ShieldPUBLIC INFORMATION / SOURCE FIRST
10-K vs 10-Q vs 8-K: which company report do you need?
Choose a document by the question you need to answer. A current-event announcement and an annual financial report do different jobs.
| Form | Main purpose | Reading question |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K | Annual report with audited financial statements. | What changed over the full financial year? |
| 10-Q | Quarterly report with unaudited financial statements. | What changed during the interim reporting period? |
| 8-K | Current report covering disclosed events. | What event is being disclosed now? |
Use the filing type as a starting point
An earnings release may be attached to an 8-K. Open the document and its relevant exhibit before extracting a figure. Do not assume that the first filing returned by a ticker search is the latest full set of financial statements.
International issuers use other forms
20-F and 40-F are annual-report forms used by certain foreign issuers; 6-K carries information from foreign private issuers. A missing 10-Q does not by itself mean that an internationally listed issuer has failed to report. Check the issuer’s filing history.
Separate an amendment from a fresh period
A form ending in /A is amended. Keep both filing dates in your notes and read what the amendment changes. When the comparison concerns a specific financial period, match that period again after following the new document link.
Apply this in Shield
Search the company, choose the announcements section and open the original document. The filing label helps you choose what to read; it is not a ranking of the company’s financial condition. Shield’s company figures can be unavailable even when a document exists, because a comparable structured fact may not be available.
Continue with the filing search workflow or comparing quarterly results.
Sources and reading
This guide explains public information and Shield’s interface. It does not predict prices or provide personalized investment recommendations. Editorial standards · Report a correction