FOIAsearch adds Regulatory Filings Monitoring, and Flags coverage that Morningstar Investor skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Tool Comparison
FOIAsearch vs Morningstar Investor comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Morningstar Investor includes Screeners, Portfolio, News, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Fund Overview, Fund Performance, Fund Holdings, Fund Rating, Scores, and Bulls Say Bear Say categories that FOIAsearch omits.
Morningstar Investor offers mobile access, which FOIAsearch skips.
In depth comparison
FOIAsearch
foiasearch.com
Free SEC‑FOIA log search with investor‑oriented alerts. Tracks FOIA requests filed with the SEC (post‑Oct 1, 2019), highlights requests denied under Exemption 7(A) (B7A)—a known signal of ongoing enforcement activity—and offers alerts for portfolio tickers and issuer‑relations (‘IR Watch’) plus monthly Prominent Reporter Alerts. Built by Edwin Dorsey (The Bear Cave).
Platforms
Web
Pricing
FreeSubscription
Quick highlights
- Unified search of SEC FOIA Logs with lists for ‘All Requests’ and ‘B7A Exempt Requests’.
- ‘Protect My Portfolio’ email alerts on FOIA activity tied to saved companies/tickers.
- ‘IR Watch’ alerts when hedge funds, research firms, or reporters FOIA your company (IR use‑case).
- Monthly ‘Prominent Reporter Alerts’ to see what journalists are requesting before stories publish.
- B7A (FOIA Exemption 7(A)) call‑outs; academic work shows B7A denials are predictive of ongoing/future SEC investigations.
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Morningstar Investor
morningstar.com
Hands-on review
Morningstar’s flagship research and portfolio platform for individual investors. Free users get access to screeners and quotes, while subscribers unlock analyst reports, expanded data, and premium ratings. A 7-day trial is available. Canceling a subscription also removes access to saved portfolios, watchlists, and screens.
Categories
Platforms
WebMobile
Pricing
FreeSubscription
Quick highlights
- Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists.
- Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings.
- Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature).
- Quote pages enriched with Morningstar Star Ratings and detailed analysis for subscribers.
- Portfolio and watchlist alerts delivered via email to keep you informed on holdings you track.
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Where they differ
FOIAsearch
Distinct strengths include:
- Unified search of SEC FOIA Logs with lists for ‘All Requests’ and ‘B7A Exempt Requests’.
- ‘Protect My Portfolio’ email alerts on FOIA activity tied to saved companies/tickers.
- ‘IR Watch’ alerts when hedge funds, research firms, or reporters FOIA your company (IR use‑case).
- Monthly ‘Prominent Reporter Alerts’ to see what journalists are requesting before stories publish.
Morningstar Investor
Distinct strengths include:
- Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists.
- Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings.
- Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature).
- Quote pages enriched with Morningstar Star Ratings and detailed analysis for subscribers.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | FOIAsearch | Morningstar Investor |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Alerts, Watchlist Unique: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Flags | Shared: Alerts, Watchlist Unique: Screeners, Portfolio, News, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Fund Overview, Fund Performance, Fund Holdings, Fund Rating, Scores, Bulls Say Bear Say |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web, Mobile |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do FOIAsearch and Morningstar Investor both support?
Both platforms cover Alerts, and Watchlist workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do FOIAsearch and Morningstar Investor require subscriptions?
Both FOIAsearch and Morningstar Investor keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
Which tool has mobile access?
Morningstar Investor ships a dedicated mobile experience, while FOIAsearch focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
FOIAsearch differentiates itself with Unified search of SEC FOIA Logs with lists for ‘All Requests’ and ‘B7A Exempt Requests’., ‘Protect My Portfolio’ email alerts on FOIA activity tied to saved companies/tickers., and ‘IR Watch’ alerts when hedge funds, research firms, or reporters FOIA your company (IR use‑case)., whereas Morningstar Investor stands out for Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists., Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings., and Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature)..
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.