Expert: Art Young - 12/14/2000

Question
As a novice investor, I want to find a site that will let me research companies by industry, for example, I want to be able to click on "oil companies" and look at them. So far, I have been unable ot find anything of this nature. Any ideas? Thanks!

Answer
Hello Andy,

I think I can help.  I suggest that you visit Edgar Online (www.edgar-online.com).  You'll have to sign up for a free user account, but you'll be able to find what you're looking for there.

First, Edgar is the document agency of the SEC and it provides access to all SEC documents that public companies are required to file, such as the 10-Q (quarterly report) and 10-K (annual report).  These are important documents anyway, so this site will provide you with more info you'll need.

Once you get signed up, select the "Full Text Search" and enter your criteria.  I searched for "Annual Reports" for the last year in the Oil & Gas Operations industry.  That search return 231 report filings.  Unfortunately, the list is sorted by the date of the filing, so you'll have to scroll down the list.  And note that a company may have more than one filing here.

Good luck in your investing search.  I'd like to give you a subscription to my Personal Finance newsletter, which discusses various investing and money management topics every couple of weeks.  I'm writing the next issue now about the "January Effect," which predicts that stock prices fall in January and them rebound quickly.  Sign up by sending me an email at younga@mmzero-llc.com or signing up at my website, www.mmzero-llc.com/fp/ae.htm.

I hope to hear from you soon,
Art Young
Mile Marker Zero, LLC
younga@mmzero-llc.com
www.mmzero-llc.com/fp
864 325-6289