Company Analysis
SEC filings are the record; EDGAR is where to read them
Public companies file structured reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 10-K is the annual report with audited financials. The 10-Q is the quarterly update. The 8-K reports material events between quarters. The proxy statement (DEF 14A) covers governance and executive pay. EDGAR is the SEC's free database where these filings live, searchable by company, form type and date.
Explainer Reviewed 08-21-2026
What it is for
Filings are the primary record. A press release summarizes; the filing states. When a story cites a revenue figure, a risk factor or an executive pay number, the checkable object is the filed document with its date and form type. Learning the form types tells a reader where to look instead of relying on a recap.
What it cannot tell you
A filing does not interpret itself. Numbers need the footnotes, the accounting policy and the period they cover. An 8-K reports that an event happened; it does not explain the business. Filings can be amended. This guide does not summarize any company's filing.
How to verify the object
Open SEC EDGAR (sec.gov/edgar), search the company by name or ticker, filter by form type (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, DEF 14A) and open the filing for the period you need. Confirm the form type, the period end date and the filing date before citing a figure. Investor.gov explains each form type for beginners.
Education only. Not individualized advice.