The SEC has started using XBRL data to make it easier to find executive compensation information. Right now, there is data on only 500 companies; I hope we'll see more info as companies file their 10Ks.
The easiest way to use the tool right now is to go here, leave all the search fields blank, and click {search}. You'll see a list of all the companies in this demo; click any of the companies, and you'll get a nice table showing the salary, bonus, stock awards, option awards, and so on for each of the top executives. Sure beats trying to suss out this information through proxy statements
Note that, according to the SEC site, this is just a test of XBRL and to see what applications can be developed. In fact, the compensation database is hosted by ServerVault.com, not the SEC.
There is also a test program to display financial information from 10Ks and 10Qs in tabular format, export the data to a spreadsheet, and generate charts. Again, this is just a test - there are only 65 companies in this program right now. But boy-howdy, this is pretty cool.
UPDATE: I wrote a column in Online Magazine going into more detail about this. Watch for the March 2008 issue.
Your entry sent me, not to the SEC site, as it should have because what you posted was interesting, but rather to the web, to find out more about boy-howdy! LOL!
Posted by: Kathy | December 27, 2007 at 01:22 PM