January 14, 2025

Government Databases for Professional Investors

I’ve spent years digging through government databases for investment research.

Here’s what I’ve learned: most people don’t know these exist.

But they’re absolute gold mines for due diligence.

I’m sharing my go-to list of government databases that have consistently given me an edge.

These are free, public, and packed with information you won’t find anywhere else.

Overview

These databases have helped me spot red flags months before they hit the news.

Here’s the full list.

Deep Dive

I use each of these databases differently, but they all serve one purpose: getting information others don’t have.

Think of this as your cheat sheet for finding the good stuff.

Here’s a full breakdown of what each database is actually used for, and how I leverage them for research.

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

This is your window into consumer financial drama. Search millions of complaints about banks, credit cards, and lenders. I use it to spot emerging problems before they become headlines.

SEC FOIA Logs

Want to know what Wall Street is digging into? These monthly logs show what information people are requesting from the SEC. It’s like getting a peek at other investors’ research lists.

Wisconsin DFI FDD Database

Here’s a secret: Wisconsin publishes nearly every franchise disclosure document. Want to know McDonald’s unit economics? It’s all here. This is gold for retail and restaurant investors.

Open Payments Data

Follow the money in healthcare. See exactly which doctors are getting paid by drug companies for speaking fees, consulting, or even just fancy dinners.

CMS Drug Spending

Medicare and Medicaid’s drug spending data tells you which medications are really making money. I track spending trends here before earnings calls.

Open Corporates

Need to know who’s really running a private company? This is your first stop. It’ll show you executives, board members, and state registrations fast.

Federal Procurement Data System

If you’re investing in government contractors, this database is essential. See who’s winning the big contracts and for how much.

NYC Health Restaurant Inspection Scores

Perfect for restaurant investors. Check health inspection scores across entire chains. It’s a great way to spot operational issues.

U.S Energy Information Administration

My go-to for independent energy market analysis. The data here is more reliable than what you’ll get from most industry reports.

Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) Database

Medical device problems show up here first. Ten years of adverse event reports that can signal big problems for device makers.

BrokerCheck by FINRA

Before trusting any financial professional, check their record here. It’s saved me from some questionable characters.

FDIC Search Form

Want to know which banks are in trouble? Search through enforcement actions here. It’s like a early warning system for bank problems.

ClinicalTrials.gov

Track drug development pipelines here. Every clinical trial gets listed, which means you can spot problems or progress before the market does.

RankMyHotel

Texas-only, but incredible for hotel investors. Get actual revenue figures for individual hotels. Perfect for comparing performance.

Conclusion

These databases won’t make you a better investor overnight.

But they will give you information most investors don’t have.

The real edge comes from using them consistently and knowing what to look for.

Start with one that matches your investment focus. Get familiar with it. Then expand.

Just remember: the best data is useless if you don’t act on it.