Seattle VC firm Graham & Walker raising a new fund in Filing

Companies in the United States are required by law to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in order to disclose important information. These filings, which are available to the public on the SEC’s website, provide insights into a company’s financial health, operations, executive compensation, and potential risks.

One type of SEC filing, known as the Form 10-K, is an annual report that publicly-traded companies must submit. This document offers a comprehensive overview of a company’s performance over the past year and highlights key financial data such as revenue, expenses, and profits. Investors use the information in the Form 10-K to evaluate the company’s stability and growth prospects.

Another important SEC filing is the Form 10-Q, which is a quarterly report that companies must submit within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. The Form 10-Q provides unaudited financial statements and an update on the company’s operations during the quarter. This filing gives investors timely insights into a company’s performance between annual reports.

Companies use SEC filings not only to comply with legal requirements but also to communicate with investors and stakeholders. By providing detailed information on their financial condition and business activities, companies can build trust with shareholders and attract new investors. Transparency in reporting fosters confidence in the company’s management and can help improve its reputation in the marketplace.

In addition to financial data, SEC filings also include disclosures about executive compensation. Companies must reveal how much they pay top executives, including salaries, bonuses, stock options, and other forms of compensation. This information allows investors to assess whether executive pay is aligned with the company’s performance and goals.

Furthermore, SEC filings contain important risk factors that could impact a company’s future prospects. These risks may include regulatory changes, market competition, economic conditions, technological developments, and other potential challenges that could affect the company’s operations and financial results. By being transparent about these risks, companies can help investors make more informed decisions about their investments.

Overall, SEC filings play a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in the financial markets. By requiring companies to disclose key information to the public, the SEC helps protect investors and ensure the integrity of the securities markets. Investors, analysts, and other stakeholders rely on these filings to make informed decisions and assess the performance and risks of publicly-traded companies.