Form 10-K Filing

Form 10-K Filing Definition in Accounting

For public companies in the U.S., the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) authorizes the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to establish the set of reporting requirements by which all public companies must abide.

Under FASB, the financial statements of public companies must be prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP), with the two foremost reporting being the:

• Form 10-K Filing: Required Annual Filing for the Fiscal Year (i.e. 12 Months)
• Form 10-Q Filing: Required Quarterly Filing (i.e. 3 Months)

The purpose of the comprehensive 10-K is to provide investors with all the necessary information regarding a company to make informed decisions (e.g. purchasing or selling shares).

The SEC mandates strict accounting policies to standardize financial reporting and to ensure all financials are presented fairly with sufficient transparency – in an effort to protect the interests of all stakeholders (e.g. shareholders, lenders).

SEC EDGAR Database: How to Find the Form 10-K Filing

The 10-K filings of companies in the U.S. can be retrieved from the SEC EDGAR database, as shown below.

SEC Form 10-K: Format and Sections

The length and complexity of each 10-K are company-specific, but the standard structure is as follows.

For our purposes — i.e. financial analysis and corporate valuation — the sections listed above are where the majority of time is spent.

But for those looking for a more detailed explanation of all sections (e.g. corporate governance, executive compensation), the SEC provides a guide titled “How to Read a 10-K/10-Q“.

Form 10-K Filing Example: Facebook Cover Page (Table of Contents)

^{Facebook Table of Contents with Key Sections Highlighted (Source: FB 2020 10-K)}

Financial Statements and SEC Disclosure Requirements in 10-K Filing

In the form 10-K filing, the three “core” financial statements can be found, which are the:

1. Income Statement
2. Cash Flow Statement
3. Balance Sheet

Additionally, there are two other important filings:

1. Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
2. Statement of Comprehensive Income

When building financial models on companies, it’s best to get the required financial data straight from the source (i.e. EDGAR), as opposed to third-party sources that often contain mistakes — with one exception being BamSEC.

However, the financial statements alone are not enough to create a detailed financial model.

The supplementary data provided — e.g. segment level revenue breakdown, expected capital expenditures (CapEx), upcoming tailwinds/headwinds that’ll impact performance, etc. — are just as important, and should not be neglected.

Form 10-K Filing SEC Filing Deadlines

Unique to the 10-K, the financials are legally required to be audited by an independent accountant.

The 10-K is also required to contain disclosures in the footnotes section regarding any material events that can impact a company’s status as a “going concern,” as well as any changes in accounting policies — which is referred to as the full disclosure principle.

In the final section, the 10-K concludes with signed letters from the CEO and CFO certifying that all of the information in the filing is accurate to the best of their knowledge.

Considering the CEO/CFO letters are signed under oath, allegations of fraud can be litigated with significant consequences if a breach of fiduciary duty is found.