This paper examines the characteristics and variations within firms’ 10-K filings over a 20 year time period. We find that investors’ reaction to textual characteristics of the MD&A in 10-Ks is much stronger and more timely than their reaction to textual characteristics of the notes to the financial statements. Characteristics of the MD&A and footnotes are also predictive of future returns, volatility, and firm profitability. Our evidence suggests that investor pay limited attention to the footnotes compared to the MD&A and that firms exploit biases in investors’ information processing through their disclosure choices within 10-K filings
