Guides
Read the filings like a pro.
Plain-English guides to the documents and events that move stocks: what each SEC form means, how to read insider trades, what analyst rating changes are worth, how FDA catalysts work, and how to act on news without getting burned.
SEC filings
How to read SEC filings: a practical guide to EDGAR and the forms that move stocksA plain-English guide to SEC filings: what each major form is, when it is due, where to find it on EDGAR, and which filings tend to matter most to investors.8 min read Form 8-K explained: every item number that matters to investorsWhat a Form 8-K is, when it is due, and what each key item number means, from 1.01 material agreements and 2.02 earnings to 4.02 restatements and 5.02 executive changes.8 min read Form 10-K vs 10-Q: annual and quarterly reports explainedThe difference between a 10-K and a 10-Q: what each report contains, filing deadlines by company size, audited vs reviewed financials, and which sections to read first.7 min read Schedule 13D vs 13G: what 5% ownership filings tell youSchedule 13D vs 13G explained: who must file when crossing 5% ownership, the 2024 deadlines, how activists differ from passive holders, and what Item 4 reveals.7 min read Form S-1 and IPO filings: how to read a registration statementWhat a Form S-1 is, how the IPO filing sequence works from confidential draft to 424B4 final prospectus, and which S-1 sections reveal valuation, dilution and risk.7 min read Shelf offerings and dilution: how to read S-3s, 424B supplements, ATMs and warrantsHow shelf registrations, 424B prospectus supplements, at-the-market programs and warrants work, and how to spot share dilution in SEC filings before it hits the stock.7 min read Proxy statements (DEF 14A) explained: executive pay, board votes and shareholder proposalsWhat a DEF 14A proxy statement is, when it is filed, how to read executive pay and voting proposals, and which proxy items signal dilution, governance fights or deals.7 min read
Insiders and institutions
Form 4 explained: how to read insider trading filingsForm 4 is the SEC filing that discloses when officers, directors and 10% owners buy or sell company stock, due within 2 business days. Learn every key field and code.9 min read How to track insider buying and judge the signalInsider buying is tracked through SEC Form 4 code P filings. Learn how to find open-market purchases, spot cluster buys and judge which insider trades carry real signal.7 min read Form 13F explained: how to read institutional holdings filingsWhat Form 13F is, which investment managers must file, the 45-day deadline, what 13F holdings include and leave out, and how to read institutional positions.6 min read Form 144 explained: what a notice of proposed sale tells you about insider sellingWhat Form 144 is, who must file it under Rule 144, the 5,000 share or $50,000 threshold, how it differs from Form 4, and how to read a proposed insider sale.7 min read
Trading the news
Trading news catalysts: how news moves stock pricesA news catalyst is an event like earnings, an FDA ruling or a merger that makes a stock reprice. Learn how fast prices react, why stocks sell the news and how halts work.7 min read Analyst upgrades and downgrades: ratings, price targets and initiationsAn analyst upgrade or downgrade is a change in a sell-side analyst's stock rating. Learn what Buy, Hold and Sell mean, how price targets work and which changes matter.7 min read Press releases vs SEC filings: where company news first appearsCompanies publish news through wire press releases and SEC filings like the 8-K. Learn how Reg FD links them, which comes first and what Items 2.02, 7.01 and 8.01 mean.7 min read Mergers and acquisitions news: how to read a deal announcementM&A news covers deals where one company agrees to buy another. Learn what a definitive agreement, tender offer, go-shop and merger arbitrage spread mean.7 min read How to build a stock news watchlist that catches what mattersA news watchlist is a set of tickers paired with filters and alerts for the events that move them. Learn how to choose tickers, pick event types and keep alerts useful.6 min read
Earnings and dividends
How to read an earnings report: revenue, EPS, guidance and the 8-KAn earnings report is a company's quarterly results release, usually filed under 8-K Item 2.02. Learn how to read revenue, EPS, margins, guidance and the 10-Q.9 min read Earnings season calendar: when companies report, BMO vs AMC, and guidanceEarnings season starts about two weeks after each quarter ends and runs roughly six weeks. Learn the timing, BMO and AMC releases, whisper numbers and guidance.7 min read Dividend dates explained: declaration, ex-dividend, record and payment datesTo receive a dividend you must own the stock before the ex-dividend date. Under T+1 settlement the ex-date now usually falls on the record date itself.7 min read Stock splits and corporate actions: splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, buybacks and ticker changesCorporate actions change a company's shares or structure without a trade by you. Learn how stock splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, buybacks and ticker changes work.7 min read
Biotech and FDA
FDA approval process: IND, NDA and BLA, priority review, CRLs and accelerated approvalA new drug needs an IND to start human trials and an approved NDA or BLA to be sold. Learn each FDA step, review timelines, expedited programs and what a CRL means.9 min read PDUFA dates explained: what an FDA goal date is and how to track itA PDUFA date is the FDA's target date to act on a drug or biologic application. Learn how it is calculated, why it can move, and what happens on the day.7 min read Clinical trial phases explained: Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 for investorsClinical trials run in phases. Phase 1 tests safety in 20 to 100 people, Phase 2 tests efficacy in up to several hundred, and Phase 3 confirms results in 300 to 3,000.7 min read
Market structure
Short volume vs short interest: what FINRA data actually tells youShort volume counts shares sold short each day; short interest counts positions still open on a settlement date. Learn how FINRA publishes each and how to read them.7 min read The IPO lifecycle: from S-1 filing to lockup expirationAn IPO moves from a confidential S-1 to pricing, first trade, analyst initiations about 25 days later and lockup expiry around day 180. Here is what each stage means.7 min read Stock exchanges explained: NYSE, Nasdaq tiers, OTC and delistingUS stocks trade on exchanges like the NYSE and Nasdaq or over the counter. Learn the Nasdaq tiers, the $1 minimum bid rule, deficiency notices and how delisting works.8 min read Options chain basics: calls, puts, implied volatility and open interestAn options chain lists every call and put for a stock by strike and expiration. Learn to read bid, ask, volume, open interest, implied volatility and earnings IV crush.8 min read Sectors and industries: how stocks are classified with GICS, SIC and NAICSSectors are broad groups of companies and industries are narrower groups within them. Learn how GICS, SEC SIC codes and NAICS classify stocks and why it matters.7 min read