Finding Annual & 10-K Reports

There are two major types of annual reports: the Annual Report to Shareholders, and the 10-K Report which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Annual Report to Shareholders

This is the most commonly used and best known source of company information. The Annual Report to Shareholders is the means by which most major companies communicate directly with their shareholders.

Company reports to shareholders will vary widely in appearance since these are not an official SEC filing. These reports are valuable as they provide non-financial as well as financial details.

Reading through a company's shareholder report can provide valuable insight into management philosophy as well as a sense of what the company is about.  Shareholders' reports are usually very creative in terms of presentation - glossy, heavily illustrated, and more of the company personality is shown.

All Annual Reports to Shareholders contain the following financial information:

• Balance sheet
• Income Statement
• Stockholders' Equity Statement
• Cash Flow Statement
• Tables of financial activities for previous years (usually five or ten years)
• Financial data in ratio form

An important but often overlooked feature of the Annual Report to Shareholders is the section containing footnotes. This section, usually known as "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" may explain a choice of accounting methods, or describe liabilities such as pending law suits which could affect company profits.

How to find Annual Reports to Shareholders

Print

KSU Library maintains a limited print collection of corporate annual reports. For assistance in accessing print annual reports, contact the business librarian .

Online:

A majority of companies are posting shareholders reports on Web sites under Investor Relations sections.

Annualreports.com
Annual Reports Service - registration required
Easy Reports.Net
IRIN - Investor Relations Information Netword
PRARS Annual Report Service
SCoRe - UK Company annual reports in print

10-K Annual Report

What is a 10-K report and how is it different from the Shareholders Report?

Publicly-owned corporations are required to submit annual 10-K reports to the SEC. 10-K's follow a well-defined format and are not designed to be public relations documents. It is helpful to have some understanding about the SEC and the role it plays in the business world.

What is the SEC?

The Securities and Exchange Commission is an independent government agency which was established in 1934. Protecting the public against fradulent practices in the financial markets is the main function of the SEC. Requirements for reporting are extensive and specific. Detailed reports of financial conditions must be filed each year so that investors are protected against unwarranted losses.

Visit the SEC Home Page for an overview of the responsibilities of the Commission. It is important to understand the various filings required by the SEC, such as the 10-K or 10-Q, all of which are explained in the Description of SEC Forms section of the website.

How to find 10-K reports

Online:

EDGAR Company Search
EDGAR Database of Corporate Information
SEC Info - US (SEC EDGAR) and Canada (CSA SEDAR)
10K Wizard