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How Do I Use EDGAR?
This tutorial describes the various ways web users can search EDGAR for
real-time filings and other company information. If you wish to access
EDGAR through anonymous file transfer protocol, you'll find instructions
elsewhere on this site.
General-Purpose Searches
Companies and Other Filers
This search works best when you have a specific company in mind. "Search
Companies and Filings" allows you to retrieve real-time filings for a
specific company and to find key company information — including its
name, address, telephone number, state of incorporation, Central Index
Key (CIK) number, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, and
fiscal year end. Simply type in the name of the company or its CIK
number. Note: A CIK is the unique number that the SEC's computer
system assigns to individuals and corporations who file disclosure
documents with the SEC. All new electronic and paper filers, foreign and
domestic, receive a CIK number. You don't need to know a company's CIK,
but searching by that number will narrow your search to the exact
company you want.
You can also search for all SEC-registered companies in a particular
state. Or you can search for all companies with a specific SIC code. For
example, if you enter 7370 in the SIC box, you'll retrieve all
SEC-registered companies that fall into the Standard Industrial
Classification known as "Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing,
Etc."
Once you've found the company you want, you can limit the search
results by date (for example, "Prior to 2002-01-01") or by the type of
filing (for example, "10-K").
Latest Filings
Here you'll find the most recent filings our EDGAR system has received -
from all SEC filers, including individuals and companies, paper
filers and electronic filers. The list on this page features real-time
filings from a broad range of companies and individuals for the current
official filing date (including filings made after the 5:30 pm deadline
on the previous filing day). Note: Filings may be made Monday through
Friday (except for U.S.
Federal Holidays).
If you want to retrieve a paper filing, please contact the SEC Public
Reference Room and be sure to provide the "Paper/Film #" that
appears in blue under the company's name.
Historical EDGAR Archives
Enter a keyword or phrase to search all header information (including addresses) in all filings
in the EDGAR database. You can also use the company CIK as a search
term. This search will truncate at 2000 records (filings).
Tip: For best results when using the Simple search syntax, use
lower-case only and make use of phrase delimiters (commas, "and", "or",
etc.), which are described more fully on the bottom of the search
screen. For example, to search on "Washington Energy" and "Utility", use
the keyphrase washington energy and utility.
Special-Purpose Searches
EDGAR CIK (Central Index Key) Lookup
The CIK is a unique identifier assigned by the SEC to all companies and
people who file disclosures with the SEC. Simply enter the company's
name and click on search to find the CIK. Then use the CIK (including
the leading zeroes - e.g., 00001111) as a keyword in your Archives or
Forms Lookup search.
Current Events Analysis
Retrieve filings made during the previous week. For example, you can
check 10-K (annual) and 10-Q (quarterly) reports, proxies, and others.
Simply select the desired time period and the form you'd like to see.
Select "all" if you don't want to limit your search to a particular
form.
Mutual Fund Prospectuses
To view prospectuses for the mutual fund of your choice, enter at least
5 - but no more than 20 - characters of the mutual fund company's name,
and then click the "Find Funds" button.
Tip: Mutual fund companies often register several
different funds as one "series" and include information about each of
those funds in one prospectus for the series. For example, information
about the "XYZ S&P 500 Index Fund" might appear in the prospectus
for "XYZ Index Funds." If your search results don't list the exact name
of the fund you're seeking, then scan the list for the most logical
name, check each prospectus to see whether it covers the fund you're
researching, or contact the fund to find out the name of the series to
which the fund belongs.
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/quickedgar.htm
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