“EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection,
validation, indexing, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file
forms with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All publicly-traded domestic companies use
EDGAR to make the majority of their filings. (Some foreign companies file voluntarily.) Form 10-K, which
includes the annual report, is required to be filed on EDGAR. The SEC makes this information available on the
Internet” (Spiceland, Nelson, & Thomas, 2018, p. 159).
Research a publicly-traded company of your choice using EDGAR (www.sec.gov), review its most recent 10-K
report and proxy statement (also known as DEF14A), and answer the following questions:
- Provide a brief description of the company’s business.
- 10-K report (look for the financial statements, disclosure notes and the audit report)
a. What format does the company use to report its income (single-step, multiple-step, or a variation)?
b. Note any significant disclosures shared by the company that you found interesting.
c. State the company’s auditor and the audit opinion. - Proxy statement (look for DEF14A)
a. Review the executive officer’s summary compensation table and share the compensation for executives
listed. - Conduct a Google Search and share any noteworthy headlines about the company.
- Do your research findings change your perception of the company? Why or why not?