • Bylaws might be harder to find, but sometimes they are also included as exhibits.
  • Using Westlaw's library of expert generated searches is the easiest way to do this research.

Subsidiaries

Value of Subsidiary Information to Lawyers

  1. Legal Compliance and Risk Management: Understanding the structure of a company, including its subsidiaries, helps lawyers ensure that the company complies with various legal and regulatory requirements. It also aids in identifying potential legal risks and liabilities associated with the subsidiaries.
  2. Due Diligence: In mergers and acquisitions, lawyers need to conduct thorough due diligence to assess the financial health, legal standing, and potential liabilities of the target company's subsidiaries. This helps in making informed decisions and negotiating better terms.
  3. Corporate Governance: Lawyers advise on corporate governance matters, including the roles and responsibilities of the parent company and its subsidiaries. This ensures that the subsidiaries operate in alignment with the parent company's policies and objectives.
  4. Litigation and Dispute Resolution: In legal disputes, knowing the relationships between parent companies and their subsidiaries can be critical. It helps in determining the appropriate parties to involve in litigation and understanding the extent of liability.
  5. Contractual Agreements: Lawyers draft and review contracts that may involve subsidiaries. Knowing the structure and control of subsidiaries ensures that contracts are accurately tailored to the business relationships and obligations.

How Lawyers Identify Subsidiaries

  1. Public Filings and Reports: Lawyers can review public filings such as SEC filings (e.g., 10-K, 10-Q) which often list subsidiaries. These documents are available on the SEC's EDGAR database.
  2. Company Websites: The Investor Relations section of a company's website may provide information about its subsidiaries.
  3. Business Databases: Subscription-based databases like Capital IQ, FactSet, and D&B Hoovers provide detailed information on companies and their subsidiaries. UC Law SF does not have direct access to these databases, however Westlaw, Bloomberg Law and Lexis all have access to SEC filings with a list of subsidaries.
  4. Corporate Records: Lawyers can access corporate records from the Office of the Secretary of State or similar regulatory bodies, which may list subsidiaries.
Private Companies

Since private companies do not provide information to the SEC, you may be able to find information on their subsidiaries using Mergent Intellect which is a database that is made available to all CA residents by the San Francisco Public Library. You will need a library card to access it.

Start-up Information

Why Attorneys Need Information About Startups:

  1. Legal Representation: Attorneys may represent startups in various legal matters, such as entity formation, intellectual property protection, and contract negotiations.

  2. Investment and Financing: Attorneys may assist startups in securing funding from venture capitalists, angel investors, or private equity firms.

  3. Compliance and Regulatory Guidance: Startups often need help navigating complex regulatory environments, and attorneys can provide guidance on compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

  4. Risk Management: Attorneys help startups identify and mitigate potential legal risks, such as liability issues and litigation prevention.

  5. Mergers and Acquisitions: Attorneys may be involved in advising startups on mergers, acquisitions, or other strategic business moves.


Information Attorneys Would Want:

  1. Business Structure: Details about the startup's legal structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC).

  2. Ownership and Equity: Information on the ownership and equity distribution among founders, investors, and other stakeholders.

  3. Financial Information: Financial statements, funding history, and projections to understand the startup's financial health.

  4. Regulatory Compliance: Information on compliance with industry-specific regulations and any pending legal issues.


How Attorneys Find This Information:

  1. Document Review: Attorneys review key documents, such as charters and bylaws filed with the State Secretary. These may be behind a paywall.

  2. Third-Party Reports: Attorneys may request reports from accountants, auditors, or other third-party professionals involved with the startup.

  3. Public Records and Litigation: Attorneys may search public records (available on Westlaw and Lexis, but not with an academic subscription) for information on the startup's ownership, and outstanding liens. Litigation history can be found in any database that has U.S. court dockets, eg. Westlaw, Courtlink (on Lexis) and Blomberg Law.

  4. Subscription Databases (Not available through UC Law SF):

    • Crunchbase: Crunchbase is a comprehensive database that provides information about companies, their funding history, key personnel, and industry trends. It's particularly useful for discovering new startups, tracking funding rounds, and analyzing market trends. Attorneys can use Crunchbase to quickly get an overview of a startup's background, recent activities, and investment details. (Basic profile information is available for free).

    • PitchBook: PitchBook is a leading provider of data, research, and insights for venture capital, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It offers extensive datasets on companies, investors, deals, funds, and financials. PitchBook provides detailed information on private and public market transactions, including deal structures, valuations, and investor track records. Attorneys use PitchBook to conduct thorough due diligence, source deals, and perform in-depth market analysis.

By leveraging these tools, attorneys can provide comprehensive legal advice and representation to help startups navigate the complex legal landscape and achieve their business goals.

Basic Profile Information
Request Incorporation Documents

(Check Delaware, companies often incorporate there primarily)

Litigation

Databases are listed in order of ease of use for this task.

Company Financials

Why Lawyers Want Company Financials

  1. Case Preparation: Financial statements provide crucial evidence in legal cases, helping lawyers understand the financial health and operations of a company.
  2. Due Diligence: In mergers and acquisitions, lawyers need to review financials to assess the value and risks associated with a transaction.
  3. Compliance and Regulatory Issues: Lawyers ensure that companies comply with financial regulations and standards, which requires a thorough understanding of their financials.
  4. Litigation Support: Financial data can be used to support claims or defenses in court, such as in cases of fraud, bankruptcy, or shareholder disputes.

Information Needed from Company Financials

  1. Income Statements: To analyze a company's profitability over a specific period.
  2. Balance Sheets: To understand the company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a given point in time.
  3. Cash Flow Statements: To track the flow of cash in and out of the company, which is crucial for assessing liquidity and financial stability.
  4. Notes to Financial Statements: These provide additional context and details about the financial data, including accounting policies and potential liabilities.

How Lawyers Find Company Financials

  1. Public Filings: For publicly traded companies, financial statements are often available through regulatory bodies like the SEC's EDGAR database.
  2. Company Websites: Many companies publish their financial reports in the investor relations section of their websites.

You can run a basic Web search for the company name and Investor Relations:

Google Web Search
  1. Financial Databases: Platforms like S&P CapitalIQ, D&B Hoovers and FactSet provide comprehensive financial data and reports. These subscription databases are not available at UC Law SF, however, we do have access to Bloomberg Law, which provides some company financials in their Company Profiles. We also have access to Reuters Knowledge Direct, in Lexis, which provides detailed financial statements about the company.

You can get a lot of financial information for free from these websites:

  1. SEC filings that provide information on company financials:
    • Form 10-K: This is an annual report that provides a comprehensive overview of a company's business and financial condition, including audited financial statements.
    • Form 10-Q: This is a quarterly report that includes unaudited financial statements and provides a continuing view of the company's financial position during the year.
    • Form 8-K: This form is used to report significant events that shareholders should know about, such as acquisitions, bankruptcy, or changes in executive management. It often includes financial information related to these events.
    • Proxy Statements (Form DEF 14A): These are filed in advance of shareholder meetings and can include financial information, especially regarding executive compensation and other significant financial matters.
    • Form S-1: This is used for initial public offerings (IPOs) and includes detailed financial information about the company seeking to go public.
    • Form S-3: This form is used for secondary offerings and also includes financial statements and other relevant financial data.

SFPL Databases

The main difference between these two databases seems to be formatting. The family tree portal on Intellect seems to be less accurate, because it refers to individual stores as members of the family tree, whereas Mergent Online gives you the corporate family tree. However, for private companies, Mergent Intellect provides a family tree, whereas Mergent Online likely will not. 

The information about executive compensation is clearer, more comprehensive and possibly more up to date on Mergent Intellect. For executives of public companies, in Mergent Intellect, you can easily see and compare the base salary as well as the bonuses and stock awards from the previous year. Mergent Online's data is generally older and more difficult to review. There seem to be many more individual employees listed in Mergent Intellect versus Mergent Online. The main benefit of Mergent Online is that it provides more options for predefined reports on the companies with the caveat that some of the data in the reports may be older than the report that you can pull from Mergent Intellect.

SEC Filings

Value of SEC Filings to Lawyers

  1. Regulatory Compliance:
    • Lawyers use SEC filings to ensure their clients comply with federal securities laws, such as the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
    • They review filings to confirm that clients are disclosing required information accurately and timely.
  2. Due Diligence:
    • In transactions like mergers, acquisitions, or financings, lawyers analyze SEC filings to assess the financial health, legal risks, and operational performance of a company.
    • Filings provide insights into a company’s liabilities, litigation risks, and material contracts.
  3. Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
    • Lawyers use SEC filings to gather evidence in securities litigation, shareholder disputes, or regulatory investigations.
    • Discrepancies or omissions in filings can be grounds for lawsuits or enforcement actions.
  4. Corporate Governance:
    • Filings such as proxy statements (DEF 14A) provide details on executive compensation, board composition, and shareholder proposals, which are critical for advising on governance matters.
  5. Market Intelligence:
    • Lawyers monitor competitors’ or clients’ SEC filings to stay informed about industry trends, strategic moves, or potential risks.
  6. Client Advisory:
    • Lawyers use SEC filings to advise clients on disclosure obligations, insider trading policies, and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) or Dodd-Frank requirements.

Key Information Lawyers Look for in SEC Filings

  1. Form 10-K (Annual Report):
    • Financial statements (audited): Revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and cash flow.
    • Risk factors: Legal, operational, and market risks.
    • Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A): Insights into financial performance and future outlook.
    • Legal proceedings: Ongoing litigation or regulatory actions.
    • Related-party transactions: Potential conflicts of interest.
  2. Form 10-Q (Quarterly Report):
    • Quarterly financial performance and updates on material changes.
    • Disclosure of new legal or regulatory issues.
  3. Form 8-K (Current Report):
    • Material events such as mergers, acquisitions, executive changes, or bankruptcies.
    • Updates on litigation, regulatory actions, or financial restatements.
  4. Proxy Statements (DEF 14A):
    • Executive compensation: Salaries, bonuses, stock options, and other benefits.
    • Board of directors: Composition, independence, and committee assignments.
    • Shareholder proposals and voting matters.
  5. Form S-1 (Registration Statement):
    • Details about a company’s initial public offering (IPO), including business model, financials, and risk factors.
    • Use of proceeds from the offering.
  6. Form 4 and Form 5 (Insider Transactions):
    • Trades by company insiders (e.g., executives, directors) to monitor potential insider trading or conflicts of interest.
  7. Form 13F (Institutional Investment Holdings):
    • Holdings of institutional investors, which can indicate market sentiment or trends.
  8. Schedule 13D and 13G (Beneficial Ownership):
    • Information about significant shareholders and potential activist investors.
  9. Form 20-F (Foreign Private Issuers):
    • Similar to a 10-K but for non-U.S. companies listed on U.S. exchanges.
  10. Exhibits and Attachments:
    • Material contracts, bylaws, and other legal documents that provide context for a company’s operations and obligations.

Practical Applications for Lawyers

  • Transactional Work: Lawyers use SEC filings to structure deals, negotiate terms, and identify potential liabilities.
  • Enforcement Defense: Lawyers defend clients against SEC enforcement actions by analyzing filings for compliance with disclosure requirements.
  • Shareholder Advocacy: Lawyers representing shareholders use filings to identify governance issues or potential breaches of fiduciary duty.
  • Regulatory Advice: Lawyers help clients navigate complex SEC rules and ensure accurate and timely filings.

In summary, SEC filings are a treasure trove of information for U.S. lawyers, enabling them to provide informed legal advice, ensure compliance, and protect their clients’ interests in a wide range of contexts.

Some of the best sources for SEC Filings, from the most to least user-friendly search interfaces are:

Earnings Call Transcripts

What are Earnings Call Transcripts

Earnings call transcripts are written records of the conversations that take place during a company's quarterly or annual earnings calls. These calls are typically held between a company's management team (CEO, CFO, etc.) and analysts, investors, and other interested parties.

  1. What happens on an earnings call? During the call, management discusses the company's financial performance for the period (quarter or year), highlights key achievements and challenges, and often provides some outlook or guidance for the future. Analysts then have the opportunity to ask questions of management.

  2. What's in a transcript? The transcript captures the entire conversation, word for word. It includes:

    • Opening remarks from management
    • Presentation of financial results
    • Q&A session between analysts and management
    • Closing remarks

Earnings call transcripts are a key source of information for anyone interested in understanding a publicly traded company's financial performance and management's outlook. They offer a more detailed and nuanced view than just looking at the raw financial numbers.

Value to Lawyers

Earnings call transcripts can be highly valuable to lawyers for several reasons:

  1. Regulatory Compliance: Lawyers use these transcripts to ensure that companies are complying with securities laws and regulations. They look for any statements that might indicate misleading or incomplete disclosures.

  2. Litigation Support: In cases of securities litigation, earnings call transcripts can provide evidence of what was communicated to investors and analysts. Lawyers analyze these transcripts to identify any discrepancies or misleading statements that could support their case.

  3. Mergers and Acquisitions: During M&A activities, lawyers review earnings call transcripts to understand the financial health and strategic direction of the companies involved. This helps in assessing the value and potential risks of the transaction.

  4. Corporate Governance: Lawyers examine these transcripts to evaluate the effectiveness of a company’s governance practices. They look for insights into management’s decision-making processes and how they communicate with stakeholders.

  5. Intellectual Property: Transcripts can reveal information about a company’s R&D activities, new product developments, and strategic initiatives, which can be relevant in intellectual property cases.

Where to Find Earnings Call Transcripts

  1. Company Websites: Many publicly traded companies post their earnings call transcripts on their investor relations pages.
  1. FD (Fair Disclosure) Wire: This source contains event briefs and transcripts of analyst calls to executives of publicly traded companies.
  1. Financial News Websites providing Earnings Call Transcripts:

Mergers and Acquisitions

Information Attorneys Need About Mergers and Acquisitions

  1. Company Financials: Detailed financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  2. Corporate Structure: Information on the organizational structure, including subsidiaries and affiliates.
  3. Contracts and Agreements: Existing contracts, leases, and agreements that the target company is a party to.
  4. Intellectual Property: Details on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and any pending IP litigation. (outside of the scope of this research guide).
  5. Regulatory Compliance: Information on compliance with industry regulations and any past or ongoing regulatory issues.
  6. Employee Information: Details on employee contracts, benefits, and any labor disputes.
  7. Litigation History: Information on any past, pending, or potential litigation involving the target company.

Key Documents Used

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI): Outlines the preliminary agreement between the buyer and seller.
  2. Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Ensures confidentiality of shared information during the due diligence process.
  3. Due Diligence Checklist: A comprehensive list of documents and information needed for thorough investigation.
  4. Purchase Agreement: The main contract detailing the terms and conditions of the sale.
  5. Employment Agreements: Contracts for key employees to ensure their retention post-acquisition.
  6. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements: Protect the value of the acquired business by restricting competition from the seller.
  7. Consents and Approvals: Necessary approvals from relevant parties, including shareholders and regulatory bodies.

Databases and Websites

Deal Information
  1. PitchBook: Provides detailed information on M&A deals, including deal structure, participants, and financials. This is a subscription database, not available at UC Law SF.
  2. Deal Point Data: Offers comprehensive information on merger agreements, corporate governance, IPOs, high yield debt covenants, spin-offs, and proxy fights. This is a subscription database, not available at UC Law SF.
  3. The Deal: Provides in-depth coverage and analysis of M&A activities, including deal announcements, market trends, deal structures, and rankings of financial and legal advisors. This is a subscription database, not available at UC Law SF.

Since UC Law SF does not have databases that specifically focus on M&A deals, you may need to research news sources for announcements of deals.

 
Document Templates & Sample Documents
  1. LexisNexis Practical Guidance and Westlaw Practical Law: Offer access to a wide range of legal documents, cases, and analysis relevant to M&A.
  1. Any SEC filings database: These will have some of the key documents listed above, but rarely have the M&A agreements themselves.

How to Research Deals

These two short YouTube videos provide more context on how to use the available resources to find information on deals.

Research Analyst Reports

What are Research Analyst Reports?

Research analyst reports, also known as equity research reports or investment reports, are in-depth analyses of a company, industry, or market, prepared by financial analysts. These reports are typically produced by investment banks, brokerage firms, or independent research firms. They are intended to provide investors with information and insights to help them make investment decisions.  

Here's a breakdown of what they are and why they're important:

  • Who creates them? Financial analysts, who specialize in a particular industry or sector, create these reports. They conduct extensive research, including analyzing financial statements, meeting with company management, and studying industry trends.  

  • What's included in a report? A typical research analyst report might include:

    1. Company overview: A description of the company's business, products/services, and competitive landscape.  
    2. Financial analysis: An examination of the company's financial statements, including key ratios, profitability, and cash flow.  
    3. Valuation: An estimate of the company's intrinsic value, often using various valuation methods (e.g., discounted cash flow, price-to-earnings ratio).  
    4. Investment recommendation: The analyst's opinion on whether to buy, hold, or sell the company's stock. This is often accompanied by a price target.  
    5. Risk assessment: An evaluation of the potential risks and challenges facing the company.  
    6. Industry analysis: An overview of the industry the company operates in, including market trends, growth prospects, and competitive dynamics.
    7. Peer comparison: An analysis of how the company compares to its competitors.

Why Lawyers Want Analyst Reports

  1. Case Preparation: Analyst reports can provide detailed industry analysis, financial data, and market trends that are crucial for building strong cases, especially in corporate litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law.
  2. Risk Assessment: These reports help lawyers assess potential risks by analyzing historical patterns and predicting future trends, which is essential for advising clients on legal risks and compliance issues.
  3. Expert Testimony: Lawyers may use data from analyst reports to support expert testimony, providing a solid foundation for arguments in court.
  4. Negotiation Leverage: Having comprehensive market and financial data can give lawyers an edge in negotiations, helping them to secure better outcomes for their clients.

Information Needed from Analyst Reports

  1. Financial Performance: Data on a company's financial health, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and stock price charts.
  2. Market Trends: Insights into industry trends, market conditions, and competitive landscape.
  3. Company Analysis: Detailed analysis of a company's operations, management, and strategic direction.
    • Business overview, including industry and competitive landscape.
    • Financial analysis, assessing the company's financial health.
    • Evaluation of the company's competitive advantages.
  4. Investment Outlook:
    • Analysts' estimate of the company's intrinsic value.
    • Proprietary stock ratings indicating undervaluation, overvaluation, or fair valuation.
    • Buy, hold, or sell recommendations.

How Lawyers Find Analyst Reports

  • Financial Databases: Platforms like CapitalIQ, D&B Hoovers, Pitchbook, and FactSet provide access to a wide range of analyst reports.  These are not available at UC Law SF, and even the Westlaw Investext reports are not available to academic users. However there is one subscription resources that is available: 

If you are willing to pay for reports, they are available on:

Research Guides

Other Research Guides to Finding Business & Company Information