SEC Filings and the EDGAR Database

Research and discuss how the SEC’s EDGAR | Search Tools improves how investors find and use financial information. In your paper,

Explain how investors can use the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) database at EDGAR | Search Tools (Links to an external site.) to research a company’s operations and financial information.

Assess the financial performance of Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) by determining the risk of investing in the company through financial statement analysis. To make the above assessment and determination, go to Amazon’s.com (Links to an external site.) official website, and locate the company’s Investor Relations link. Using the Investors Relations link, find financial information such as SEC Filings and Annual Reports.

Conclude how investors can assess Amazon’s.com financial performance and risk using Annual Reports.
Explain the content of each report listed below in detail and how it relates to your assessment of Amazon’s.com financial performance.

Form 10-K SEC filings
Annual Reports
Management Discussion and Analysis
Management’s Responsibility for Financial Reporting
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Auditors’ Report
Selected Financial Data

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) is the world’s largest electronic commerce and cloud computing company measured by revenue and market capitalization. The following items were adapted from a recent Annual Report of Amazon.com (Links to an external site.) for the year ending December 31:
In millions

  • 1. Accounts payable    $16,459
  • 2. Accounts receivable   5,612
  • 3. Cash   14,557
  • 4. Cost of sales  62,752
  • 5. Income tax expense   167
  • 6. Interest expense 210
  • 7. Inventories   8,299
  • 8. Net cash provided by operating activities   6,842
  • 9. Net cash flows used for investing activities    (5,065)
  • 10. Net sales  88,988
  • 11. Other expense   118
  • 12. Other income   76
  • 13. Property, plant, and other long-term assets   16,967
  • 14. Selling, general, and administrative expenses  26,058
  • 15. Retained earnings (Dec. 31)    2,190

Indicate on which financial statement you would find each of the preceding items using the following notations (note: an item may appear on more than one statement):
IS Income statement
SE Statement of stockholders’ equity
BS Balance sheet
SCF Statement of cash flow

Prepare an income statement for the year ending December 31, based on the com, Inc. financial statement data shown above.