An annual report is an official document produced annually for investors or shareholders that describes a company's financial condition and operations from the previous year and may also include its future needs and prospects and desired direction of the company.
The term annual report is normally used to describe one of two documents, the company's 10-K form, which is submitted to the SEC, or the company's Annual Report to Shareholders.
Check out these resources to find a company's annual report. We recommend starting at the top of the list and working your way down as we've ordered this list to reflect the places you're most likely to find the report. (But, if you don't find it in the first place, keep searching! Just because it's not on their website doesn't mean it doesn't exist elsewhere.)
The components of an annual report may vary slightly, but here's an overview of some of the key sections found in almost all annual reports.
Annual reports are written by the company and tend to show the company in a positive light. We've bolded that statement not to yell at you but to point out that annual reports tend to be heavily biased in favor of the company.
To get a well-rounded picture of a company, you'll want to do additional research, which is critical for decision-making in any business. Some different things you should look at include:
Here are some databases you can use to fill out your research on your company.
Like this guide or have feedback on it? Let us know!
Finding an annual report can be hit or miss. Sometimes, you strike gold right away. But, other times, you don't. No need to get frustrated; we're here to help! If you're stuck or need help finding additional information on your company, Ask Us! We're here to assist at any step of your research.
Struggling to find or read a 10-K? Encountering some jargon you don't understand? No judgments; we struggle, too. 10-Ks are notoriously dense, and it can be hard to parse information out of them. We recommend checking out these resources to learn how to find 10-Ks in EDGAR and efficiently read through them.