LESSON 1 / 4 · 6 MIN
Earnings season
Know when companies report, what they publish and where to find it.
US listed companies report results every quarter. Most do it in the weeks after the quarter ends, so there are four 'seasons' a year: mid-January to February, April to May, July to August and October to November. Big banks usually open the season; the largest tech companies come a couple of weeks later.
- ▸Before the open (usually around 7–8 a.m. New York time) or after the close (from 4 p.m.). The reaction happens in pre-market or after-hours trading.
- ▸The press release: the headline figures, often with 'adjusted' numbers. It is filed with the SEC as an 8-K.
- ▸The conference call: management explains the quarter and, above all, the outlook.
- ▸The 10-Q (or the 10-K at year end): the full official report, with the accounting details. It arrives days or weeks later.
Common mistake
Not every company's year ends in December. Apple's fiscal year ends in late September, so its 'first quarter' is October to December. Always check which period a report covers before comparing companies.
On the site · /earnings
Open /earnings and find which companies you follow report this week, and whether before the open or after the close.
Open it on the site →Check yourself
A company reports after the close. When does its stock react?