8 essential datasets every investor needs in 2025

The investment landscape is evolving rapidly, and the key to staying ahead lies in embracing the power of data. In 2025, data-driven decision-making is no longer optional — it's a necessity. However, the challenge isn't just accessing information but knowing which datasets can truly drive returns.

Investors today rely on both structured and unstructured alternative data to gain an edge. Structured data includes organized datasets like financial reports or earnings call transcripts, which are easy to analyze systematically. On the other hand, unstructured alternative data—such as social media posts, job listings, or satellite imagery — requires advanced tools like machine learning for processing. Together, these data types help investors uncover patterns, predict trends, and make informed decisions in real-time.

Below, we explore eight essential datasets that we believe every savvy investor must leverage in 2025.

1. Stay ahead with high-quality insights from real-time, premium news

Markets can shift in seconds so timely and accurate information is critical. While free news sources may provide surface-level updates, they often lack the depth and precision that premium platforms offer.

Why it matters: Premium news sources deliver investigative reporting, exclusive interviews, and comprehensive analysis, offering insights into market trends, geopolitical events, and corporate strategies. This enables investors to make proactive decisions based on reliable, actionable intelligence rather than reacting to noise.

How to use it:

• Leverage AI-powered summaries - Advanced news analytics tools can extract key takeaways from long-form reports, saving you time.
• Monitor geopolitical risks - Stay updated on global events like regulatory changes or political instability that could impact your portfolio.

2. Decode the narrative behind the numbers with earnings call transcripts

Quarterly earnings calls are more than just updates - they are windows into a company's vision, challenges, and opportunities. Management's tone, word choice, and confidence levels often reveal as much as the numbers themselves.

Why it matters: Earnings call transcripts provide valuable insights into how executives perceive their company's performance and future prospects. They also offer clues about potential red flags or untapped opportunities.

How to use it:

• Focus on Q&A sessions - Pay attention to analyst questions and management's responses - they often touch on issues not covered in prepared remarks.
• Utilize AI tools - Platforms that analyze call transcript sentiment and detect key themes can help you quickly spot opportunities or risks across multiple transcripts.
• Compare with past calls - Identifying shifts in tone or strategy over time can reveal emerging trends.

3. SEC filings: uncover the hidden signals

SEC filings like 10-Ks, 10-Qs, and proxy statements are goldmines of information, offering unparalleled transparency into a company's financial health, governance practices, and risk factors.

Why it matters: These regulatory filings often contain early warning signs of trouble or overlooked growth drivers. However, their dense and technical nature can make them intimidating to analyze.

How to use it:

• Focus on management discussion - The Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) section provides context about performance and forward-looking guidance.
• Look beyond the headlines - Changes in footnotes, risk factors, or executive compensation details can signal shifting priorities or potential challenges.

4. Job postings can be a proxy for growth and innovation

Hiring trends offer a real-time glimpse into a company's priorities and areas of focus. By analyzing job posting data, investors can identify which industries or companies are investing in innovation, expansion, or new technologies.

Why it matters: Rapidly growing companies often ramp up hiring in strategic areas, such as artificial intelligence, green energy, or blockchain. Conversely, hiring freezes or layoffs can indicate financial struggles or strategic pullbacks.

How to use it:

• Track sector trends - Look for industries with surging demand for specialized skills - these could be the next high-growth areas.
• Compare hiring across competitors - A company with higher hiring activity in cutting-edge fields may have a competitive advantage.
• Monitor global expansion - Job postings in new regions can signal international growth plans.

5. Sentiment analysis: the pulse of the market

Market sentiment reflects the collective mood of investors and can significantly influence asset prices. Social media chatter, analyst opinions, and news coverage all shape sentiment, making it a powerful tool for predicting short-term market movements.

Why it matters: Sentiment analysis, powered by natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, enables investors to quantify and analyze these signals in real-time. It can help identify early signs of bullishness or bearishness, allowing you to time your trades more effectively.

How to use it:

• Monitor sentiment from news - Track trending stocks and sectors using sentiment analysis tools that aggregate data from thousands of news sources.
• Identify sentiment shifts - Sharp changes in market sentiment could indicate upcoming volatility or opportunities.
• Correlate sentiment with pricing data - Combining a sentiment score with historical price trends can refine your predictions.

6. Historical pricing data: learn from the past

Understanding historical pricing trends, trading volumes, and volatility patterns is crucial for making informed investment decisions. Whether you're a short-term trader or a long-term investor, historical data provides the context needed to evaluate opportunities and risks.

Why it matters: Historical data helps investors identify recurring price patterns, assess market sentiment trends, and anticipate future price movements. It's a foundation for strategies like technical analysis or risk management.

How to use it:

• Conduct technical analysis - Use historical price trends to identify key levels of support and resistance to refine your entry and exit points.
• Assess volatility - Historical data can reveal how an asset reacts to specific market events or conditions.
• Benchmark performance - Compare an asset's performance against peers or market indices to evaluate its relative strength.

7. Spot the next unicorn with venture capital data

Emerging markets and startups are hotbeds of innovation. By tracking venture capital (VC) activity, investors can gain early insights into transformative technologies, industries, and companies poised for exponential growth.

Why it matters: Funding rounds, startup valuations, and IPO activity often provide clues about where institutional money is flowing. This data is invaluable for identifying high-growth opportunities before they hit public markets.

How to use it:

• Monitor funding trends - Identify sectors attracting the most VC investment, such as renewable energy or biotech.
• Track startup pipelines - Knowing which startups are close to IPOs can help you position yourself early.
• Analyze VC sentiment - If top-tier venture firms are consistently backing a sector, it's likely worth investigating.

8. Gain an edge with premium financial and market intelligence

Not all market-moving insights are freely available. Some of the most valuable financial data is locked behind premium sources, offering deep-dive analysis, exclusive interviews, and institutional-grade research.

Why it matters: Access to gated financial publications and proprietary datasets gives investors an informational advantage, uncovering trends and opportunities before they become mainstream. From detailed sector reports to expert forecasts, premium insights provide a sharper, more nuanced perspective on global markets.

How to use it:

• Unlock proprietary research - Leverage institutional-grade reports that offer advanced market analysis and predictive modeling.
• Stay ahead of the curve - Exclusive interviews with CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders provide foresight into key developments.
• Enhance strategy with expert opinions - Insights from top analysts can help refine your investment thesis and risk management approach.

Bringing it all together

The ability to seamlessly connect with and analyze diverse datasets is no longer reserved only to sophisticated investment firms. In 2025, tools like Bigdata.com and other advanced analytics platforms are empowering investors to integrate real-time insights into their strategies effortlessly.

By leveraging datasets such as earnings call transcripts, sentiment analysis, and venture capital trends, you can build a cohesive and data-driven approach to investing. The key is not just having access to information but knowing how to interpret and act on it.