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What Is Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)?
Let me explain Dun & Bradstreet directly: it's a global company that delivers business intelligence products to clients via its database and analytics software. You use these products to boost business profits, enhance marketing, and manage risks effectively.
The enterprise software from Dun & Bradstreet relies on its proprietary analytics tool called DUNSRight® Quality Process. They have this unique data universal numbering system, or DUNS numbers, which assigns a DUNS number to each client, making data management across their global base much simpler.
Dun & Bradstreet came about from a merger between R.G. Dun & Co. and Bradstreet Co. in the 1930s. In 2023, they reported revenues of $2.3 billion but had a net loss of $43.7 million. They serve 550 million organizations in 256 countries and territories.
Key Takeaways
Here's what you need to know: Dun & Bradstreet, or D&B, provides business intelligence and analytics through proprietary software and a global network. Their 2023 revenues hit around $2.3 billion. The proprietary data and analytics products focus on small business needs, sales and marketing goals, and credit and third-party risk assessment concerns.
Understanding Dun & Bradstreet (D&B)
Dun & Bradstreet, ticker DNB, is a 180-year-old company that supports businesses in sales, finance, compliance, procurement, and marketing. After introducing the revolutionary DUNS numbers—a unique nine-digit identifier for every company that enables better data exchange—they launched their Data Cloud. This gives you access to various data points about a company, like credit scores, regulatory filings, business structure, ownership, and principals.
Their revenue comes from subscription services, business intelligence reports, data license agreements, partnerships with the public sector, and concierge support for small businesses.
Important Update
In 2020, the company relisted its stock under the ticker DNB on the New York Stock Exchange after going private in 2019.
The History of Dun & Bradstreet
The origins of Dun & Bradstreet trace back to 1841, when Lewis Tappan founded the Mercantile Agency in New York City. He passed control to Benjamin Douglass later that decade. In 1859, Robert Graham Dun bought it and reincorporated as R.G. Dun & Co. By 1931, they acquired the National Credit Office and reorganized into R.G. Dun & Corp.
Separately, John Bradstreet started Bradstreet Co. in Cincinnati in 1849. His firm published the first book of commercial ratings in 1851, popularizing credit ratings. He moved the company to New York in 1855.
In 1933, the two companies negotiated a merger that happened after just one month. The Wall Street Journal announced it, and the new entity operated as R.G. Dun-Bradstreet, changing to Dun & Bradstreet Inc. in 1939. In 2001, they rebranded to D&B.
The company has a extensive history of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. After buying back shares in 2019, D&B went public again with an IPO on June 24, 2020, relisting on the NYSE under DNB.
Data Universal Numbering System
Dun & Bradstreet introduced the data universal numbering system in 1963, starting as a seven-digit code for classifying companies. In 1964, they published a codebook with all assigned codes, continuing until 1968. The DUNS appeared in the 'Million Dollar Directory' in 1969.
The DUNS system uses nine digits, assigned to every business location in their database. Each digit has a specific function to identify the business uniquely, and the number is randomly assigned.
D&B Rating
The D&B Rating is a credit rating tool with two components: Common Credit Appraisal, which evaluates and rates a company using metrics like payment histories and public records; and Rating Classification, which scores net worth based on financial statement strength.
What Does Dun & Bradstreet Do?
Dun & Bradstreet offers business intelligence services to help companies improve in growth, risk, and performance. They provide unique data solutions in three key areas: business growth, risk reduction, and cost control. This data is actionable, so you can directly apply it to enhance these aspects.
What Is a Good Dun & Bradstreet Score?
Dun & Bradstreet issues various credit scores for business areas. The PAYDEX score measures a company's ability to pay obligations, ranging from 0 to 100, with 80 indicating low risk. The delinquency predictor score (DPS) assesses the likelihood of payment failures, bankruptcy, or delinquencies, ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 means low chance of delinquency.
Why Do I Need Dun & Bradstreet for My Business?
Dun & Bradstreet gives a detailed view of your company's financial health through the DUNS number, which acts as a credit rating. This informs other businesses and partners about your creditworthiness, helping you secure contracts, loans, and more.
The Bottom Line
Dun & Bradstreet provides business intelligence to organizations in 550 countries worldwide, offering data-driven solutions for sales, finance, marketing, and risk management. They're renowned for the DUNS number system and their credit rating tools.
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