WHY does the SEC require all publicly$-$traded companies to provide AUDITED

financial statements?

With audited financial statements, potential investors can be assured that the financial

statements are exactly correct.

With audited financial statements, potential investors can focus more of their efforts on

analyzing the prospects of a company and spend less time worrying about whether the financial

statements are truthful.

With audited financial statements, potential investors can be assured that the company is well

run.

With audited financial statements, potential investors can be assured that the company is free of

fraud.