Almost every data vendor has a unique way of identifying companies in their database. When dealing with public companies, the ticker and/or CUSIP can also be downloaded. Tickers and CUSIPs are not unique to each data vendor and can be used to get data from different vendors. Below is a table of different vendors and often used company identifiers. For instance -the pricing database uses PERMNO & Compustat uses GVKEYS and they both can download tickers and CUSIPs. Tickers are unreliable as they can change and be reused so CUSIPs are the preferred identifier.
Below is a summary of identifiers and data vendors
Bloomberg -> CUSIP 9 digits & Ticker
Compustat -> CUSIP 9 digits & Ticker & can link to PERMNO & GVKEY
CRSP -> CUSIP 8 digits & Ticker & PERMNO & can link to GVKEY
Refinitiv (Datastream) -> modified CUSIP 9 digits & modified ticker & (for Tickers add U: for NYSE and AMEX and @ for Nasdaq and U: for 9 digit CUSIPs)
Execucomp -> CUSIP 8 digits & Ticker & can link to PERMNO & GVKEY
OptionMetrics -> CUSIP 8 digits & Ticker
SDC (mergers) -> CUSIP 6 digits & Ticker
SDC (Global new issues) -> CUSIP 9 digits & Ticker
To link to/from GVKEY and PERMNO, in WRDS use CRSP/Compustat merged.
More information on CUSIPs:
Many financial data packages use CUSIP as the identifier. The first 6 digits of a CUSIP identify the company, digits 7-8 describe the security and the 9th is check digit.
Converting from 8 or 9 digit CUSIPS to 6,8 or 9 digits can be done with:
Converting from 6 digits to 8 or 9 is harder, because now not only is the information about the company but also tied to a security. The first equity security issued by a company gets 10, additional issues increment by 10. If a company has bonds the first 6 numbers again designate the company but bonds are identified with letters.
