a comparable firm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a comparable firm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing businesses or organizations that are similar in size, industry, or other relevant characteristics for comparison purposes. Example: "To assess our market position, we need to analyze the performance of a comparable firm in our sector."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A comparable firm is one which is of similar size in terms of employees or which competes for or bids on contracts of a similar size or nature.

Cornell University

Fig. 1 Revenue and net profit change of the firm and a comparable firm in 2011 2015.

Journal of Organization Design

The winning firm's bid was $4.7 million, while a comparable firm cost $2.5 million.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Citigroup earns almost four times as much as UBS, the most closely comparable firm outside America, and five times as much as Bank of America (BofA), its traditional rival.

The Economist

They looked at changes in patent activity from before the LBO to three years after the deal, and they analyzed this against a control group of comparable firms (similar size, sales, debt, etc). that didn't undergo buyouts.

Harvard Business Review

A study published this week by LogicaCMG, an Anglo-Dutch outsourcing firm, says that the shares of British quoted firms, after announcing outsourcing deals, outperformed comparable firms without such a deal by an average of 1.7% in the month after the announcement.

The Economist

Capstone Infrastructure Corporation (TSX CSE, OTC:MCQPF. Disclosure: I own this stock) is an international operator and developer of green infrastructure assets and utilities which is currently selling at a significant discount to most comparable firms.

Forbes

The feds had argued for $30 million, based on 1994 sales of $83 million, profits of $12 million, net assets of $74 million, high stock market values for two "comparable" firms and a mere 25% discount for estate-tax purposes.

Forbes

Companies should always compare themselves to directly comparable firms, but they should not be seduced by the simplicity of that exercise.

Forbes

New research finds that high-reputation firms make approximately twice as many acquisitions in an average year than other comparable firms.

Harvard Business Review

We theorized that the pressure to maintain high reputation would drive a higher rate of acquisitions, and indeed we found that high-reputation firms made approximately twice as many acquisitions in an average year than other comparable firms.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "a comparable firm" with a brief explanation of why the comparison is relevant. For example, "a comparable firm, based on annual revenue and market share, is Company X."

Common error

Avoid using "a comparable firm" without specifying the basis for comparison. Simply stating that two firms are comparable without context can lead to misinterpretations. Always clarify which aspects are being compared, such as market capitalization or product line.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a comparable firm" functions as a noun phrase, where "comparable" modifies "firm", indicating that the firm shares characteristics with another for the purpose of comparison. This is confirmed by Ludwig AI's assessment and exemplified in the given sentences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Science

21%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a comparable firm" is a noun phrase used to reference a business or organization that shares key characteristics with another, allowing for meaningful comparisons. As assessed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in formal and business contexts. While the phrase itself is fairly uncommon, it appears in reliable sources such as Forbes, Harvard Business Review and The Economist. When using this phrase, it's essential to clearly define the basis for comparability to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a similar company

Replaces 'comparable' with 'similar', indicating a likeness in characteristics.

a peer company

Implies a firm of similar status and size, often used in benchmarking.

an equivalent business

Substitutes 'comparable' with 'equivalent', suggesting an equal standing or function.

a like organization

Uses 'like' to convey similarity in organizational structure or purpose.

a parallel enterprise

Employs 'parallel' to indicate a similar trajectory or operation.

a corresponding entity

Replaces 'firm' with 'entity' for a more general reference to an organization, while 'corresponding' indicates a match in some aspects.

a matching corporation

Specifies 'corporation' as the type of firm and 'matching' for similarity.

a related establishment

Uses 'related' to indicate a connection or similarity, and 'establishment' as a broad term for a business.

a kindred operation

Uses 'kindred' to suggest a shared nature or characteristics, and 'operation' for a business.

a look-alike firm

Informal term suggesting close resemblance or imitation.

FAQs

How can I use "a comparable firm" in a sentence?

You can use "a comparable firm" when discussing business or organizations that are similar for comparison purposes, as in "To assess our market position, we need to analyze the performance of "a comparable firm" in our sector".

What are some alternatives to "a comparable firm"?

Alternatives include "a similar company", "an equivalent business", or "a like organization", depending on the specific context.

What makes a firm "comparable"?

A firm is considered "comparable" when it shares key characteristics with another, allowing for meaningful comparison. This could include similar size, revenue, industry, or business model.

In what context is the phrase "a comparable firm" most often used?

The phrase "a comparable firm" is frequently used in business analysis, financial reporting, and academic research to benchmark performance, evaluate strategies, or conduct industry comparisons.