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Press release

Also known as: press releases, news release, company announcement, newswire release

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A press release is an official written announcement a company distributes to the public, usually through a commercial newswire, to disclose earnings, acquisitions, clinical trial results, financings, leadership changes and other material news.

How it works

Public companies send releases through wire services such as Business Wire, PR Newswire and GlobeNewswire, which push them simultaneously to news terminals, media outlets and data providers. Releases are usually timed outside market hours: before 9:30 a.m. ET or after 4:00 p.m. ET.

A press release and an SEC filing often go together:

  • Under Regulation FD, material information must be disclosed broadly and non-exclusively. A widely distributed press release is one accepted method.
  • Earnings releases are typically furnished to the SEC as an exhibit to a Form 8-K under Item 2.02.
  • Other releases are attached to 8-Ks under Item 7.01 (Reg FD) or Item 8.01 (other events), or not filed at all if the news is not material.

The release and the filing do not always arrive at the same moment. The wire version often hits first, with the 8-K following minutes or hours later.

Why it matters for traders

Press releases are the raw form of most market-moving news, and the first seconds after a release crosses the wire are when the biggest repricing happens. Reading the release itself, not a headline, matters because:

  • Headlines miss the details that matter, such as guidance, margins, or the fine print in a deal.
  • Promotional language is common, especially from small caps. "Strategic partnership" or "letter of intent" can mean very little.
  • Offerings are often announced by press release after a stock spikes.

During market hours, a company may request a news-pending trading halt before issuing a major release.

FAQ

Is a press release the same as an SEC filing?

No. A press release is distributed through newswires; an SEC filing is submitted to EDGAR. Material releases are often also filed or furnished as an 8-K exhibit.

Why do companies release news after the market closes?

To give investors time to digest the information before trading resumes and to reduce disorderly intraday moves.

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Related terms

Regulation FDThe SEC rule that bars public companies from selectively disclosing material nonpublic information to analysts or investors before the public.Form 8-KThe SEC "current report" a public company files to disclose material events, generally within four business days of the event.8-K Item 2.02: Results of Operations and Financial ConditionThe 8-K item a company uses to furnish an earnings release or other public announcement of results for a completed period.8-K Item 7.01: Regulation FD DisclosureThe 8-K item a company uses to furnish information publicly under Regulation FD, such as investor presentations or updated guidance.CatalystAn event or piece of news that causes, or is expected to cause, a significant move in a stock's price.Trading haltA temporary stop in trading of a security, called by an exchange or regulator for pending news, volatility, or regulatory concerns.

Part of the Quantisnow financial glossary. For longer explainers, see the investing guides. Educational content, not investment advice.