BaselineWatch LIVE
RESEARCH PAPER
Disclosure Drift, Coherence, and Abnormal Returns
Evidence from 30 Years of SEC Filings · Sebastian Rigel · BaselineWatch
VIEW ON SSRN
SCORING GUIDE · HOW TO READ LIVE SIGNALS

Understanding Your Dashboard Scores

Every score on this dashboard represents a signal derived from analyzing how companies communicate risk in their SEC filings. When disclosure language changes — words added, removed, softened, or sharpened — it generates a measurable signal.

There are two distinct scoring dimensions: Disclosure Risk Scores measure raw filing changes, while Signal Scores layer contextual intelligence on top.

Score Ranges

0–25
0–29
30–49
50–69
70–100
BASELINELOWMODERATEELEVATEDCRITICAL
0–25 · Baseline

Filing language is consistent with historical norms. No signal — the absence of change is itself informative.

0–29 · Low Activity

Minor language adjustments. Routine quarterly updates or regulatory boilerplate changes. Worth monitoring.

30–49 · Moderate

Meaningful language changes. New risk factors may have been introduced. Warrants active monitoring.

50–69 · Elevated

Substantial disclosure shifts. Companies communicating materially different risk postures. Historically precedes notable price movements.

70–100 · Critical

Exceptional filing changes. Fewer than 5% of all scored filings. Historically correlates with major corporate events.

Reading the Delta (Δ)

The delta shown alongside scores represents the point change from the prior period. Delta captures momentum — often more important than the score itself.

+15
RAPID ESCALATION
+8
STEADY CLIMB
+2
STABLE
-4
IMPROVING
-12
SHARP DECLINE

Signal performance reflects historical observations. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not investment advice.

How Traders Use These Signals

Disclosure risk scores are forward-looking signals derived from the language companies use in their SEC filings. When a company’s language changes significantly between filings, it often precedes material events. Here’s how institutional traders apply these signals:

CRITICAL / ELEVATED SIGNALS

Scores above 60 historically precede negative price action within the defined forward window. Institutional desks use these as screening filters for short candidates or portfolio risk reduction triggers. A rising delta confirms the trend is accelerating.

BASELINE / LOW SIGNALS

Scores under 25 indicate stable or improving disclosure language. These companies are maintaining consistent communication, a positive signal for long holders. Declining deltas suggest improving transparency and reduced forward risk.

COMBINING WITH CONTEXT

The contextual score enriches the filing signal with additional market intelligence. When both language and context align (e.g., critical language score + negative contextual indicators), the signal strength increases significantly. Divergences—where signals point in different directions—often represent contrarian opportunities.

Important: These signals are analytical tools, not trading recommendations. Always combine with your own research and risk management framework.

Signal Validation & Track Record

Our disclosure risk methodology has been validated across 24,209 SEC filings from 4,745 tickers spanning 30+ years of the U.S. equity universe. The scoring system is stress-tested using Fama-French 5-factor controls with Bonferroni-corrected significance thresholds, ensuring the signals survive rigorous academic scrutiny.

24,209
VALIDATED FILINGS
4,745
TICKERS VALIDATED
18/24
PLATINUM TESTS

View our full track record →

Further Reading

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