Bloomberg Terminal User Guide for Financial Professionals

Bloomberg Terminal User Guide for Financial Professionals

Bloomberg Terminal is an essential software platform for finance professionals, providing real-time financial data, news, and analytics. This guide offers an introduction to navigating the Bloomberg Terminal effectively, highlighting key functions and features. Financial analysts, traders, and investment bankers will find valuable insights on using the terminal for data analysis, trading, and company research. The content is designed for those preparing to enter the finance industry or enhance their existing skills with Bloomberg Terminal. Key topics include company analysis, charting, earnings analysis, and trade analytics.

Key Points

  • Introduces Bloomberg Terminal's key functions for financial analysis.
  • Explains how to navigate company data and financial statements.
  • Covers charting tools for visualizing market trends and data.
  • Details earnings analysis features for tracking company performance.
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  • Sudharshan Venkateshan
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INSIDER SERIES · FILE 09 · LESSON 1
Bloomberg
Terminal.
Lesson 1: The Basics.
The software that runs $500 trillion in global finance.
Decoded. Free. For you.
WHAT'S INSIDE
01 What is Bloomberg Terminal and why it matters
02 Company Overview — DES, CN, RES, FA, BICO
03 Company Analysis — DSCO, ANR, HDS, ESG, SPLC, CACS
04 Charting — GP, GF, EEG
05 Earnings Analysis — MODL, EVT, DS TA, ALTD
06 Comparative Analytics — EQRV, KPIC
07 Equity Derivatives — OMON, OPX, BDVD
08 Trade Analytics — TCA, AVAT, VWAP
YASH VERMA
Investment Banker · @yashverma_ib
If this crashes for 1 day,
global finance shuts down.
BLOOMBERG TERMINAL · LESSON 1 · THE BASICS @yashverma_ib
Bloomberg Decoded. 01
LESSON 1.1
What is Bloomberg Terminal?
And why every financial professional on earth uses it.
Bloomberg Terminal is a software platform that provides real-time financial data, news, analytics, and
trading tools to finance professionals worldwide. It costs approximately â– 20 lakh per year per user. There
are over 325,000 terminals active globally.
Every investment bank, hedge fund, mutual fund, central bank, and trading desk in the world runs on
Bloomberg. When you walk into an IB office, the orange-and-black screen is the first thing you see. It's the
cockpit of finance.
In 2015, Bloomberg crashed for approximately 2 hours. The Bank of England delayed a government
bond auction. Traders across the world were temporarily blind. That's how critical this software is —
there is literally no backup system for global finance.
Who uses Bloomberg?
→ Investment bankers — for deal data, valuations, comps, filings
→ Equity researchers — for earnings, estimates, financial models
→ Traders — for real-time pricing, execution, order flow
→ Fund managers — for portfolio analytics, risk, attribution
→ Central banks — for macro data, monetary policy tracking
→ PE/VC analysts — for deal screening, market data, CIM research
Why should you learn it now? Most finance students never touch Bloomberg until their first day on the
job — and then spend weeks figuring out what buttons to press while their MD waits for data. If you
already know the key functions, you walk in day one looking like a second-year analyst. That's the edge.
BLOOMBERG TERMINAL · LESSON 1 · THE BASICS @yashverma_ib
Bloomberg Decoded. 02
LESSON 1.2
Company Overview.
The first thing you pull up when researching any company.
When an IB analyst is assigned a new company — whether for a pitch, a deal, or a research note — the
first thing they do is type the company ticker into Bloomberg and hit the equity key. This opens the Related
Functions Menu for that company. Here's what each function does:
DES — Security Description
The company's one-page snapshot. Sector, market cap, shares outstanding, key financials, description, management
team. This is the first screen every analyst opens. Think of it as the company's passport.
CN — Company News
Every news article, press release, and filing related to this company — in real time. Filtered by source, date, topic.
When your MD says "what's the latest on Reliance?" — you open CN, not Google.
DS RES — Company Research
Broker research reports on the company. Goldman's latest report on TCS? Morgan Stanley's view on HDFC Bank?
All here. This is where analysts read what the street thinks before forming their own view.
FA — Financial Analysis
The company's full financial statements — income statement, balance sheet, cash flow — across multiple years.
Customisable. Downloadable to Excel. This is where you pull the numbers for your DCF model. The single most-used
function in IB.
BICO — Bloomberg Intelligence Primer
AI-powered company overview generated by Bloomberg's own intelligence team. Competitive landscape, key risks,
industry positioning — all summarised in one place. New function. Incredibly useful for quick context before a
meeting.
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End of Document
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FAQs of Bloomberg Terminal User Guide for Financial Professionals

What are the main features of the Bloomberg Terminal?
The Bloomberg Terminal offers a wide range of features including real-time financial data, news updates, and advanced analytics tools. Key functionalities include company research, financial analysis, and charting capabilities that allow users to visualize market trends. Additionally, it provides tools for earnings analysis, comparative analytics, and trade execution, making it indispensable for finance professionals. Users can access comprehensive data on stocks, bonds, commodities, and derivatives, enhancing their ability to make informed investment decisions.
How can financial analysts benefit from using the Bloomberg Terminal?
Financial analysts can leverage the Bloomberg Terminal to access real-time market data and comprehensive financial reports. The terminal enables them to conduct in-depth company research, analyze financial statements, and track market trends effectively. Analysts can also utilize advanced charting tools to visualize data and identify patterns, which aids in making informed investment recommendations. Furthermore, the terminal's earnings analysis features help analysts stay updated on company performance and market sentiment.
What types of users typically rely on the Bloomberg Terminal?
The Bloomberg Terminal is widely used by investment bankers, equity researchers, traders, and fund managers. These professionals rely on its robust data and analytical tools to make critical financial decisions. Central banks and private equity/venture capital analysts also utilize the terminal for macroeconomic data and market analysis. Its comprehensive features cater to a diverse range of financial professionals seeking to enhance their analytical capabilities and trading strategies.
What is the significance of the Bloomberg Terminal in global finance?
The Bloomberg Terminal plays a crucial role in global finance, providing essential data and analytics that drive investment decisions. Its real-time capabilities ensure that finance professionals have access to up-to-date information, which is vital for executing trades and managing portfolios. The terminal's reliability was highlighted during a significant outage in 2015, which temporarily disrupted trading activities worldwide. This incident underscored the terminal's importance as a backbone of financial operations, emphasizing the need for robust data systems in the finance industry.

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