Key Business Ratios on the Web (KBR) presents industry benchmarks compiled from Dun & Bradstreet's database of public and private companies, featuring 14 key business ratios, including solvency, efficiency, and profitability for hundreds of types of businesses. Data is searchable by SIC and NAICS codes, type of business, asset range, and year. Other features include the creation of mapping, downloadable reports, and customer/supplier profiles for a given company, as well as comparison of balance sheets with industry benchmarks. Search KBR Mergent Archives for access to historical industry benchmarks.
Use the guide below for instructions on researching industries and businesses through KBR.
Step 1:
To begin your research of ratios, go to Key Business Ratios on the Web (KBR). Once you have arrived, click on the Ratios tab on the right side of the webpage.
Step 2:
Clicking on the Ratios tab will take you to another webpage, where you will enter into the NAICS field the NAICS code for the industry you are researching, for example, 44111: New Car Dealers.
Step 3:
In addition, KBR allows researchers to perform a deeper search of industries, by limiting the search by asset range and year. Researchers may find these two options next to the NAICS field.
Step 4:
Once you have decided the degree of granularity desired for this research, you may choose to view industry data based on solvency, efficiency, and profitability. Clicking on any of these tabs will reveal corresponding data.
Step 5:
KBR's preset result is Quick Ratio, which is the result of cash and accounts receivable divided by total current liabilities. KBR provides Quick Ratios with Upper, Median, and Lower values.
Step 6:
If the Quick Ratio is what you need for your research, click on the report that matches your needs. The result is a number of tables that break down an industry, for example, 44111: New Car Dealers, into quartile data, such as solvency, efficiency, and profitability. KBR also provides the option of altering the tables into charts.
Step 7:
To ensure a robust and accurate report, researchers should peruse this entire record provided through KBR before concluding the analysis.