Having a basic understanding of the business and finance industry concepts will make you feel more comfortable and confident when you research and make your research easier to complete because you do not have to do additional research to understand the concept. It is imperative to understand the differences between industries, sectors, and segments so that when we research, we focus on the correct topic the client requested. For example, if a client wants to know about investment banking statistics, and we provide corporate banking statistics, the research will be useless to the client. Similarly, if a client asks for a market share and we give them market size, the client will ultimately be disappointed.
Below are some key business and finance concepts, but it is in no way an exhaustive list.
An annual report is a shorter version of the company’s 10-K filed with the SEC. The 10-K is longer but more thorough and contains less bias than an annual report.
Investopedia suggests that the easiest way to analyze an annual report is to look at items 1 (description of the company’s operations), then 6 (selected financial data), and 7 (discussion and analysis of the financial data). These sections will give you an overview of the company’s financial performance.
Annual reports contain a wealth of information, but sometimes locating that information can be difficult. One of the easiest ways to find information is to use CTRL + F and search for keywords or figures.
For a more detailed breakdown of how to read an annual report, please refer to this Investopedia primer.
A market size refers either to the maximum number of total sales or customers a business can expect. It is usually measured over the course of a year. It can also be called the total market value, total market size, or the serviceable addressable market (SAM).
“Market size is important for businesses, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals to understand because it provides insight into how much revenue can be generated within a given market. It also helps businesses understand their potential customer base and how much competition they may face.”
You can find more information on calculating market sizes [here](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/market-size#:~:text=Take your target market%2C and,to find your market size.) and here.