10-Q (Quarterly Report)

A 10-Q is a quarterly financial report that public companies must file with the SEC (the government agency that oversees stock markets). It shows how the company performed financially over the past three months—revenue, expenses, profits, and other key metrics. You'll encounter 10-Qs when researching stocks because they're one of the most reliable ways to see what's actually happening inside a company, not just what management says in press releases. Unlike the annual 10-K report, the 10-Q comes out four times a year, giving you fresher snapshots of business health. For example, if you're tracking TechCorp Inc., their 10-Q might reveal that customer growth slowed down last quarter, which could affect your investment decision.