An SEC filing is a financial statement or information disclosure mandated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Many SEC filings are simple template forms that required parties must complete. Other SEC filings contain detailed information about a company's financial condition, material events, and other important developments.

All public companies, as well as certain private companies and entities, are required to file information with the SEC. In addition to filings about a company itself, certain corporate insiders must also file with the SEC when they trade stock or options.

Investors and financial professionals rely on these filings for information about companies they are evaluating for investment purposes. The health and financial well being of a company is publicly documented in its SEC filings.

View features of SEC Watch (Public Site)

A 10-K contain comprehensive information about the financial health and well-being of a company

A 10-Q contain financial results and other important developments for the quarter

Any company filing to become publicly traded must complete an S-1 filing

Corporate insiders must file a Form 4 when they make a trade

An 8-K announces material changes or events that happen between quarterly reports