You need clear information to make investment decisions, which is why public companies and investment funds are required to disclose key information to investors. Find out what information you’re entitled to receive and what it means.
On this page you’ll find
Information about public companies and investment funds
Before you invest in a public company, get the information you need to make an informed decision. Learn where to find company information and how to monitor stock performance. You can find information online with the following resources:
- System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) – SEDAR+ is the electronic system for the official filing of documents (called disclosure documents) by public companies and investment funds across Canada. You can access this information free of charge.
- System for Electronic Disclosure by Insiders (SEDI) – SEDI is a mandatory filing system that collects the reports of all securities transactions made by people who are considered insiders of a company (for example, officers and directors of a company). You can access this information free of charge.
- Company website – Most publicly traded companies post annual reports and other financial information on their websites.
If disclosure documents are late or incorrect
If a public company or investment fund files certain disclosure documents late, it will be placed in default on the Reporting Issuers List. The list can also tell you if a company or fund is in default of other disclosure requirements. If a disclosure document has incorrect information, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) may require the company or fund to refile or correct the information. If the company refiles a document, as a result of an OSC review, the company or fund is placed on the OSC’s Refilings and Errors List.
Depending on the nature and severity of the default the OSC may issue a cease trade order or take enforcement action. Learn more about cease trade orders and what to do if you hold stock in a company that has been ordered to stop trading.
Information about mutual funds
Before investing in a mutual fund, consider key information like cost and performance, risk, and the fund’s goals and management by asking these 5 questions.
You can find information on goals, risk, performance, costs and management in Fund Facts – a plain language summary of key information about the fund. See a sample Fund Facts.
Learn more about mutual fund performance.
Using past performance
A mutual fund’s past performance can’t tell you how it will perform in the future, but it can give you an idea of how the fund has performed in different market conditions.
Caution
Make sure the documents you review are up to date. A lot can happen even over a short period of time.
