Domestic companies that have more than $10 million in assets and over 500 shareholders must file certain registrations and reports with the
SEC.
As an investor, the ones you’re most likely to be interested in are:
8-K: Reports
any material event that has the potential to affect
a company’s financial situation or share
value
10-K:
Audited annual financial report
10-Q:
Unaudited quarterly report
Insider
trades: Reports purchases and sales of company
stock by corporate executives
Mutual
fund prospectus and Statement of Additional Information:
Vital information about the fund’s management,
investment objectives, fees, historical returns,
risks, and more
Proxy
solicitations: Voting information sent to
shareholders before the annual meeting
Tender
offer: Information about offers to buy large
volumes of stock in a company at a premium, usually
as part of a takeover bid
In addition, shareholders receive an
Annual Report
containing information included in the 10-K. Companies are not required to file this document with the SEC, but many do so voluntarily.
EDGAR
To find information about the companies you’re interested in, you can visit the SEC website
(www.sec.gov).
There you can search a free public service known as EDGAR, which stands for Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval. EDGAR stores electronic forms required by and filed with the SEC.
Limits of registration
Since 1996, only investment advisers managing $25 million or more in client assets are required to register with the SEC. Advisers managing smaller amounts are required to register with the states where they do business. However, advisers aren’t required to pass a certifying exam or acquire a license to practice.
