SEC EDGAR

SEC EDGAR is the free online database where publicly traded companies file their official financial documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Think of it as a giant filing cabinet of company disclosures that the government requires for transparency. You'll encounter EDGAR when researching stocks—it's where you find quarterly earnings reports (10-Qs), annual reports (10-Ks), and other important filings that show how a company is actually performing. It matters because these documents contain unfiltered, audited financial data straight from the source, not marketing spin. For example, if you wanted to see TechCorp Inc.'s real revenue and expenses for last quarter, you'd search EDGAR rather than relying on a press release. It's the most reliable place to dig into a company's numbers before investing.