Ava AbbottReuters is an independent international news agency headquartered in London, UK. The agency was founded in 1851 by the German-born Paul Reuter. In 2008, the Thomson Corporation acquired Reuters to create one of the world’s largest news agencies.
Thomson Reuters has around 25,000 employees, including about 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists stationed in 200 locations globally. In 2021, the company’s revenue increased by 6% to $1.71 billion. It generates most of its income from online advertising and collaboration with Refinitiv. [1]
For over 170 years, Reuters expanded to become the go-to source for breaking news globally. It was the first to report Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in Europe in 1865 and the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961.
The agency was one of the first outlets to transmit financial data over oceans via computers and use computer-terminal displays of FOREX rates. In the recent past, the company has focused on developing journalism globally through the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF).
In Aug 2021, TRF partnered with United Nations to support journalists in the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). This initiative enhances Reuters’ brand value and recognition worldwide. But the agency also faces stiff competition from S&P Global, FactSet, Bloomberg, Dun & Bradstreet, and MarketWatch. [2]
Here is an in-depth analysis of top Reuters’ competitors and alternatives:
1. Bloomberg
Year founded: 1981
Headquarter: Manhattan, New York
Bloomberg is a privately held company that offers financial, software, data, and media services. It provides business news, stock quotes, and analysis via a daily newspaper, periodic magazine, television, radio, and the internet. In 2021, Bloomberg had 2300 employees and made $10 billion in revenue.
Bloomberg is renowned for publishing insightful financial content. For example, its “Year Ahead” article analyzes how ineffective central bank policymakers will drive global economies in 2022. Both Bloomberg and Reuters are market leaders in business media.
However, Bloomberg generates more revenue than Reuters. Its top revenue-generator is the Bloomberg Terminal which serves more than 250,000 customers globally. This platform streams price data, financial information, and news. Bloomberg is the top Reuters competitor and alternative across the board. [3]
2. Dow Jones
Year founded: 1885
Headquarter: New York City, New York
Dow Jones is a leading financial news and information provider and a subsidiary of News Corp. The company owns renowned brands in the sector, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, SmartMoney Magazine, and Factiva.
In 2021, Dow Jones & Company had around 12,000 employees and reported a 42.62% increase in revenue to $54.968 billion.
Both Dow Jones and Reuters provide the latest news. But Dow Jones only focuses on the financial sector. It provides research services through Factiva. In 2021, the company expanded Factiva’s content library by adding over 800 sources from 90 countries.
The archive has 1.9 billion articles in 29 languages from 32,000 sources across 200 countries. Dow Jones founded The Wall Street Journal in 1889. Today, The WSJ circulates over 2.834 million newspaper copies daily. Dow Jones is a formidable Reuters competitor. [4]
3. S&P Global Market Intelligence
Year founded: 1917
Headquarter: Manhattan, New York
S&P Global Market Intelligence integrates financial and industry data, research, and news into business tools. Its solutions help companies track performance, identify investment opportunities, and perform valuations and credit risk assessments. In 2021, S&P Global had 35,000 employees and generated $8.297 billion in revenue.
S&P Global provides accurate, deep, and insightful information about any company’s financial situation. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations, and universities globally rely on its services and analytics to make informed business decisions.
For example, its 2022 Global Bank Rankings highlighted the dynamics in the banking sector. So, bankers can use these insights to improve their decision-making processes. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a worthy alternative to Reuters for decision-makers. [5]
4. Pearson
Year founded: 1844
Headquarter: London, UK
Pearson is an FTSE 100 media company that owns and operates Pearson Education, FT Group, and Penguin Group. The FT Group is Pearson’s financial wing, consisting of the Financial Times and The Economist. In 2021, Pearson reported an 8% increase in full-year revenue. Its operating profit was £385 million, up 33% from 2020. [6]
Pearson Education is the world’s leading educational publisher, while Penguin Group operates Putnam, Viking, and Puffin. These three imprints publish more than 4,000 fiction, nonfiction, and reference titles annually.
Like Reuters, the Financial Times and The Economist provide financial information and business news to readers globally. In 2021, the company adopted a new direct-to-consumer strategy to boost sales. Pearson is one of the top Reuters competitors in the publishing sector.
5. LexisNexis
Year founded: 1970
Headquarter: New York City, New York
LexisNexis is a corporation that offers legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics. Its solutions help customers improve decision-making, boost productivity, and advance the rule of law globally. In 2021, LexisNexis had 10,500 employees working in 150 countries. The company generates around $3 billion in revenue annually.
LexisNexis was the first to bring legal and business information online. Customers in more than 150 countries rely on its Lexis and Nexis services. They can access these solutions via online portals for legal research, newspaper search, and consumer information.
In Mar 2022, Lex Machina and LexisNexis released their annual Securities Litigation Report. The report focuses on securities litigation trends in federal district court. LexisNexis is the best alternative to Reuters for legal, regulatory, and business analytics. [7]
6. FactSet Research Systems Inc.
Year founded: 1978
Headquarter: Norwalk, Connecticut
FactSet is a data and software company that offers integrated financial info, analytical apps, and industry-leading services. Its flexible solutions for the financial industry bring the front, middle, and back-office together. In 2021, FactSet had 10,892 employees and generated $1.591 billion in revenue.
FactSet’s content, analytics, and technology help more than 162,000 organizations see and seize opportunities ahead of the competition. The company was recently added to the S&P 500 and scored 100 on the Human Rights Corporate Equality Index.
On Apr 5, 2022, FactSet hosted its Investor Day in New York City via live stream. The event provided an in-depth look into its suite of solutions across the investment lifecycle, industry dynamics, and growth initiatives. FactSet is an innovative Reuters competitor. [8]
7. Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.
Year founded: 1841
Headquarter: Jacksonville, Florida/ Short Hills, Millburn, New Jersey
Dun & Bradstreet is a leading provider of business decisioning data and analytics. In 2021, the company had around 5,000 employees and generated $2.17 billion in revenue. Its 2021 earnings increased by 24.8% and delivered a net income of $471.1 million. [9]
Dun & Bradstreet specializes in data and analytics. Companies rely on their solutions to improve decision-making processes and overall performance. Unlike Reuters, Dun & Bradstreet generates most of its revenue in North America.
For FY 2021, the company made $1.5 billion in North America. It also offers Data Cloud that delivers insights to help customers boost their revenues, lower costs, and mitigate risks. Dun & Bradstreet is one of the best alternatives to Reuters for commercial data and analytics.
8. Yahoo! Finance
Year founded: 1997
Headquarter: New York City, New York
Yahoo! Finance is a media service operated by Yahoo! Inc. The platform provides financial news, data, and commentary, including stock quotes, press releases, and financial reports. In 2021, the Yahoo! network reached nearly 900 million people globally and reported a 141% increase in connected TV (CTV) ad revenue. [10]
Yahoo! and Reuters compete in the financial news publishing sector. Both companies post original stories by their in-house journalists and repost partner content from other sites. But Yahoo! also offers online tools for personal finance management and lists over 9,000 cryptocurrencies. Yahoo! Finance is one of the top alternatives to Reuters in financial reporting.
9. The Cable News Network (CNN)
Year founded: 1980
Headquarter: Atlanta, Georgia
CNN is a multinational news-based pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The agency has 36 bureaus and more than 900 affiliates globally that carry or supplement their programs with CNN’s coverage. In 2021, CNN had around 4,000 employees worldwide and generated $815 million in ad revenue.
Like Reuters, CNN is renowned for exemplary journalism and breaking stories ahead of the pack. In 2021, CNN was the third-most-watched network with an average of 773,000 total viewers across the 24-hour day.
It also ranked 5th in primetime in the US, averaging 1,078,000 viewers. Overall, 2021 was CNN’s second-most-watched year since its founding. The channel also offers CNN Money which covers financial news like Reuters. CNN is the best alternative to Reuters for 24-hour news coverage. [11]
10. MarketWatch
Year founded: 1997
Headquarter: New York City, New York
MarketWatch is a website launched as a joint venture between Data Broadcasting Corp. and CBS News. The platform provides financial info, business news, analysis, and stock market data. In Jan 2005, Dow Jones & Company acquired MarketWatch for $528 million.
Both MarketWatch and Reuters offer financial information, market data, and business news. In Oct 2020, MarketWatch switched to a paywalled subscription-based publication. The paywall delivered new revenue streams and boosted its income.
In 2021, MarketWatch launched the “Best New Ideas in Money” podcast and its MarketWatch Picks. These new ventures increase its competitive advantage over Reuters. As a subsidiary of Dow Jones, MarketWatch has enough resources to challenge Reuters. [12]
References & more information
- Thomson Reuters (2022, Feb 8). Thomson Reuters Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Results. Reuters
- UN (2021, Aug 29). United Nations and Thomson Reuters Foundation announce a joint fellowship to support journalists in the least Developed Countries. United Nations
- Flanders, S. (2022, Jan 12). The Year Ahead 2022. Bloomberg
- Neuts, D. E. (2022, Jan 3). Dow Jones 2021 Highlights Include Subscriber and Revenue Growth. Subscription Insider
- S&P Global (2022, Apr 11). S&P Global Market Intelligence Global Bank Rankings: European Banks Slid Down Rankings amid Competition. PRNewswire
- Staton, B. (2022, Jan 19). Pearson lifts the 2021 profit forecast as education publisher bets on a new strategy. FT
- LexisNexis (2022, Mar 31). Lex Machina and LexisNexis Release 2022 Securities Litigation Report. LexisNexis Press
- FactSet Research Systems Inc. (2022, Feb 10). FactSet Announces 2022 Investor Day. Globe Newswire
- Dun & Bradstreet (2022, Feb 16). Dun & Bradstreet Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results. Yahoo Finance
- Yahoo! Inc. (2021, Feb 9). Yahoo Closes FY 2021 with 141% Growth in CTV YoY. Yahoo! Press
- Katz, A. J. (2022, Jan 3). 2021 Ratings: CNN Has Its 2nd Most-Watched Year Ever, But Sees Sharp Declines in 2nd Half. AdWeek
- Dow Jones & Company (2021, Dec 30). Dow Jones Celebrates 2021 Achievements. Globe Newswire
- Featured image by Adeolu Eletu
Tell us what you think? Did you find this article interesting? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
Kevin Johnson
Brianna Parker
Add comment