GlossarySecurities and Exchange Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission

Also known as: SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission is the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating securities markets and protecting investors. It's the reason public companies are required to file standardized financial disclosures, including the 10-K and 10-Q, on a regular schedule.

That requirement is what makes those filings trustworthy as a source: they follow a consistent legal format and are filed under real legal liability, not written as marketing material.