The 8-K is the most powerful filing on EDGAR. It covers earnings surprises, merger announcements, FDA decisions, and material events — and it drops overnight before most traders are awake. Here's how to act on it before the open.
See Today's 8-K Picks → Get Free Daily EmailAn 8-K (also called a "Current Report") is a required SEC disclosure that public companies must file within 4 business days of any material event — something significant enough that investors would want to know about it immediately.
Unlike quarterly 10-Q or annual 10-K reports, 8-Ks are filed on-demand whenever something major happens. This makes them the real-time pulse of a company — and the most actionable filing type for pre-market traders.
Why 8-Ks matter for pre-market trading: EDGAR processes filings overnight. A company files an earnings surprise at 11 PM. By 3:30 AM, our scanner has scored it. By 4 AM pre-market open, you have the signal before the broader market reacts. That 30-minute window is where the edge lives.
Not all 8-Ks are equal. The item number tells you exactly what was filed. Here are the types ranked by average price impact:
| Time (ET) | What Happens | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| 11 PM – 2 AM | Companies file 8-Ks on EDGAR overnight | Sleep — scanner handles this |
| 3:00 AM | Catalyst Edge pulls all overnight filings | Scanner running automatically |
| 3:15 AM | Each ticker scored — gap probability calculated | — |
| 3:30 AM | Ranked picks published. Premium email sent. | Premium: review full list |
| 3:35 AM | Free email delivered | Free: review top 10 |
| 4:00 AM | Pre-market opens | Place pre-market orders on high-conviction picks |
| 4:00–9:30 AM | Pre-market session — most gap action here | Manage positions, watch volume |
| 9:30 AM | Regular market opens — gap may fill or extend | Decision: hold through open or take pre-market profit |
Open the 8-K link from the scanner. Check the item number first (top of the filing). Item 1.01 merger or 2.02 earnings beat = highest priority. Item 5.02 officer change alone = lower priority.
Gap Score 9–10 = strong catalyst. But the best setups combine multiple signals: 8-K + high squeeze score + insider cluster = three-way confirmation. Single-signal picks (8-K only, no volume confirmation) are lower conviction.
Small float (under 20M shares) + positive 8-K = larger percentage moves. High short interest (above 15%) + positive 8-K = squeeze potential on top of the catalyst. Large float stocks need stronger catalysts to move meaningfully.
Don't trade the headline alone. Scan the filing for: revenue figures vs prior year, deal terms and valuation multiples, any conditions or contingencies on a merger, whether an earnings beat is driven by one-time items.
If the stock is already up 40% pre-market at 4 AM, the gap may be fully priced in. Look for stocks that haven't moved yet despite a strong filing — these are the setups where institutional traders haven't positioned yet.
8-K plays are high-volatility by nature. Pre-market spreads are wider. Size smaller than your normal position. Set a hard stop below the pre-market low. The risk is binary — if the news is misread or context changes, moves are fast.
Common mistake: Trading an 8-K without reading the filing. A company can file an 8-K reporting a "material agreement" that's actually a small routine contract. The item number doesn't guarantee impact — the content does. Always read at least the first two paragraphs of the filing text.
The 8-K is the most common catalyst, but it's most powerful when combined with other simultaneous EDGAR signals:
Three options, from most to least effort:
efts.sec.gov/LATEST/search-index?q=%228-K%22&dateRange=custom
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