Understanding Form 6-K
In this guide, you'll learn what Form 6-K is, who files it, and why it's important.
What Is Form 6-K?
Form 6-K is a report that foreign private issuers submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disclose material information throughout the year.
Unlike the annual Form 20-F, which is filed once a year, Form 6-K is used whenever important information needs to be shared with investors. For more on annual foreign issuer reports, read our Form 20-F guide.
Who Files Form 6-K?
Form 6-K is filed by many foreign private issuers whose securities trade on U.S. stock exchanges.
These companies use the filing to provide U.S. investors with information that has already been made public in their home country or that is otherwise important to shareholders.
What Information Does Form 6-K Include?
The contents of a Form 6-K vary depending on the company and the event being reported.
Common disclosures include:
- Earnings announcements
- Financial results
- Press releases
- Changes in executive leadership
- Material business developments
- Corporate governance updates
- Other significant company announcements
Each filing is designed to keep investors informed between annual reporting periods.
Form 6-K vs. Form 20-F
Although both filings are submitted by foreign private issuers, they serve different purposes.
- Form 6-K - Reports significant events throughout the year; Form 20-F - Annual report
- Form 6-K - Filed as needed; Form 20-F - Filed once per year
- Form 6-K - Contains current company updates; Form 20-F - Comprehensive annual disclosure
- Form 6-K - Filed with the SEC; Form 20-F - Filed with the SEC
Many investors read both filings to stay informed about international companies listed in the United States.
Where Can You Find Form 6-K Filings?
Form 6-K filings are publicly available through the SEC's EDGAR database.
You can search using:
- Company name
- Stock ticker
- Central Index Key (CIK)
- Filing type (6-K)
Reviewing both Form 20-F and Form 6-K filings can provide a more complete picture of a foreign company's financial performance and important business developments. For help searching EDGAR, read our SEC EDGAR database guide.
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