Annual reports educate shareholders about a company’s activities and performance. Public companies must file reports, however small businesses and non-profits also create yearly reports. You can find reports on a company’s investor relations website.
Obtaining Annual Reports
There are a few ways to get a company’s annual report. One way is to look on the company’s website under the "Investor Relations" section. Another way is to contact the company directly. Finally, annual reports are also available through some public libraries.
Annual Report Contents
An annual report is a comprehensive document produced by a company that provides information about financial performance, operations, and activities. It is a legal requirement for publicly traded companies. The annual report typically includes financial statements, management discussion, a letter from the CEO, and other relevant data.
A handful of states only ask for reports every other year, while some don’t require an annual report at all. One challenge of annual reports is that each state has its own filing deadlines. After a certain amount of time after the due date, if the report still hasn’t been filed, the jurisdiction will revoke your business’s good standing or place it in forfeiture status.
Are company annual reports public?
Annual reports are public for most companies with stock. Private companies without public trading aren’t required to disclose financials.