Find out what an 8-K actually announces, down to the exhibit
An 8-K reports a single event, or a few, as it happens: a material agreement signed, an acquisition closed, an officer leaving, quarterly results released. The body is often a few short paragraphs under numbered items, and the substance sits in the attached exhibits. Put the 8-K and its exhibits in a Search+ workspace as PDFs, ask what was announced and on what terms, and open the cited excerpt to read the wording yourself.
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Last updated October 2026
How to read an 8-K with Search+
- Upload the report with its exhibits
Add the 8-K and the exhibits that matter, such as the press release or the agreement it describes, as separate PDFs. If the company later filed an amendment, add the 8-K/A too, since it may complete or correct the original.
- Set what you are tracking in Workspace Context
For a stream of current reports on one company, write an instruction such as "Name the 8-K item number and the filing date for every event you describe." Search+ applies it to each question in the workspace.
- Ask about the event, then the terms
First ask what event the report discloses and under which item. Then ask about the specifics, such as the price, the parties or the effective date, and open the citations, which often point into the exhibit rather than the 8-K body.
Questions people ask of an 8-K
Which items does this 8-K report under, and what event does each one describe?
What are the main terms of the agreement disclosed under Item 1.01, such as the parties, term and termination rights?
Which officer or director is leaving or joining, from what date, and what compensation arrangements does the filing describe?
In the press release attached to the results 8-K, what outlook does the company give for the next period?
What were the voting results for each proposal at the annual meeting?
Across the 8-K filings in this workspace, which ones relate to the company's debt financing, and what changed each time?
What reading an 8-K well takes
Each 8-K is organized by numbered items: entry into a material agreement, completion of an acquisition, results of operations, changes in directors or officers, shareholder vote results, other events, and financial statements and exhibits, among others. Ask which items a report uses before asking about details.
The 8-K body often summarizes and refers to an exhibit: the press release, the merger or credit agreement, or a presentation. Questions about terms usually need the exhibit in the workspace.
Most items must be reported within a few business days of the event, so 8-Ks are short and can be updated later by an amendment or by the next 10-Q or 10-K. Check for follow-up filings on the same event.
Some content, such as earnings releases and certain investor presentations, is usually furnished rather than filed, which gives it a different legal status. The 8-K normally states which applies.
A busy company files many 8-Ks a year. Keeping them in one workspace lets you ask how a story developed, such as a financing or a leadership transition, across several reports.
Ask across all the documents in a workspace, or narrow a question to a single 8-K. Answers come with inline citations to the supporting excerpt, and you can come back to the workspace when the next report arrives.
Common 8-K items and a question for each
| 8-K item | What it usually reports | A question to ask Search+ |
|---|---|---|
| Item 1.01, Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement | A significant contract outside the ordinary course | Who are the parties and what are the key obligations? |
| Item 1.05, Material Cybersecurity Incidents | A cybersecurity incident the company considers material | What does the company say about the nature and impact of the incident? |
| Item 2.01, Completion of Acquisition or Disposition | A closed purchase or sale of assets or a business | What was acquired, from whom, and for what consideration? |
| Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition | An earnings release, usually attached as an exhibit | What reasons does the release give for the change in revenue? |
| Item 4.02, Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements | Earlier financial statements should no longer be relied on | Which periods are affected and what is the reason? |
| Item 5.02, Departure or Appointment of Directors or Officers | Leadership changes and related pay arrangements | What compensation terms are described for the new officer? |
| Item 8.01, Other Events | Events the company chooses to report voluntarily | What event is described, and does the company say why it is disclosing it? |
What is an 8-K?
An 8-K is a current report that US public companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission to announce specified material events between their quarterly and annual reports, such as major agreements, acquisitions, leadership changes and results releases. Each event is reported under a numbered item, with supporting documents attached as exhibits.
Questions about reading 8-K filings with AI
Can Search+ tell me what an 8-K is about without reading the whole thing?
Why does the answer say the terms are in an exhibit?
Can I follow an event across the original 8-K and its amendment?
Can I review a year of a company's current reports at once?
Should I trade on what an 8-K answer tells me?
How sure can I be that a date or amount in the answer is right?
Read the event, not just the headline
Start a workspace, upload the 8-K and its exhibits, and ask what the company announced and on what terms.
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