How to Read an 8-K Before the Market Does
8-K filings land on EDGAR before analysts have read them. Stocks often move in the first 10–20 minutes after a filing drops — before most coverage notes are published. This guide teaches you the 90-second scan that identifies the numbers that actually move prices.
What triggers an 8-K filing?
An 8-K is filed whenever a material event occurs. The most price-sensitive triggers are earnings releases (Item 2.02), executive changes (Item 5.02), M&A announcements (Item 1.01), and regulatory actions (Item 8.01). Each item type has a different average market impact and different lead time before analyst commentary appears.
The 90-second scan
Skip the cover page and go directly to the exhibit. For earnings 8-Ks, the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 — this is where the numbers are. Navigate there directly. Find EPS vs. consensus, revenue vs. consensus, and the full-year guidance paragraph. These three data points will explain 90% of the stock's initial reaction before you've read anything else in the document.
The two numbers that actually move prices
The market prices in expectation. What moves a stock is the surprise — the delta between what was expected and what was reported. EPS is the headline, but guidance is the price-mover. A beat on EPS with a guidance cut will often be sold off harder than a clean miss with guidance maintained. Read the guidance paragraph before you look at where the stock is trading.
Setting up filing alerts in Stonkly
Go to any company profile → Alerts tab → Add Filing Alert. Select the filing type (8-K) and choose which items you want to track. You can set alerts for your entire watchlist at once from the Watchlist view. Pro accounts receive push notifications within 90 seconds of the filing appearing on EDGAR — the same window institutional desks are working in.
Key Takeaway
The edge isn't reading faster — it's knowing what to look for. Most of the filing is boilerplate. Train yourself to skip to the numbers, and you'll consistently be in front of the initial consensus interpretation.
More in Market Education