Company research: find the original document before the headline
A headline can shorten a company announcement until the qualification disappears. Start with the original document, then use commentary to identify questions you still need to answer.
A document route for US-listed companies
The investor-relations website normally collects earnings releases, presentations and reports. SEC EDGAR provides regulatory filings. A Form 10-K is an annual report; a 10-Q covers a quarter; an 8-K reports specified current events. Foreign issuers can use different forms, so check the company’s filing status.
Open the document that actually contains the claim. A presentation quoting revenue growth may use an adjusted or constant-currency definition. Find the explanation rather than comparing it with a differently defined number.
Four checks worth recording
Write the publication date and period covered. Confirm whether the table uses dollars, thousands or millions. Distinguish reported results from guidance. Save the original source URL alongside the figure.
A clear research setup keeps these references beside your notes. That lets you revisit a conclusion when a restatement or updated filing appears.
Search the report for risk factors, customer concentration and the management discussion, then follow references into the financial notes. A keyword search helps locate a passage but does not replace reading its context.
If sources disagree, compare timestamps and definitions before selecting a favourite. One may report an earlier estimate or a different share count. Record the unresolved discrepancy until you can explain it.
Finish with a small evidence trail: claim, source, relevant passage and your interpretation. Someone else should be able to reproduce the factual part without needing your memory.