Sample Database Contents from Current Compustat

The graph below represents the data contents of the S&P500 companies in the Compustat North American Database with a data cutoff date of July 26, 2006.

Notice that preliminary data (dark blue) exists only in the most recent period closest to the database cutoff date. Preliminary data, which can be very different from the first finalized reported value, is eventually overwritten and is thus lost except for the most recent period.

The yellow portion indicates the amount of data that is the first, unrestated, finalized data. Almost 100% of the finalized data in the period closest to the July 26, 2006 database cutoff date is unrestated data, since restatements do not occur until subsequent filings. As time passes and companies make restatements, the first reported finalized values are overwritten.

The light blue portion indicates the amount of data that has been altered in the S&P500 companies through restatements. Notice that in the periods farther back in time from the database cutoff date, roughly 50% of the data in the S&P500 has been changed from the first finalized values after company restatements.

USER BEWARE: At any time while running a model live with Current Compustat, a user may combine all three data types for any particular company and/or data item.