A company announces a big change. Before deciding what the headline means, find the document behind it. You do not need a paid news terminal to read public SEC filings.
Choose the report that answers your question
These are common reports for U.S. public companies. Other issuers can use different forms. The SEC's report-reading guide explains the annual and quarterly reports.
| Form | What it covers | A useful first question |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K | Annual business review, risks and audited financial statements | How does this business work, and what could go wrong? |
| 10-Q | Quarterly updates, including unaudited financial statements | What changed since the annual report? |
| 8-K | A current report about certain significant events | What happened, when, and where are the details? |
An 8-K is a report, not a rating
Many events can lead to an 8-K: earnings, material agreements, financing or changes in leadership. Most required disclosures have a four-business-day deadline, with exceptions. An event can therefore predate the filing. Read the event date and filing date separately. Investor.gov explains the form.
The item number helps you find the subject. It does not tell you whether a stock is attractive.
| Item | Look for |
|---|---|
| 1.01 | Certain material agreements or amendments |
| 2.02 | Reported operating results, often with an earnings-release exhibit |
| 8.01 | Other events the company chooses to report |
| 9.01 | Financial statements and the list of exhibits |
This is a short orientation, not the complete form instructions. Open the attached agreement or press release when the report refers to it.
Find the actual company on EDGAR
- Open the SEC company search and search the company name or ticker.
- Check the issuer's legal name. A familiar abbreviation alone is not enough.
- Choose the report type and date. Open the filing and relevant exhibits.
- Keep the original link in your research notes so you can revisit it.
EDGAR is free. The SEC's EDGAR guide describes the search tools and report categories.
Try a small reading exercise
Imagine Biscuit Co., an invented company, signs a loan on Monday and reports it on Thursday. The release calls the financing an exciting opportunity. Your notes can say: “The company reported a new loan.” Calling it a good deal is a separate conclusion that needs evidence.
Find the amount, interest terms, repayment date and any security or other conditions. Then check the latest financial statements for existing debt and cash flow. If the terms are missing from the summary, follow the exhibit rather than guessing.
Write two short lists: what the document states, and what you still need to understand. Briana would probably add a third list for biscuits. You can keep yours to two.
Three checks before repeating the headline
- Date: is this the event date, filing date or the date someone shared the story?
- Evidence: is the sentence a reported fact, management's expectation or your interpretation?
- Context: does the annual report, a later amendment or another exhibit change the picture?
A filing is a disclosure, not SEC approval of the investment or a guarantee that every statement is correct. Read the risks and supporting documents. No filing alone tells you what a share price will do.
Use our free company research checklist for notes, or open the morning news and filings desk to practice with source links. The desk is a limited roundup; company search is the place to check a full filing history.