--- title: "Stock Research Checklists" description: "Stock research checklists for company fundamentals, SEC filings, valuation, governance, earnings, risk, and portfolio review." canonical: https://www.getswoopr.com/checklists/stocks/ source: "Swoopr Investment: https://www.getswoopr.com" --- # Stock Research Checklists ## Direct Answer > The Swoopr Stock Research Checklist library converts company analysis into repeatable evidence checks. Start with the 25-point checklist for an end-to-end review, then open narrower checklists when a filing, metric, event, or risk needs deeper work. Each checklist should preserve the source, interpretation, failure condition, and verification date so research remains auditable instead of becoming a collection of remembered impressions. ## Start With the 25-Point Checklist The canonical entry point is the [25-Point Stock Research Checklist](https://www.getswoopr.com/checklists/stocks/25-point-stock-research-checklist/). It covers: 1. Decision and time horizon 2. Primary-source research pack 3. Business model 4. Revenue mix 5. Concentration 6. Industry and peers 7. Revenue trend 8. Margins 9. Earnings quality 10. Cash conversion 11. Free cash flow 12. Liquidity 13. Debt and maturities 14. Dilution 15. Returns on capital 16. Capital allocation 17. Governance and incentives 18. Insider and beneficial ownership 19. Risks and current events 20. Auditor report 21. Valuation 22. Embedded expectations 23. Catalysts 24. Bear case and thesis breakers 25. Portfolio fit and review triggers The narrower checklists exist to deepen these points, not repeat them. ## Three Ways to Use the Library ### 1. Start-to-finish company research Use: - 25-Point Stock Research Checklist - Stock Research Evidence Log Template - Stock Research Checklist Scorecard - Investment Thesis Review Checklist This path is best when the reader has a company in mind and wants a complete workflow. ### 2. Filing-first research Use: - 10-K Reading Checklist - 10-Q Reading Checklist - 8-K Event Review Checklist - Proxy Statement Review Checklist - Form 4 Insider Transaction Review Checklist - Schedule 13D and 13G Ownership Review Checklist - Auditor Report and Critical Audit Matters Checklist This path is best when the reader wants to work directly from primary evidence. ### 3. Problem-first research Use a narrow checklist when a specific concern appears: - Weak cash conversion: Earnings Quality + Cash Flow + Working Capital - Rising leverage: Debt and Liquidity + Bear Case - Heavy buybacks: Share Repurchase Quality + Dilution and Share Count - Rich valuation: Reverse DCF + Valuation Multiple Trap - New CEO: Executive Change + Management Execution + Capital Allocation - Major acquisition: M&A Announcement + Acquisition Track Record + Debt and Liquidity - Suspected accounting issue: Footnotes + Accounting Red Flags + Auditor Report ## The Research Rule: A Checked Box Needs Evidence A useful research system makes it difficult to say "done" without showing the basis. For every checklist item, preserve: - **Source** - **Document date** - **Relevant section** - **Observation** - **Interpretation** - **Counter-evidence** - **Failure condition** - **Next review trigger** This structure is intentionally compatible with Swoopr's existing Research Workbench and methodology. See: [Research Workbench Hub](https://www.getswoopr.com/research/), [Research Workbench](https://www.getswoopr.com/research/workbench/), [Research Methodology](https://www.getswoopr.com/research/methodology/), [How to Verify Investment Information](https://www.getswoopr.com/research/how-to-verify-investment-information/). ## Filing Sources For U.S. public companies, the core filing set comes from EDGAR. Investor.gov explains that EDGAR gives free access to public-company financial and operating information and identifies common filing types including 10-Ks, 10-Qs, 8-Ks, proxy statements, insider reports, and beneficial-ownership reports. Source: [Investor.gov: Using EDGAR to Research Investments](https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/getting-started/researching-investments/using-edgar-research-investments). The SEC's 10-K guide describes the major annual-report sections, including Business, Risk Factors, MD&A, financial statements, notes, and the auditor's report. Source: [SEC: How to Read a 10-K](https://www.sec.gov/answers/reada10k.htm). ## Why Checklist Order Matters The library should discourage valuation-first research. A stock can appear cheap because: - the business is deteriorating; - a cyclical peak is being annualized; - earnings quality is weak; - debt risk is rising; - share dilution is ignored; - the peer group is wrong; - a one-time tax or accounting effect flatters earnings; - the market is pricing a risk the researcher has not yet found. That is why the recommended order is: **Understand → Measure → Compare → Value → Stress-Test → Document → Review**. Valuation belongs after the operating and financial evidence is sufficiently understood. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this the same as Swoopr's How to Analyze a Stock guide? No. The guide teaches the full analysis framework. The checklist library is the operational layer used while researching a real company. It should link back to the guide for explanations and forward to tools for calculations. Guide: [How to Analyze a Stock](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/how-to-analyze-a-stock/). ### Is this the same as the Research Workbench? No. The Workbench is the persistent research document. These pages are modular task-specific checklists. A reader should be able to launch a checklist from the Workbench or move checklist evidence into the Workbench. ### Should every company use every specialized checklist? No. The core 25-point checklist applies broadly. Specialized modules are selected when the business model or research question requires them. ### What should happen when evidence is missing? Mark the item unverified, not zero and not passed. Missing data is information. The user should be able to record why the item is unresolved and what source or event could resolve it. ## References 1. [SEC: How to Read a 10-K](https://www.sec.gov/answers/reada10k.htm) 2. [Investor.gov: Using EDGAR to Research Investments](https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/getting-started/researching-investments/using-edgar-research-investments) 3. [FINRA: Stock Investing and Due Diligence](https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/stock-investing-due-diligence) 4. [FINRA: Evaluating Stocks](https://www.finra.org/investors/investing/investment-products/stocks/evaluating-stocks) 5. [PCAOB: Investor Bulletin: Why Audits Matter](https://pcaobus.org/resources/information-for-investors/investor-advisories/investor-bulletin-why-audits-matter) [Swoopr Editorial Team](https://www.getswoopr.com/authors/swoopr-editorial-team/) Swoopr Investment produces independent education and research tools for self-directed investors. Content is reviewed against primary regulatory and institutional sources. See our [editorial policy](https://www.getswoopr.com/legal/editorial-policy/) and [corrections policy](https://www.getswoopr.com/legal/corrections-policy/).