Forensic · 10-K concepts
Most 10-K filings are routine. The ones that aren't usually have a 'going concern' qualification — language from the auditor saying there's substantial doubt the company will still exist in 12 months. It's the most serious flag a CPA can raise.
Under U.S. GAAP (ASC 205-40), management must evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the date the financial statements are issued.
If substantial doubt exists, management must disclose:
If the auditor concludes substantial doubt exists, they include an "emphasis of matter" paragraph in their audit opinion. This is buried in the auditor's report — usually near the front of the 10-K.
Common triggers:
Open the 10-K on EDGAR. Search for "going concern" — usually appears 2-4 times in a 10-K with the flag:
A going concern qualification often precedes:
Forensic doesn't yet parse 10-K body text directly — its current signals come from 8-K filings. But the cluster of post-going-concern 8-Ks (4.01, 5.02, 3.01) is exactly the multi-flag pattern Forensic catches.
Run a forensic check: filingfirehose.com/forensic
Free risk score 0-100 grounded in cited SEC filings. $9 for the full bear case.
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