Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval

For other uses, see Edgar (disambiguation).

EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is the electronic filing and retrieval system operated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It handles the collection, review, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of filings from companies and other entities that are required by law to submit forms to the SEC.[1]

EDGAR also gives the public free online access to company filings and other disclosure documents sent to the SEC. People can use the data system to look up information about a public company's finances and business operations.[2]

History

The SEC began developing an electronic disclosure system in 1983 and launched EDGAR as a pilot program in 1984. At first, use of the system was voluntary. On July 15, 1992, the SEC made the working EDGAR system available for voluntary use, and on February 23, 1993, it adopted interim rules that began the shift to mandatory electronic filing.[3]

After a multi-year phase-in, the SEC required domestic public companies and third parties filing in connection with them to submit filings through EDGAR rather than on paper, except in limited cases such as hardship exemptions.[4][5] On November 4, 2002, the SEC also began requiring foreign companies and foreign governments to file through EDGAR. Before then, electronic filing by foreign issuers had been voluntary.[6]

In September 2024, the SEC adopted EDGAR Next, a set of changes to filer access and account management. Under that system, people acting on behalf of filers use credentials from Login.gov to access EDGAR accounts and make filings.[7]

EDGAR's search tools let users find filings by company name, ticker symbol, or Central Index Key (CIK). Its full-text search also covers electronically filed submissions going back to 2001.[8][9] The system also shows recent filings as they are submitted, making it a key tool for tracking new company disclosures.[10]

Filings

Not all SEC filings relating to public companies are available on EDGAR. Domestic public companies were phased into mandatory EDGAR filing, while paper filing remained allowed in limited cases such as hardship exemptions.[11][12] Third-party filings connected to those companies, such as tender offer materials and Schedule 13D filings, are also submitted through EDGAR.[11]

EDGAR includes a wide range of filings, including registration statements, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements, and beneficial ownership reports.[13][14] The system now processes about 4,700 filings each day.[15]

In the past, annual reports sent to shareholders—except for those of mutual fund companies—usually did not have to be filed on EDGAR, though some companies chose to do so.[16] By contrast, the annual report on Form 10-K has long been required to be filed on EDGAR. Starting on January 11, 2023, filers were also required to submit "glossy" annual reports to security holders electronically on EDGAR.[17][18]

See also

Comparable systems in other jurisdictions

References

  1. ^ "About EDGAR". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. April 23, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  2. ^ "Using EDGAR to Research Investments". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. September 4, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  3. ^ "Electronic Filing and EDGAR". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. October 3, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference RegOverview3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference AboutEDGAR2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Mandated EDGAR Filing for Foreign Issuers". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. May 14, 2002. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  7. ^ "SEC Adopts Improvements to EDGAR System to Enhance Security, Filer Access, and Account Management". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. September 27, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference ResearchInvestments2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "EDGAR Full-Text Search FAQ". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  10. ^ "Search Filings". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference AboutEDGAR3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference RegOverview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Search Filings". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  14. ^ "Using EDGAR to Research Investments". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. September 4, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference AboutEDGAR4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference RegOverview4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "Updating EDGAR Filing Requirements and Form 144 Filings". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. June 29, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  18. ^ "Exchange Act Reporting and Registration". SEC.gov. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. June 20, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
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