Form 10-Q
The quarterly report US public companies file with the SEC, containing unaudited financial statements for the first three quarters of the year.
A Form 10-Q is the quarterly report that US public companies file with the SEC. It contains unaudited financial statements, management's discussion and analysis, updates to risk factors and disclosures on legal proceedings. It is filed for the first three quarters of each fiscal year; the fourth quarter is covered by the annual report. Large accelerated filers generally file within 40 days of quarter end.
On our site, 10-Q data updates quarterly revenue, margin and cash flow figures. The MD&A section explains the drivers behind the numbers.
Traders care because the 10-Q shows changes in risk factors, debt, share count and segment performance between annual reports. Management commentary often reveals more than the headline figures.
Worked example (illustrative numbers, not real data): a 10-Q shows quarterly revenue of 1.2 billion dollars, up 8 percent year over year, and a diluted share count up 2 percent. The filing also notes a new credit facility. Traders would check whether the share count increase or the new debt changes the per-share picture.