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/ SEC filings for sales
How to use SEC filings for sales prospecting
US public companies file a 10-K each year, a 10-Q for each of the first three quarters, and an 8-K for major events. Read them for risks, plans and new leaders, then look for job posts that match. EDGAR full-text search is free.
Key takeaways
- EDGAR full-text search covers all electronic filings since 2001, including exhibits (SEC).
- Companies generally have four business days to file an 8-K after a triggering event (Investor.gov).
- Most private companies that raise money privately do not file periodic reports (Investor.gov).
Which SEC filings matter for sales?
| Filing | When it is filed | What to read | What it tells a seller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-K | Once a year | Item 1, Item 1A and Item 7 | Products, markets, top risks and plans |
| 10-Q | For each of the first three quarters | Management's discussion and new risks | How the year is going |
| 8-K | Generally within four business days of a major event | Items 1.01, 2.01, 5.02 and 8.01 | New deals, acquisitions and leaders |
| DEF 14A proxy | Before the annual meeting | Executive pay and its criteria | What leaders are paid to deliver |
| S-1 | Before a company goes public | Use of Proceeds | What the new money is for |
| Earnings call | After quarterly results | The transcript or replay | What management stresses this quarter |
What is the difference between a 10-K and a 10-Q?
- The 10-K is the annual report. It gives a full overview of the business and includes audited financial statements (Investor.gov).
- The 10-Q has unaudited financial statements and gives a running view during the year (Investor.gov).
- A 10-Q is filed for each of the first three quarters. The 10-K covers the fourth (Investor.gov).
Where do buying signals hide in a 10-K?
- Item 1, Business: the main products and services, and the markets the company sells in (SEC).
- Item 1A, Risk Factors: the biggest risks, generally in order of importance (SEC).
- Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis: liquidity, capital resources and known trends or uncertainties (SEC).
Which 8-K items point to a sales opportunity?
- Item 1.01: a material agreement outside the ordinary course of business (Investor.gov).
- Item 2.01: the company bought or sold a significant amount of assets (Investor.gov).
- Item 5.02: a top executive left, or a new director or senior officer was appointed (Investor.gov).
- Item 8.01: other events the company considers important (Investor.gov).
How do you use earnings calls?
- Results usually arrive with a press release and an 8-K that often announce an earnings call (Investor.gov).
- The SEC encourages companies to say how a transcript or replay will be available, for instance on their website (SEC).
- Read the transcript for the priorities management repeats, and quote the exact words.
How do you combine filings with job posts?
- Find one risk or plan in the 10-K or 10-Q that your product helps with.
- Search the company's job posts for the same words.
- If both match, the company has the problem and is hiring for it now.
- Quote both in your first message, each with its source and date.
Which tools read SEC filings?
We make Kalko, so we list it first. Facts checked on each tool's own page between October 22, 2026 and October 28, 2026.
| Tool | What it does | Price from | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalko | Finds what each company is working on but has not announced, from job posts, filings and buyer posts. Every claim carries a source and a date. | From $99 per month | Yes, 200 credits, no card |
| SEC EDGAR full-text search | Searches the full text of SEC filings and their exhibits by keyword, phrase, company or ticker. | Free | Free |
| BamSEC | Reads SEC filings and earnings transcripts, with search across all filings, table export and email alerts. | $69 a month, billed annually | Yes, free trial |
| AlphaSense | Searches SEC and global filings, earnings call transcripts, broker research and expert-call transcripts. | Not published | Not stated |
| Quartr | Live earnings calls and transcripts, filings and slides, with transcript search and keyword alerts. | Not published | Not stated |
| Salesmotion | AI agents that watch named accounts in news, filings, earnings calls and job posts, then draft outreach. | $85 a month billed monthly | No, an API tier has 100 free credits |
How do you get alerts on new filings?
- BamSEC sends email alerts on new filings (BamSEC).
- Quartr has keyword alerts across transcripts and filings (Quartr).
- EDGAR full-text search finds exact phrases, so save the searches you run often (SEC).
What about private companies?
- Unlike public companies, private companies do not have to file with the SEC (Library of Congress).
- A company raising money under Regulation D can file only a notice, not a full disclosure document (Investor.gov).
- For private accounts, use job posts, press releases and public posts by the team instead.
How Kalko uses filings
Kalko does this for every account in your market and keeps the source and date on each claim. It starts at $99 per month, with a 200-credit trial.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a 10-K and a 10-Q?
The 10-K is the audited annual report. The 10-Q is an unaudited report for each of the first three quarters.
Where can I find a company's filings?
On SEC EDGAR, for free. Most companies also post their 10-Ks on their own websites (SEC).
What is an 8-K?
A current report a company files to announce a major event, generally within four business days of it.
Sources
- Investor.gov: Form 10-K, checked October 28, 2026
- Investor.gov: Form 10-Q, checked October 28, 2026
- SEC Investor Bulletin: How to Read a 10-K, checked October 28, 2026
- Investor.gov: Form 8-K, checked October 28, 2026
- Investor.gov: How to Read an 8-K, checked October 28, 2026
- Investor.gov: executive compensation, checked October 28, 2026
- SEC Investor Bulletin: investing in an IPO, checked October 28, 2026
- SEC: Regulation FD interpretations, Question 102.01, checked October 28, 2026
- Library of Congress: researching US private companies, checked October 28, 2026
- Investor.gov: private placements under Regulation D, checked October 28, 2026
- SEC: EDGAR full-text search FAQ, checked October 28, 2026
- BamSEC: pricing, checked October 28, 2026
- AlphaSense: pricing, checked October 28, 2026
- Quartr: pricing, checked October 28, 2026
- Salesmotion: pricing, checked October 22, 2026
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