Check imports, formulas, historical comparisons and saved work before choosing software for your company research.
01 / Research guidesDefine what the software should automate
Free stock analysis software can collect figures, calculate ratios or organize notes. Describe the inputs, checks and output first. A feature list does not explain where your intended task ends or what would count as a reliable result.
A spreadsheet is flexible but requires control over formulas. A specialized interface can simplify repeated steps while using definitions that differ from yours. Compare both approaches with a small research task and identify the mistakes you want the software to help prevent.
02 / Research guidesSeparate original data from calculations
Start with company, security identifier, exchange, currency, period, unit and source link. Keep original values separate from your calculations. You can then update a report without losing the meaning of an earlier result.
Document the numerator and denominator of each ratio. Do not combine annual earnings with quarterly revenue. Treat a blank input as missing information rather than zero. That distinction needs to remain visible in derived results so that automatic filling does not create an unsupported conclusion.
03 / Research guidesCheck imports with a small sample
Import a small file before loading a large collection. Check decimal marks, thousands separators, dates and currencies. The text “1.250” can be interpreted differently depending on the format. Compare several rows directly with the source before expanding the process.
Identify which fields update automatically and which were entered manually. Retain a change record. An update should not turn your hypothesis into a source value or overwrite a research note without making that change apparent.
04 / Research guidesBuild consistent historical comparisons
Review fiscal-year length, segments and corporate changes before interpreting a trend. An acquisition may change the comparison base. Record discontinuities next to the series so that they are not automatically read as organic growth.
For prices, identify the adjustment treatment for corporate actions. Avoid mixing currencies or share classes without explaining how you handled them. A short, verified series can be a more useful starting point than a long history whose definitions you do not know.
05 / Research guidesTest whether you can retain the work
Save a trial analysis, close the tool and open it again. Confirm that sources and formulas remain understandable. If you work across devices, test synchronization explicitly rather than assuming it comes with an account.
Distinguish free access, exports and data-reuse permissions. Finoberg is developing a web research workspace; this article does not promise bulk downloads or a formula editor. Evaluate currently available functions and add another tool when you can identify the specific gap it fills.
Frequently asked questions
Can I begin with a spreadsheet?
Yes, for a small, defined process with documented sources, consistent periods and checked formulas.
Should everything be automated immediately?
Begin with a verified sample. Expand once you understand the inputs, definitions and handling of missing data or errors.
Explore a research workspace
Finoberg’s English-language terminal is in development. Explore the available features and verify coverage for your research.
Open terminal ↗- Investor.gov — EDGAR research
- SEC — Financial statements guide
- Bundesbank — Statistical time series
- ECB — Data Portal
1 November 2026. Finoberg is independent of Bloomberg L.P. These guides explain research methods; they do not promise a complete, permanently free data service.