Quarterly & Monthly filings include key accounting and financial data for a company, including gross revenue, net profit, operational expenses, and cash flow. These forms may include more detail than quarterly and annual reports.

Quarterly & Monthly filings are usually accompanied by presentations from a company's management where key performance indicator data are presented to investors and analysts. Management of firms often provides guidance for future financial results as well. These presentations are routinely followed by a question and answer periods.

Analysts following companies often publish estimates of key metrics for future reporting periods. Financial publications average these estimates to arrive at street consensus estimates. Companies that exceed these estimates are said to have beaten expectations. Companies whose performances are in-line with estimates are said to have met expectations. Companies whose results are below estimates are said to have missed expectations.