In general, the federal securities laws require all but the
smallest of public companies to file reports with the SEC.
A company can become "public" in one of two ways-by
issuing securities in an offering or transaction that's registered
with the SEC or by registering the company and its outstanding
securities with the SEC. Both types of registration trigger
ongoing reporting obligations, meaning the company must file
periodic reports that disclose important information to investors
about its business, financial condition, and management.
This information is a treasure trove for investors: it tells
you whether a company is making money or losing money and
why. You'll find this information in the company's quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports (with audited financial
statements) on Form 10-K, and periodic reports of significant
events on Form 8-K.
A company must file reports with the SEC if:
it has 500 or more investors and $10 million or more in
assets;
OR
it lists its securities on the following stock markets:
American stock Exchange
Boston Stock Exchange
Cincinnati Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange
NASDAQ Stock Market
New York Stock Exchange
Pacific Exchange
Philadelphia Stock Exchange
Lois Center-Shabazz is the founder of MsFinancialSavvy.com
and author of the 3-time award-winning personal finance book,
Let's Get Financial Savvy! ISBN #0971979502.
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