WRDS FAQs
1. What is WRDS?
WRDS offers flexible data delivery options, from Web interface and PC SAS Connect to the powerful WRDS Cloud. No other data management system offers so many options. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure gives users the power to analyze complex information at speeds of up to 400MB per second. From client-centered research support to analytics and consulting services, WRDS is the global gold standard in data management and research, all backed by the credibility and leadership of Wharton Business School.
WRDS has evolved to become the standard tool for a global research community of over 30,000 users at 300+ institutions in 29 countries.
2. What data is available through WRDS?
WRDS data is compiled from independent sources that specialize in specific historical data. Some sources include Capital IQ, NYSE Euronext, CRSP, and Thomson Reuters, and more specialized sources such as FactSet, Hedge Fund Research, Inc., Eventus, and GSIOnline with more added regularly to meet the growing needs of our clients.
The data available through WRDS covers thousands of companies, including security prices and trading volume, income and balance sheet items, stock market indices, bond prices and interest rates, mutual fund and stock ownership information, options data , and a wide array of macroeconomic time series, global data, marketing and industry reports.
The Wharton School maintains distribution agreements for data with each distributor and stores the accumulated data on the Wharton UNIX network. The data can be accessed by the user whose school maintains a license agreement with The Wharton School and subscribe to the appropriate data sources.
The following is a quick reference chart to the most commonly used data.
| DATA | DISTRIBUTOR | DATA SETS |
| Balance sheets, income statements and other company-based financial items | Capital IQ Compustat | Industrial, Full Coverage, Research, and Backdata Annual/Quarterly, Business Industry Segments Price, Dividends, Earnings |
| Stock prices and returns, Mutual Fund and CRSP Compustat Merged | CRSP | Monthly / Daily Stock Files, Indices files, Mutual Fund and CCM |
| Intraday stock price bid and ask quotes | NYSE Euronext TAQ | Trades and Quotes |
| Analysts Estimates | Thomson Reuters IBES | Daily Detailed History, Summary History |
| U.S. Treasury interest rates | CRSP | Bonds, Bills, and Inflation files |
| Bank financials | Capital IQ Compustat | Bank Annual / Quarterly |
| Banking industry conditions | FDIC | All files |
| U.S. Macro Economics | Global Insight (formerly DRI) | Annual, Quarterly and, Monthly BASIC Economics |
| International Economics | Global Insight (formerly DRI) | Annual, Quarterly and, Monthly BASIC Economics |
| International Firm-level data | Capital IQ Compustat /Global Vantage | Annual |
| Options | Optionmetrics | Daily |
| Executive Compensation | Capital IQ Compustat /Execucomp | Annual |
As part of the subscription to WRDS, the following datasets are available at no cost:
| Bank Regulatory | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) |
| Blockholders | Federal Bank Reports |
| CBOE Indexes | IRI Marketing Factbook: Point of Sale |
| CUSIP Master File (academic only) | Philadelphia Stock Exchange United Currency Options |
| Direct Marketing Educational Foundation | SEC Disclosure of Order Execution |
| Dow Jones | TRACE (academic subscribers only) |
| Fama-French (Research) Portfolios and Factors | Penn World Tables |
II. Additional Data:
The WRDS subscription fee does not included access to data from the vendors listed below. Each institution is responsible for maintaining a separate license for the data.
| Board Analyst, The Corporate Library | IVES AuditAnalytics |
| Bureau van Dijk | KLD |
| Capital IQ | Mergent |
| Center for Research in Security Prices | NYSE Euronext |
| Morningstar CISDM | Optionmetrics |
| comScore | PACAP |
| Eventus | RentBureau |
| Global Insight/DRI | Riskmetrics |
| GovPX Treasuries (ICAP) | Thomson Reuters |
| GSI Online | FactSet |
| ISSM | Hedge Fund Research |
| Zacks | London Share Price Data (LSPD) |
WRDS may be accessed through three methods:
•Web interface. Research one firm or several hundred firms simultaneously. All the databases have a common interface and a consistent data format through online queries.
•PC SAS Connect. The power of a Unix system in a familiar Windows environment. Use SAS on your PC to submit jobs on the WRDS cloud or download data directly to your PC and analyze using our extensive site, programs and utilities.
•WRDS Cloud. The WRDS Cloud leverages our unique infrastructure to process submitted information producing results with greater proficiency, resulting in vastly shorter processing periods for our clients. With increased computing power, additional time can be focused on research and analysis. Connect to WRDS for a terminal session, run custom programs in SAS to retrieve data. Other languages available on the WRDS system include C and FORTRAN.
4. What are the Terms of Use for WRDS?
Please review the full WRDS Terms of Use for additional information, highlighting topics including access by Co-Authors, Privacy and Account Information.
5. What is a trial account?
Trial account allows access to WRDS and sample sets of data, and all WRDS features for a limited period. Trial accounts are offered to full-time faculty and staff at qualifying academic and goverment institutions and corporate firms.
Email WRDS Support for trial information.
6. How can I get more information about subscribing to WRDS?
Email WRDS Support for subscription information.