U.S. Direct Investment Abroad: Financial and operating data

The financial and operating data provide a picture of the overall activities of foreign affiliates and U.S. parent companies using a wide variety of indicators of their financial structure and operations. The data on foreign affiliates cover the entire operations of the affiliate, irrespective of the percentage of U.S. ownership. These data cover items that are needed in analyzing the characteristics, performance, and economic impact of multinational companies, such as sales, gross product (value added), employment and compensation of employees, capital expenditures, exports and imports, and research and development expenditures. Separate tabulations are available for affiliates that are majority owned by their U.S. parent because the concept of majority control is often important in the analysis of multinational companies.