EDGAR stands for Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval. This system is used at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is the primary system for submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file information with the SEC.

EDGAR contains millions of company and individual filings. It benefits investors, corporations, and the U.S. economy overall by increasing the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of the securities markets. The system processes about 3,000 filings per day, serves up 3,000 terabytes of data to the public annually, and accommodates 40,000 new filers per year on average.

Access to EDGAR’s public database is free—allowing you to research, for example, a public company’s financial information and operations by reviewing the filings the company makes with the SEC. You can also research information provided by mutual funds (including money market funds), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), variable annuities, and individuals.