SEC paper

Explain what Edgar is. Look at the 10-Q and 10-K and explain what they are and what information are included in the report.

EDGAR, the Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Everyone can go to search Edgar for company filling on www.sec.gov.

All public domestic companies were required to submit their filings via EDGAR, except for hardcopy paper filings, which were allowed under a hardship exemption. Third-party filings with respect to these companies, such as tender offers and Schedule 13D filings are also filed via EDGAR. SEC also required all foreign companies and foreign governments to file their documents via EDGAR. Actual annual reports to shareholders (except in the case of mutual fund companies) need not be submitted on EDGAR, although some companies do so voluntarily. However, the annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed on EDGAR.
10-K

A Form 10-K is an annual report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),that gives a comprehensive summary of a company’s performance. The 10-K includes information such as company history, organizational structure, executive compensation, equity, subsidiaries, and audited financial statements , among other information
Companies with more than $10 million in assets and a class of equity securities that is held by more than 500 owners must file annual and other periodic reports, regardless of whether the securities are publicly or privately traded. If a shareholder requests a company’s Form 10-K, the company must provide a copy. In addition, most large companies must disclose on Form 10-K whether the company makes its periodic and current reports available, free of charge, on its website.
Form 10-K had to be filed with the SEC within 90 days after the end of the company 's fiscal year.
10-Q
In addition to the 10-K, which is filed annually, a company is also required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. It contains similar information to the annual form 10-K, however the information is generally less detailed, and the financial statements are generally unaudited. Information for the final quarter of a firm 's fiscal year is included in the 10-K, so only three 10-Q filings are made each year.
These reports generally compare last quarter to the current quarter and last year 's quarter to this year 's quarter. The SEC put this form in place to facilitate better informed investors. The form 10-Q must be filed within 40 days for large accelerated filers and accelerated filers or 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter for all other registrants.

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http://en.wikipedia.org

Cited: from http://en.wikipedia.org