China
105 of 521 companies added a paragraph in Risk Factors that uses one of these words:
China, Chinese, PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
The paragraph is in the latest 10-K and nothing like it was in the one before.
It counts text; it does not say how serious a risk is. Words in capitals only (such as AI) must be in capitals.
By sector
Sector is the SEC's industry description of the company. Each count opens that sector's quotes below.
| Sector | Companies | Compared |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC | 3 | 3 |
| Instruments For Meas & Testing of Electricity & Elec Signals | 2 | 2 |
| Optical Instruments & Lenses | 2 | 2 |
| Aircraft | 1 | 1 |
| Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl | 1 | 1 |
| Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters | 1 | 1 |
| Communications Equipment, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Communications Services, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Connectors | 1 | 1 |
| Farm Machinery & Equipment | 1 | 1 |
| Gas & Other Services Combined | 1 | 1 |
| Grain Mill Products | 1 | 1 |
| Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts | 1 | 1 |
| Household Appliances | 1 | 1 |
| Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment | 1 | 1 |
| Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) | 1 | 1 |
| Paper Mills | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Eating & Drinking Places | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation | 1 | 1 |
| Special Industry Machinery, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Telephone & Telegraph Apparatus | 1 | 1 |
| Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts | 1 | 1 |
| Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys | 3 | 4 |
| Semiconductors & Related Devices | 10 | 15 |
| Computer Communications Equipment | 2 | 3 |
| Laboratory Analytical Instruments | 3 | 5 |
| Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts | 1 | 2 |
| Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo | 1 | 2 |
| Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC | 1 | 2 |
| Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware | 1 | 2 |
| Fats & Oils | 1 | 2 |
| Industrial Organic Chemicals | 1 | 2 |
| Printed Circuit Boards | 1 | 2 |
| Pumps & Pumping Equipment | 1 | 2 |
| Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment | 1 | 2 |
| Rubber & Plastics Footwear | 1 | 2 |
| Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, NEC | 1 | 2 |
| Services-Medical Laboratories | 1 | 2 |
| Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings | 1 | 2 |
| Finance Services | 12 | 28 |
| Biological Products, (No Diagnostic Substances) | 2 | 5 |
| Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. | 2 | 5 |
| Pharmaceutical Preparations | 4 | 11 |
| Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip | 1 | 3 |
| Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers | 1 | 3 |
| Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research | 1 | 3 |
| Services-Business Services, NEC | 5 | 16 |
| Investment Advice | 2 | 8 |
| Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies | 1 | 4 |
| Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation | 1 | 4 |
| Services-Prepackaged Software | 4 | 19 |
| Computer Storage Devices | 1 | 5 |
| Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control | 1 | 5 |
| Retail-Variety Stores | 1 | 5 |
| National Commercial Banks | 2 | 11 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts | 3 | 27 |
| Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus | 1 | 10 |
213 paragraphs · Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. show all sectors
have been subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny, evolving guidance, and legal challenge. The European Commission adopted updated SCCs in 2021, and the United Kingdom has implemented its own contractual transfer mechanisms, which have increased compliance complexity and costs. In July 2023, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“EU-U.S. DPF”), and related frameworks for the United Kingdom and Switzerland subsequently became effective. We are certified under these frameworks, where applicable; however, they are subject to ongoing review and potential legal challenge and may be modified, suspended, or invalidated in the future. Regulators in certain European jurisdictions have also taken the position that specific data transfer practices, including the use of certain analytics tools, may result in unlawful transfers of personal data to the United States. If existing data transfer mechanisms are restricted or invalidated, or if additional measures are required, we and our business partners and service providers may need to implement alternative or supplemental safeguards, renegotiate contracts, or modify our operations, which could increase costs, limit our ability to process personal data, disrupt our advertising solutions or other offerings, and expose us and our customers to regulatory investigations or enforcement actions. Similar cross-border data transfer restrictions under other current or future laws such as Brazil’s General Data Protection Law and China’s Personal Information Protection Law may further increase compliance burdens and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 19, 2026 ↗
Moreover, there are increasing restrictions in the United States on certain personal sensitive data transfers to certain foreign countries. The Department of Justice finalized a final rule implementing Executive Order 14117, effective April 8, 2025, which prohibits data transfer of personal identifiers, precise geolocation data, biometric identifiers, health data, and financial data over a certain bulk threshold to identified countries of concern (i.e., China, Hong Kong, Macau, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela). The rule also restricts data brokerage agreements, investment agreements, employment agreements, and vendor agreements involving such data and countries of concern. Violations of the rule may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions and may result in exclusion from participation in federal and state programs. These data transfer restrictions may create operational challenges and legal risks for our business, particularly with regard to China, where we have operations.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 19, 2026 ↗
in China, the People’s Bank of China and the National Development and Reform Commission have outlawed cryptocurrency mining and declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal within the country.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 27, 2026 ↗
Additionally, central banks in some countries have started to introduce digital forms of legal tender. For example, China’s central bank digital currency (“CBDC”) project was made available to consumers in January 2022, and governments including Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union have been discussing the potential creation of new CBDCs. Further, some countries, such as Sweden, Norway and Israel, are exploring cross-border interoperability of retail CBDCs. Whether or not they incorporate blockchain or similar technology, CBDCs, as legal tender in the issuing jurisdiction, could also compete with, or replace, bitcoin and other digital assets as a medium of exchange or store of value. As a result, the emergence or growth of these or other digital assets could cause the market price of bitcoin and Cronos to decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 27, 2026 ↗