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Run EDGAR Run: SEC Dissemination in a High‐Frequency World

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  • JONATHAN L. ROGERS
  • DOUGLAS J. SKINNER
  • SARAH L. C. ZECHMAN

Abstract

We describe the process through which the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) makes filings “publicly available.” For a sample of Form 4 (insider trade) filings, we show that, during the period we examine, the majority of filings are available to paying subscribers of the SEC's public dissemination system (PDS) feed before they are posted to the EDGAR website, and so provide subscribers and their clients with a private advantage. We show that this advantage translates into an economically significant trading advantage, and prices, volumes, and spreads respond to the news contained in filings beginning around 30 seconds before public posting. These findings indicate that the SEC dissemination process does not always provide a level playing field and that the meaning of publicly available information in capital markets is no longer simple or obvious. In response to our study, the SEC launched an investigation and agreed to eliminate the PDS timing advantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan L. Rogers & Douglas J. Skinner & Sarah L. C. Zechman, 2017. "Run EDGAR Run: SEC Dissemination in a High‐Frequency World," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), pages 459-505, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:55:y:2017:i:2:p:459-505
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12167
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    3. Ben-Rephael, Azi & Cookson, J. Anthony & izhakian, yehuda, 2022. "Trading, Ambiguity and Information in the Options Market," SocArXiv ewunv, Center for Open Science.
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    7. Andres Velez-Calle & Cristina Robledo-Ardila, 2020. "Exploring the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Edgar database by sampling joint venture contracts," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(2), pages 73-85, September.
    8. Vincent Grégoire & Charles Martineau, 2022. "How is Earnings News Transmitted to Stock Prices?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 261-297, March.
    9. John L. Campbell & Brady J. Twedt & Benjamin C. Whipple, 2021. "Trading Prior to the Disclosure of Material Information: Evidence from Regulation Fair Disclosure Form 8‐Ks," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(1), pages 412-442, March.
    10. Moehrle, Stephen R. & Meckfessel, Michele & Reynolds-Moehrle, Jennifer & Stuerke, Pamela & Wen, He, 2018. "Developments in accounting regulation: A synthesis and annotated bibliography of evidence and commentary in the 2017 academic literature," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 138-147.
    11. Akey, Pat & Grégoire, Vincent & Martineau, Charles, 2022. "Price revelation from insider trading: Evidence from hacked earnings news," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(3), pages 1162-1184.
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    17. Elsas, Ralf & Schoch, Daniela Stephanie, 2023. "Robust inference in single firm/single event analyses," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
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