WRDS

User Guide
West Virginia University
 Three Ways of Working with
WRDS
• Web – Based
• PC – SAS
• The WRDS UNIX server will be
accessed using SSH Secure Shell.
 Available Datasets at WVU
• Datasets are classified by vendor and
concept (subject)
• To see WVU subscriptions:
► click Home → My permissions
► WRDS Info home
(http://www.be.wvu.edu/wrds/home/index.html )

→ WVU Subscription
►Unix commands
 Data Descriptions
• For brief descriptions:
► Select a dataset on the top
• For overviews:
► Click Support → Dataset overviews
• To get detail manuals:
► Select a dataset → Select a sub-
dataset
→ Data manuals
► Click Support → Online manuals
 Step 1 to extract data:
Data Range
• To check available data range for a
dataset (general):
► Documentation

• To check available data range for a

company (specific) :
► Code lookup
 Step 2 to extract data:
Search
• Search by GVKEY
PERMNO
PERMKO
CUSIP
TICKER…
• Most errors are caused by this step.
A company code must be matched
to an identifier chosen.
 Understanding identifiers
Identifier Definitions
s
GVKEY unique firm ID in Compustat
PERMNO unique stock and firm ID in CRSP
PERMCO
CUSIP unique identification for security
approved for trading in the U.S.
TICKER used to uniquely identify publicly-
traded companies on a stock
market NCUSIP, HISSD, SICCD …
Other identifiers:
 Searching identifiers
• To search identifiers:
► Code lookup
► Tools → Company Search
• Example: Search for ticker, IBM
PERMNO CUSIP TICKER DATA RANGE

12490 4592001 IBM 19251231-

0 20061229
 Step 3 to extract data:
Variables
• For a description of each data item:
► Documentation
► Click each item
► Support → WRDS Datasets
and
Sample program → Dataset
list
► Tools → Variable Search
 Step 4 to extract data:
Output
• Select format
• Select compress type
• Summit request
• Save queries → Home → My.WRDS →
myWRDS queries
 Compustat Tools
• Support → Tools
Financial extracts formatted financial
Statement statements for a single
company.
Income designed to customize variables
Statement of balance sheet and income
Extract statement.
S&P Index retrieves monthly data of
Constituent companies which constitutes of
s the main S&P indexes.
 Compustat Tools (Cont’d)
• Compustat → On the bottom of left side
Compustat the most commonly-used
Balance Sheet items in the Compustat
and Income Annual set and offers an
Statement alternative variable
Extract mnemonics system that
was designed to be
consistent with variable
names in Compustat
Research Insight.
 CRSP Tools

Names and retrieves NAMES events and

Events track changes identifiers in
during the security’s trading
Daily history.
extracts CRSP daily data for
Extract with each firm for a selected
Time interval window.
Window
• Other CRSP tools not mentioned are not available.
 Asking Questions
• For general questions:
►Support (right side) → WRDS
Knowledge base
• For specific questions:
► Home (right side) → Search
Forum
(can ask and reply questions as
well)
 Further Information
• For users conference:
► Home (on the top) → News →
Users
Conference

• For Update Schedule:

► Home (on the top) → News →
Date
Updates