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WheretoFindaCompanysAnnualReportandSECFilings_.pdf
CORPORATE FINANCE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Where Can I Find a Company's Annual Report and Its SEC Filings? By Updated December 22, 2020THE INVESTOPEDIA TEAM
Reviewed by ERIC ESTEVEZ
Publicly traded companies who have their shares listed on stock exchanges are
required to file regular financial statements and disclosures with regulators,
such as the securities and exchange commission (SEC) in the United States.
Among the most widely read of these are a company's annual report, which
tells investors and analysts how the company has performed over the previous
fiscal year (FY), how its businesses look going forward and summarizing
corporate financials for use in fundamental or ratio analysis through
scrutinizing the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows.
In the old days, shareholders would receive the annual report by mail or
through their broker. Thanks to the Internet, finding financial reports is easier
and quicker than ever. Nowadays, nearly every reputable company has an easy
to follow investor relations section on its website that is a wealth of information
including an archive of its annual reports, often going back several years.
Working Example: Walt Disney Walt Disney Co. (DIS) is an excellent example of a business that uses its website
to get information out to its shareholders, analysts, and prospective investors.
It is very easy to find a direct link to its investor relations section. This part of
the Disney website contains a downloadable version of its annual report, as
well as stock quotes, an investor newsletter, archived conference calls and even
the opportunity for current shareholders to sign up for electronic reports. The
best part about these online investor relations sections is their extra nuggets of
hard-to-find information. For example, most companies will use these spaces to
offer detailed info on past acquisitions and stock splits not always available on
other financial portals.
If you want to dig deeper and go beyond the slick marketing version of the
annual report found on corporate websites, you'll have to search through
required filings made to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All publicly-
traded companies in the U.S. must file regular financial reports with the SEC.
These filings include the annual report (known as the 10-K), quarterly report
(10-Q), and a myriad of other forms containing all types of financial data.
Filing Reports Reports are filed through a system known as EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis, and Retrieval system). EDGAR performs automated collection,
validation, indexing, acceptance and forwarding of submissions by companies
and others required by law to file forms with the SEC. Information on EDGAR
can be found on the SEC's website, where you can search through forms as well
as familiarize yourself with the system using its EDGAR tutorial.
B d th t l th SEC' it till b t b t F
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Be warned, the tools on the SEC's site are still cumbersome at best. For more
user-friendly sites, try the following:
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type of information filed with the SEC. You won't find anything free, but if you
need sophisticated services, EDGAR Online is the site for you.
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Related Terms
SEC Form 10-12B
SEC Form 10-12B is a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) form a public company
must file when it issues a new stock through a spinoff. more
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR)
EDGAR is the online system created by the Securities and Exchange Commission for
corporate filings. Learn how to use EDGAR to find key company data. more
Annual Report Explained: How to Read and Write Them
An annual report describes a company's operations and financial condition to
stakeholders, and is required by regulators. more
Fundamental Analysis: Principles, Types, and How to Use It
Fundamental analysis is a method of measuring a stock's intrinsic value. Analysts who
follow this method try to find under or overvalued stocks. more
10-K: Definition, What's Included, Instructions, and Where
to Find it
A 10-K is a comprehensive report filed annually by a publicly-traded company about its
financial performance and is required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). more
Financial Performance: Definition, How it Works, and
Example
Financial performance measures how a firm uses assets from operations to generate
revenue. Read how to analyze financial performance before investing. more
