FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where does the data come from?
Two places. Prices and quotes come from Yahoo Finance's public market data. Fundamentals (revenue, income, cash flow, balance sheet) come from SEC EDGAR, the U.S. government database where every public company legally files its audited financials. Nothing is estimated or hand-entered.
How live is "live"?
Quotes and intraday charts refresh automatically every 15 minutes during market hours via an open GitHub Actions pipeline. Price history and fundamentals refresh nightly. Every page shows its "last updated" stamp, so you always know exactly how fresh the numbers are. Outside market hours the stamp says "market closed" and the last session's numbers stand.
Which companies are covered?
All 503 constituents of the S&P 500, plus the major indices (S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq, Russell 2000, VIX). That covers roughly 80% of total U.S. market capitalization.
Why is it free? What's the catch?
There isn't one. Plainsight runs entirely on public data and free infrastructure; the pipeline and site are open source. No account, no email capture, no ads. It exists because clean fundamental data shouldn't cost $19 a month.
Is Plainsight suitable for beginners?
Yes. Every report uses the same clean layout, avoids jargon where possible, and shows the metric's plain meaning. If you're experienced, the speed and density are the point; if you're new, the curation is.
Can I use it for trading decisions?
Plainsight is an informational and analytical tool, not investment advice. Data can be delayed or contain source errors. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.
Will it keep evolving?
Yes. It's an open project. Coverage beyond the S&P 500, revenue segments, and more computed metrics are all natural next steps. The repo is public if you want to follow along or contribute.