Analysts, portfolio managers, and investors currently navigate a winding and uneven path in order to collect the financial information they need to make informed decisions. Company websites, data and information services, and third-party aggregators offer a variety of information in a variety of formats—including statements, regulatory filings, marketing materials, and disclosures—that provide little consistency or comparability between the information gathered from those sources.

Emerging reporting technology, eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), may soon help to enhance access to, and consistency of, financial information. eXtensible Business Reporting Language: A Guide for Investors provides an overview of the basic aspects of the new technology and describes for investment professionals the benefits and challenges presented as the industry moves toward full adoption of XBRL reporting.