mike b.

It revolutionized the information industry. Basic information about just about anything can be accessed quickly. It also gives people without the proper credentials, an opportunity to prove themselves (write, author articles, create logos, familiarized with copyright rules).

Having lots of information condensed into short form is great, that's why wikipedia is so popular. If people don't want short versions then everyone would be reading the company's 500 page annual reports.

Income statements and balance sheets are automatically updated with every reporting period and the bulls/bears section can be useful. The article summaries for most major companies are thorough and provide an informative introduction to each company. Business information hasn't been great the last decade (what's free to access) wikinvest has taken advantage of that, giving people who know more about companies an opportunity to share what they know.