Assess Management Discussion & Analysis: AI Prompt for Claude & ChatGPT
Copy this Claude prompt to dissect 10-K MD&A tone, risks, and narrative gaps for stock research. Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok.
This MD&A prompt for stock analysis maps tone, risks, and narrative gaps in Item 7. Paste the discussion into Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok and cross-check claims against the numbers in the statements.
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The Assess Management Discussion & Analysis prompt (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok)
Pick a ticker above to pre-fill symbols, or copy and replace placeholders manually.
You are a senior research analyst specializing in qualitative analysis of SEC filings. Perform a structured assessment of the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) section from the most recent 10-K of [COMPANY_NAME] (ticker: [TICKER]).
## Context
Use only the MD&A text and referenced financial data from the 10-K. If [MD&A_TEXT] is provided, use it as the primary source. Do not incorporate external news, sell-side reports, or analyst opinions.
## Required Analysis
### Part 1 - Executive Summary
In 3-5 bullet points, summarize the key narrative management is presenting: What story are they telling about the business?
### Part 2 - Theme Extraction
Identify and rank the top 5 themes management emphasizes, with supporting quotes or references:
| Rank | Theme | Key Quote / Reference | Financial Support (Y/N) |
Examples: growth drivers, margin expansion, market opportunity, capital allocation, competitive positioning.
### Part 3 - Tone & Language Analysis
- Characterize the overall tone: Confident / Cautious / Defensive / Neutral
- Note any hedging language or qualifiers ("may", "could", "subject to")
- Identify the 3 most optimistic statements and the 3 most cautious statements
- If you have access to the prior year MD&A, note material changes in tone or emphasis
### Part 4 - Risk & Uncertainty Mapping
Build a risk matrix from management's own disclosures:
| Risk Factor | Severity (H/M/L) | Likelihood (H/M/L) | New This Year? | Management Mitigation Cited |
Include at least 5 risks from the MD&A and risk factors section.
### Part 5 - Narrative vs Numbers Gaps
Flag any areas where management's narrative appears inconsistent with the financial data:
- "Strong growth" claims vs actual revenue/margin trajectory
- "Improving efficiency" vs rising SG&A as % of revenue
- "Robust demand" vs declining backlog or deferred revenue
For each gap, provide the specific claim and the contradicting data point.
### Part 6 - Forward-Looking Statement Inventory
List all material forward-looking statements with:
- The specific claim or projection
- Key assumptions management states
- Caveats or safe harbor language used
- Your assessment of what data would validate or invalidate each
### Part 7 - Research Agenda
List 5 specific follow-up questions for further investigation.
### Part 8 - Visual Verification & Chart Follow-Up
- Identify 2-3 visual inflection points that require multi-year chart inspection (e.g. multi-year revenue growth deceleration, operating margin compression, and SG&A/R&D expense trajectories).
- Provide the direct Chartloom visual research link for the user to inspect these 10-year interactive charts: https://www.chartloom.com/c/ticker/[TICKER]
## Output Format
Use structured headers, tables, and bullet points. Neutral, research-oriented language only. Do not suggest whether to buy, sell, or hold.
**Variables:** If any [BRACKETED] placeholders above are not set, ask the user for each missing value before proceeding.Variables
Replace these placeholders in the prompt with your own values.
| Placeholder | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [COMPANY_NAME] | Company name as in the 10-K. | Amazon.com Inc. |
| [TICKER] | Stock ticker symbol. | AMZN |
| [MD&A_TEXT] | Optional: paste the MD&A section from the 10-K for higher accuracy and source-level analysis. | Paste MD&A text here (optional) |
How to use this prompt
Replace [COMPANY_NAME] and [TICKER]. For significantly better results, paste the MD&A text (or key sections) into [MD&A_TEXT]. The prompt is designed to produce an analyst-quality qualitative assessment. Use the output to guide your own reading of the filing.
Tips
- Pasting the actual MD&A text (even key paragraphs) improves accuracy dramatically vs relying on the AI model general knowledge.
- Compare the risk factors section with the MD&A for internal consistency within the filing.
- Track tone changes year-over-year by running this prompt on consecutive 10-K filings.
- Management often buries the most important information in the middle of lengthy paragraphs - the prompt structure helps surface it.
- Cross-reference forward-looking statements with actual results in subsequent quarters.
When to use this prompt
Building the qualitative section of an annual research update or initiation report
Comparing management tone and disclosure quality across 2-3 companies in a sector
Identifying forward-looking assumptions to stress-test in scenario analysis
Flagging narrative-vs-numbers inconsistencies that warrant deeper investigation
Frequently Asked Questions
Management's Discussion and Analysis is a required section in the 10-K and 10-Q where management explains results, trends, and risks in their own words. It is a primary source for understanding how the company frames its performance and outlook.
Management naturally presents results in the most favorable light. Comparing their qualitative claims to the actual financial data can reveal disconnects that warrant further research - for example, claims of 'robust growth' alongside decelerating revenue.
Some AI tools support document upload; others require pasted text. For best results, copy the MD&A section (or subsections) as plain text into the prompt. Many AI assistants now support very long context windows suitable for full MD&A sections.
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Updated 2026-02-20
These prompts are research tools, not financial advice. Outputs should be independently verified. They are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. See our disclaimer for more information.