Here’s a complete, ready-to-use Company Research Report template designed specifically for Microsoft Word, with formatting instructions and content prompts for each section.

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Quick Setup Instructions (Word Formatting)

Before you start writing, set up these Word features to save time:

1. Apply Heading Styles: Use Word’s built-in "Heading 1," "Heading 2," and "Heading 3" for all section titles. This auto-generates a Table of Contents (References > Table of Contents).
2. Insert a Cover Page: Insert > Cover Page > select "Facet" or "Ion" (professional, clean designs).
3. Headers/Footers: Insert > Header > Blank. Add "[Company Name] Research Report" left-aligned, page numbers right-aligned.
4. Styles for Body Text: Modify "Normal" style to 11pt Calibri, 1.15 line spacing, 6pt after paragraph.

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The Template Structure

[COVER PAGE]

[Company Name] Investment Research Report
Ticker: [SYMBOL]
Date: [Month DD, YYYY]
Analyst: [Your Name]
Rating: [Buy/Hold/Sell]
Price Target: $[XX.XX]

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

(1 page max | Heading 1)

Investment Thesis:
[One compelling sentence on why this company is interesting. E.g., "Dominant market share in EV charging infrastructure positioned to benefit from 2030 ICE vehicle bans."]

Key Metrics Snapshot:

Recommendation: [Buy/Hold/Sell] – **[Price Target $XX]** vs. Current Price$XX
Time Horizon: [12-18 months]
Risk Level: [Low/Medium/High]

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2. COMPANY OVERVIEW

(Heading 1)

Business Model:

• Primary Revenue Streams: [e.g., Subscription SaaS (60%), Professional Services (25%), Licensing (15%)]
• Geographic Presence: [% North America, % EMEA, % APAC]
• Customer Concentration: [Top 3 clients = X% of revenue?]

History & Milestones:

• Founded: [Year]
• IPO/Significant Events: [Date, Price, Key pivots]
• Recent Strategic Shifts: [M&A activity, divestitures]

Corporate Structure:

• Headquarters: [City, Country]
• Employees: [XX,000]
• CEO Tenure: [Name, Years in Role, Previous Experience]

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3. INDUSTRY & MARKET ANALYSIS

(Heading 1)

Total Addressable Market (TAM):

• Current Market Size: $[XX] Billion (CAGR: X%)
• Serviceable Available Market (SAM): $[XX] Billion
• Growth Drivers: [e.g., Digital transformation, regulatory changes, demographic shifts]

Competitive Landscape:
(Insert SmartArt or Table)

Competitive Moat: [Network effects, switching costs, brand equity, patents]

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4. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

(Heading 1)

4.1 Income Statement Trends (Heading 2)

• Revenue Growth (3-yr avg): XX%
• EBITDA Margin Trend: [Improving/Declining/Stable]
• EPS Growth: [CAGR analysis]

Insert Excel-linked chart: Revenue & Net Income (5-year trend)

4.2 Balance Sheet Health (Heading 2)

• Liquidity: Current Ratio (X.X) vs. Industry (X.X)
• Leverage: Debt/Equity analysis
• Working Capital: Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), Inventory turns

4.3 Cash Flow Analysis (Heading 2)

• FCF Yield: X.X%
• Capex Intensity: [Maintenance vs. Growth capex split]
• Capital Allocation: [Dividend policy, buyback history, reinvestment rate]

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5. SWOT ANALYSIS

(Heading 1 | Use Word Table: 2x2 Grid)

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6. MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

(Heading 1)

Leadership Quality:

• CEO Track Record: [Previous exits, capital allocation history]
• Insider Ownership: [X% of shares held by management]
• Board Composition: [Independence ratio, relevant expertise gaps]

Corporate Governance Red Flags/Green Flags:

• [✓] Auditor: [Big 4/reputable]
• [⚠] Related-party transactions: [Details if any]
• [✓] ESG Rating: [MSCI/Sustainalytics score]

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7. VALUATION

(Heading 1)

Methodology: [DCF / Comparable Companies / Precedent Transactions]

DCF Assumptions:

• WACC: X.X%
• Terminal Growth: X%
• Forecast Period: 5 years

Valuation Summary:

Price Target Derivation: $[XX.XX] ([Upside/Downside]% from current)

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8. RISK FACTORS

(Heading 1)

Quantified Risks:

1. Execution Risk: [Probability: Medium | Impact: High] – New product launch delays
2. Macro Sensitivity: [Beta: X.X] – Interest rate exposure
3. Regulatory Risk: [Pending legislation impact]

Bull vs. Bear Case Scenarios:

• Bull Case ($XX): [Best-case assumptions]
• Base Case ($XX): [Most likely scenario]
• Bear Case ($XX): [What breaks the thesis]

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9. INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATION

(Heading 1)

Action: [Buy/Hold/Sell]
Position Sizing: [X% of portfolio max]
Entry Strategy: [Accumulate on dips to $X, or Buy at current levels] Catalysts to Watch: [Earnings dates, product launches, regulatory decisions] Stop Loss/Exit Criteria: [If X happens, thesis breaks]

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APPENDICES (Heading 1)

• A: Financial Statements (3-year history)
• B: Detailed DCF Model
• C: Management Interview Transcripts
• D: Industry Data Sources

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Pro Tips for Word Efficiency

1. Insert Auto-Text for repetitive phrases: Select text > Insert > Quick Parts > AutoText > Save Selection. Use for "Forward-Looking Statements" disclaimers.
2. Link Excel Charts: Copy chart from Excel > Paste Special > Paste Link (Microsoft Excel Chart Object). Updates automatically when you refresh data.
3. Compare Documents: If updating quarterly, use Review > Compare to highlight changes from your previous report.
4. Restrict Editing: Before sharing, Developer > Restrict Editing > Allow only "Filling in forms" to prevent accidental formatting changes.

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Next Steps to Customize This

To help you fill this out effectively, tell me:

1. What type of company are you researching? (Public/Private, Startup/Blue-chip, specific industry?) – I can provide sector-specific metrics to include.
2. Who is the audience? (Investment committee, academic professor, internal strategy team?) – This changes the tone and depth of financial analysis needed.
3. Do you need the Excel DCF model to accompany this, or just the qualitative framework?

Or, if you want me to expand any specific section (like how to calculate WACC for the Valuation section, or what questions to ask during management interviews), just let me know which part you’re tackling first.

To create a professional and actionable company research report in Microsoft Word, you need a structure that balances high-level insights with granular data.

Follow this step-by-step guide to build your report from scratch.

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Step 1: Set Up the Document Framework

Before typing content, set up the Word environment to ensure consistent formatting.

1. Use Styles for Navigation: Use Heading 1 for major sections and Heading 2 for sub-sections. This allows you to generate an automatic Table of Contents.
2. Insert a Cover Page: Go to Insert > Cover Page. Include the Company Name, the Date, and "Confidential" or "Internal Use Only" if applicable.
3. Add a Table of Contents: Go to References > Table of Contents. This should be on the second page.

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Step 2: The Core Report Structure

Copy and paste these headers into your document to serve as your template.

1. Executive Summary

• The "Bottom Line": A 3–5 sentence summary of the company’s current status.
• Key Finding: Your primary takeaway (e.g., "The company is positioned for growth in the AI sector but faces liquidity risks").
• Investment/Action Rating: (e.g., Buy, Sell, Hold, or Partner/Don't Partner).

2. Company Profile

• Business Model: How do they make money?
• Key Leadership: Note the CEO and any recent management changes.
• Ownership Structure: Is it public (ticker symbol), private, or PE-backed?

3. Market & Industry Analysis

• Market Share: Where do they stand against competitors?
• Industry Trends: Is the industry growing or shrinking?
• Competitor Benchmarking: A simple table comparing the target company against its top 3 rivals on price, quality, and reach.

4. Financial Health (Use Tables)

• Revenue Growth: 3-year historical trend.
• Profit Margins: Gross and Net margins.
• Debt-to-Equity: Assess their financial leverage.
• Tip: Insert an Excel Chart (Insert > Chart) to visualize revenue growth.

5. SWOT Analysis

Create a 2x2 table in Word:

• Strengths: Internal advantages (e.g., strong brand, proprietary tech).
• Weaknesses: Internal gaps (e.g., high employee turnover, outdated infra).
• Opportunities: External growth factors (e.g., new markets, acquisitions).
• Threats: External risks (e.g., regulatory changes, new competitors).

6. Strategic Outlook & Risks

• Future Catalyst: What event will change the company’s trajectory in the next 12 months?
• Risk Mitigation: How is the company handling the "Threats" listed in the SWOT?

7. Conclusion & Recommendations

• Action Steps: Clear bullets on what the reader should do next based on this research.

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Step 3: Actionable Tips for Professionalism

• Use Callout Boxes: Use Insert > Shapes > Text Box to highlight "Key Insights" or "Analyst Notes" in the margins. This makes the report skimmable.
• Standardize Data Sources: Use a Footer (Insert > Footer) to list your primary data sources (e.g., Bloomberg, SEC Filings, Gartner Reports).
• Keep it Visual: No more than two pages of pure text without a chart, table, or bulleted list.

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Step 4: Finalizing for Delivery

1. Update the TOC: Right-click your Table of Contents and select "Update Field" before saving.
2. Save as PDF: Always send the final report as a PDF to preserve formatting and prevent accidental edits.

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To help me tailor this template further, could you provide a few details:

• Is this report for an investment decision, a sales prospect, or a competitive analysis?
• Are you looking for specific financial formulas to include in the data section?
• Would you like a list of free databases to find the information needed for these sections?