Initiating Coverage
AnthropicOfficialPublished by Anthropic
- Skill
- Workflow
- Business and productivity
- Apache-2.0
- Low risk
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides a systematic, multi-task process for generating equity research initiation reports. It enforces a strict, single-task execution model to ensure each component of the report—company research, financial modeling, valuation analysis, chart generation, and final assembly—is completed with verified inputs before moving to the next stage. The workflow is designed to produce professional-grade documentation, including detailed financial models, valuation analysis, and visual charts, following institutional standards.
What it does
- Conducts qualitative company research including management bios and competitive analysis.
- Builds comprehensive Excel financial models with 6 essential tabs.
- Performs valuation analysis using DCF, comparables, and precedent transactions.
- Generates 25-35 professional financial charts for visual data representation.
- Assembles all components into a final, text-dense DOCX research report.
When to use it
- When you need to produce a comprehensive equity research initiation report.
- When you require a structured, step-by-step approach to financial analysis.
- When you need to maintain strict quality control across multiple research tasks.
- When you are preparing institutional-standard financial documentation.
Advantages
- Enforces a logical, dependency-aware task order.
- Ensures data integrity by verifying prerequisites before each task.
- Produces standardized, professional-grade financial outputs.
- Provides clear, granular control over the research and assembly process.
Usage examples
- “Use initiating-coverage, Task 1 for Tesla”
- The agent initiates the company research task for Tesla, producing a detailed research document.
- “Do Task 2 of initiating-coverage for Tesla”
- The agent begins the financial modeling task, requiring access to financial statements or pre-extracted data.
- “Run Task 3 for Tesla using the initiating-coverage skill”
- The agent performs valuation analysis, provided that the financial model from Task 2 is already complete.
- “I want to complete all 5 tasks for Tesla”
- The agent explains the one-task-at-a-time requirement and asks to start with Task 1.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/anthropics/initiating-coverage/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip initiating-coverage.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by Anthropic
Initiating Coverage
Create institutional-quality equity research initiation reports through a structured 5-task workflow. Each task must be executed separately with verified inputs.
Overview
This skill produces comprehensive first-time coverage reports following institutional standards (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley format). Tasks are executed individually, each verifying prerequisites before proceeding.
Default Font: Times New Roman throughout all documents (unless user specifies otherwise).
⚠️ CRITICAL: One Task at a Time
THIS SKILL OPERATES IN SINGLE-TASK MODE ONLY.
If User Requests Full Pipeline
When user requests:
"Create a coverage initiation report for [Company]"
"Write an initiation report for [Company]"
"Do the entire equity research process for [Company]"
"Complete all 5 tasks for [Company]"
Any request that implies running multiple tasks or the entire workflow
REQUIRED RESPONSE:
Ask which specific task to perform:
I can help you create an equity research initiation report for [Company]. This involves 5 separate tasks that need to be completed individually: 1. Company Research - Research business, management, industry 2. Financial Modeling - Build projection model 3. Valuation Analysis - DCF and comparable companies 4. Chart Generation - Create 25-35 charts 5. Report Assembly - Compile final report Which task would you like to start with?When user explicitly requests all tasks together:
I understand you'd like to complete the entire initiation report pipeline. Currently, this skill supports executing one task at a time, which allows for better quality control and review at each stage. We're working on a seamless end-to-end workflow that will make this process more automated, but for now, we'll need to complete each task separately. Would you like to start with Task 1 (Company Research)?Never automatically assume which task to start - always ask user to confirm.
Never execute multiple tasks in sequence - complete one task, deliver outputs, then wait for next user request.
Task Execution Rules
✅ Execute exactly ONE task per user request
✅ Always verify prerequisites before starting a task
✅ Deliver task outputs and confirm completion
✅ Wait for user to explicitly request the next task
❌ Never chain multiple tasks together automatically
❌ Never assume user wants to proceed to next task
❌ Never execute Tasks 3-5 without verifying required inputs exist
⚠️ Deliverables Policy: NO SHORTCUTS
DELIVER ONLY THE SPECIFIED OUTPUTS. DO NOT CREATE EXTRA DOCUMENTS.
Each task specifies exact deliverables. Do NOT create:
❌ "Completion summaries"
❌ "Executive summaries"
❌ "Quick reference guides"
❌ "Next steps documents"
❌ "Task completion reports"
❌ Any other "helpful" documentation not explicitly specified
Why: These extras waste context and are not part of the professional workflow.
What TO deliver:
✅ Task 1: Research document (.md) — NOTHING ELSE
✅ Task 2: Financial model (.xlsx) — NOTHING ELSE
✅ Task 3: Valuation analysis (.md) + Excel tabs added to Task 2 file — NOTHING ELSE
✅ Task 4: Charts zip file (.zip) — NOTHING ELSE
✅ Task 5: Final report (.docx) — NOTHING ELSE
If a deliverable is not listed above, DO NOT CREATE IT.
Task Selection
Select which task to execute:
| Task | Name | Prerequisites | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company Research | Company name/ticker | 6-8K word document |
| 2 | Financial Modeling | 10-K or financials access | Excel model (6 tabs) |
| 3 | Valuation Analysis | Financial model (Task 2) | Valuation + price target |
| 4 | Chart Generation | Tasks 1, 2, 3 + external data | 25-35 PNG/JPG charts |
| 5 | Report Assembly | ALL previous tasks (1-4) | 30-50 page DOCX report |
How to Use This Skill
User Request Patterns and Responses
Pattern 1: User specifies a specific task
User: "Use initiating-coverage, Task 1 for Tesla"
Response: ✅ Execute Task 1 immediatelyPattern 2: User asks for "initiation report" or "full pipeline"
User: "Create a coverage initiation report for Tesla"
Response: ❌ DO NOT start any task automatically
✅ Ask which task to start with (see template above)Pattern 3: User wants to do "all tasks" or "entire workflow"
User: "I want to complete all 5 tasks for Tesla"
Response: ❌ DO NOT chain tasks together
✅ Explain one-at-a-time limitation (see template above)
✅ Ask if they want to start with Task 1Correct Usage Examples
Executing a single task:
"Use initiating-coverage skill, Task 1 for Tesla"
"Do Task 2 of initiating-coverage for Tesla"
"Run Task 3 for Tesla using the initiating-coverage skill"Completing full report (requires 5 separate requests):
Request 1: "Do Task 1 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 2: "Do Task 2 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 3: "Do Task 3 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 4: "Do Task 4 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputs
Request 5: "Do Task 5 for Tesla" → Complete → Deliver outputsTask Execution Order
For a complete initiation report, tasks must be executed in separate user requests following this order:
Request 1: Task 1 - Company Research (independent)
↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 2: Task 2 - Financial Modeling (independent)
↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 3: Task 3 - Valuation Analysis (requires Task 2 output)
↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 4: Task 4 - Chart Generation (requires Tasks 2 & 3 outputs)
↓ [User reviews outputs and requests next task]
Request 5: Task 5 - Report Assembly (requires ALL previous task outputs)Note: Tasks 1 and 2 can be run in any order. Tasks 3-5 have strict dependencies and must verify inputs before proceeding.
Task 1: Company Research
Purpose: Research company's business, management, competitive position, industry, and risks.
Prerequisites: ✅ None (fully independent)
Company name or ticker symbol
Process:
Verify company name/ticker provided
Load detailed instructions from references/task1-company-research.md
Execute qualitative research workflow
Deliver research document
Output: Company Research Document (6,000-8,000 words)
Company overview & history
Management bios (300-400 words × 3-4 execs)
Products & services analysis
Industry overview
Competitive analysis (5-10 competitors)
TAM sizing
Risk assessment (8-12 risks)
File name: [Company]_Research_Document_[Date].md
⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 FILE. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.
⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:
✅ Write full 6,000-8,000 words (not summaries)
✅ Complete 300-400 word bios for ALL 3-4 executives
✅ Analyze ALL 5-10 competitors thoroughly
✅ Cover all 8-12 risks across 4 categories
❌ Do not abbreviate sections to save time
❌ Do not skip any required sections
Verification before proceeding: None required for this task.
Task 2: Financial Modeling
Purpose: Extract historical financials and build comprehensive Excel financial model with projections and scenarios.
Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting
Required: Access to company financial data
For public companies: Latest 10-K from SEC EDGAR
For private companies: Financial statements or available estimates
OR: Pre-extracted historical financials provided by user
Optional: Company research (Task 1) for business context
Input Verification:
BEFORE STARTING - Select approach:
Option A: Extract financials (most common)
- [ ] Have access to 10-K or financial statements?
- [ ] Ready to extract 3-5 years of data?
Option B: User provided pre-extracted financials
- [ ] Historical financials file received?
- [ ] Contains income statement, cash flow, balance sheet (3-5 years)?
Optional:
- [ ] Company research (Task 1) complete for context?Process:
Verify access to financial data
Load detailed instructions from references/task2-financial-modeling.md
Step 1: Extract historical financials (if needed)
Step 2+: Build projection model with 6 essential tabs
Deliver Excel model
Output: Excel Financial Model (.xlsx)
6 essential tabs:
Revenue Model - Product breakdown (20-30 rows) + Geography breakdown (15-20 rows)
Income Statement - Full P&L with 40-50 line items, historical (3-5 years) + projected (5 years)
Cash Flow Statement - Operating/Investing/Financing activities, historical + projected
Balance Sheet - Assets/Liabilities/Equity, historical + projected
Scenarios - Bull/Base/Bear comparison table
DCF Inputs - Prepared for Task 3 valuation
File name: [Company]_Financial_Model_[Date].xlsx
⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 FILE. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.
⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:
✅ If extracting financials: Extract ALL line items from 3 financial statements (3-5 years)
✅ Build ALL 6 projection tabs completely with full detail
✅ Create detailed revenue model with 20-30 product rows AND 15-20 geography rows
✅ Build complete income statement with 40-50 line items (not abbreviated)
✅ Include full cash flow statement and balance sheet with all line items
✅ Complete ALL three scenarios (Bull/Base/Bear) with different parameters
❌ Do not create simplified/abbreviated versions
❌ Do not skip any of the 6 essential tabs
❌ Do not skip historical financials extraction if needed
Verification before proceeding to Task 3:
[ ] Historical financials extracted (if needed) or provided
[ ] Excel file created and can be opened
[ ] Model has all 6 essential tabs (Revenue Model, Income Statement, Cash Flow, Balance Sheet, Scenarios, DCF Inputs)
[ ] Historical data (3-5 years) incorporated
[ ] Projections complete (5 years forward)
[ ] Scenarios complete (Bull/Base/Bear)
Task 3: Valuation Analysis
Purpose: Perform comprehensive valuation using DCF, comparables, and precedent transactions.
Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting
Required: Financial model from Task 2
Projected income statements
Projected cash flows
Revenue and EBITDA forecasts
DCF inputs (unlevered FCF)
⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS TASK 2 IS COMPLETE
This task requires the financial model from Task 2. Starting without it will result in incomplete work.
IF TASK 2 IS NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user that Task 2 (Financial Modeling) must be completed first. Do not attempt to proceed or create placeholder valuations.
Input Verification:
BEFORE STARTING:
- [ ] Task 2 complete? (Financial model exists)
- [ ] Model file path/location known?
- [ ] Can access projected financials from model?
Required from model:
- [ ] Projected FCF (5 years)
- [ ] Revenue projections
- [ ] EBITDA projections
- [ ] Terminal year metricsProcess:
Verify financial model is accessible
Load detailed instructions from references/task3-valuation.md
Execute valuation workflow
Deliver valuation analysis
Output: Valuation Analysis (4-6 pages + Excel tabs)
DCF analysis with sensitivity tables
Comparable companies (5-10 peers with statistical summary)
Precedent transactions (if applicable)
Valuation football field
Price target: $XX.XX
Recommendation: BUY/HOLD/SELL
Upside: XX%
Key catalysts (3-5)
Files:
[Company]_Valuation_Analysis_[Date].md(written analysis document)Excel tabs added to
[Company]_Financial_Model_[Date].xlsx(from Task 2)DCF tab with calculations
Sensitivity analysis tab
Comparable companies tab
Valuation summary tab
⚠️ DELIVER ONLY: 1 markdown file + 4 tabs added to existing Excel. NO completion summaries, no extra documents.
⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:
✅ Complete full DCF analysis with sensitivity matrix (not simplified)
✅ Analyze ALL 5-10 comparable companies with full data
✅ Include statistical summary in comps table (max/75th/median/25th/min)
✅ Create complete sensitivity analysis tab with multiple WACC and terminal growth scenarios
✅ Write full 4-6 pages of valuation analysis (not abbreviated)
✅ Research and justify price target with specific methodology
❌ Do not skip comparable company analysis
❌ Do not create simplified DCF without sensitivity
Verification before proceeding to Task 4:
[ ] Price target determined
[ ] Valuation uses multiple methods (DCF + Comps minimum)
[ ] DCF sensitivity table complete
[ ] Comparable companies table includes statistical summary
Task 4: Chart Generation
Purpose: Generate 25-35 professional financial charts for the report.
Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting
Required: Company research from Task 1
Company history and milestones (for timeline charts)
Management team and org structure (for org charts)
Product portfolio (for product charts)
Customer segmentation (for customer charts)
Competitive landscape (for competitive charts)
TAM analysis (for market size charts)
Required: Financial model from Task 2 (with Task 3 valuation tabs added)
Revenue by product/geography data (Task 2 tabs)
Margin trends (Task 2 tabs)
Scenario comparison data (Task 2 tabs)
DCF sensitivity table (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)
Comparable companies data (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)
Valuation ranges (Task 3 tab in same Excel file)
Required: External market data
Historical stock price data (Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, etc.)
Historical valuation multiples (for historical trend charts)
⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS TASKS 1, 2, AND 3 ARE COMPLETE
This task requires outputs from all three previous tasks. Starting without them will result in incomplete charts.
IF ANY OF TASKS 1, 2, OR 3 ARE NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user which tasks need to be completed first. The specific requirements are:
Task 1: Company research document (for 9 charts)
Task 2: Financial model with all 6 tabs (for 8 charts)
Task 3: Valuation tabs added to the model (for 6 charts)
External data access (for 2 charts)
Do not attempt to create placeholder charts or skip charts due to missing data.
Input Verification:
BEFORE STARTING:
- [ ] Task 1 complete? (Company research exists)
- [ ] Task 2 complete? (Financial model exists)
- [ ] Task 3 complete? (Valuation analysis exists)
- [ ] Can access external market data sources?
Required from Task 1:
- [ ] Company history and milestones (for charts 05, 06)
- [ ] Management team structure (for chart 07)
- [ ] Product portfolio details (for chart 08)
- [ ] Customer segmentation data (for chart 09)
- [ ] Competitive landscape analysis (for charts 16, 17, 18)
- [ ] TAM sizing and market data (for chart 15)
Required from Task 2:
- [ ] Revenue by product (historical + projected) - for chart 03 ⭐
- [ ] Revenue by geography (historical + projected) - for chart 04 ⭐
- [ ] Income statement with margins (for charts 02, 10, 11)
- [ ] Cash flow statement (for chart 12)
- [ ] Scenario comparison data (for chart 14)
Required from Task 3:
- [ ] DCF sensitivity matrix - for chart 28 ⭐
- [ ] DCF components (for chart 29)
- [ ] Comparable companies data (for charts 30, 31)
- [ ] Valuation ranges - for chart 32 ⭐
Required from External Sources:
- [ ] Historical stock price data (for chart 01)
- [ ] Historical valuation multiples (for chart 34)Process:
Verify model and valuation outputs are accessible
Load detailed instructions from references/task4-chart-generation.md
Execute chart generation workflow
Package all charts into a zip file
Deliver zip file
Output: 25-35 Professional Chart Files (PNG/JPG, 300 DPI) packaged in zip
4 MANDATORY Charts (must be present) ⭐:
chart_03: Revenue by product (stacked area)
chart_04: Revenue by geography (stacked bar)
chart_28: DCF sensitivity (2-way heatmap)
chart_32: Valuation football field (horizontal bars)
25 REQUIRED Charts (specific list):
Investment Summary: chart_01
Financial Performance: charts 02, 03⭐, 04⭐, 10, 11, 12, 14
Company 101: charts 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 15, 16
Competitive/Market: charts 17, 18
Scenario Analysis: chart 13
Valuation: charts 28⭐, 29, 30, 31, 32⭐, 33, 34
10 OPTIONAL Charts (for 26-35 range):
charts 19-27, 35 (customer acquisition, unit economics, product roadmap, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Task 5 embeds ALL charts created (25-35) for visual density (1 chart per 200-300 words).
File naming: chart_01_description.png, chart_02_description.png, etc.
Deliverable: [Company]_Charts_[Date].zip containing all 25-35 chart files + chart_index.txt
⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 ZIP FILE. NO completion summaries, no separate chart lists, no extra documents.
⚠️ DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS:
✅ Create ALL 25 required charts minimum (specific list provided in task4-chart-generation.md)
✅ Include ALL 4 mandatory charts:
chart_03: Revenue by product (stacked area) ⭐
chart_04: Revenue by geography (stacked bar) ⭐
chart_28: DCF sensitivity (heatmap) ⭐
chart_32: Valuation football field ⭐
✅ Optional: Add 1-10 more charts to reach 26-35 total for greater visual density
✅ Generate professional-quality charts at 300 DPI (not low-res placeholders)
✅ Create unique, well-formatted charts for each visualization
✅ Package all charts in zip file with chart index
❌ Do not create only 10-15 charts (minimum is 25)
❌ Do not skip any of the 4 mandatory charts
❌ Do not use low-quality/placeholder images
Verification before proceeding to Task 5:
[ ] Minimum 25 chart files created (required)
[ ] All 4 mandatory charts present:
[ ] chart_03: Revenue by product ⭐
[ ] chart_04: Revenue by geography ⭐
[ ] chart_28: DCF sensitivity ⭐
[ ] chart_32: Valuation football field ⭐
[ ] All charts open and display correctly
[ ] Charts saved at 300 DPI (print quality)
[ ] Chart index created listing all files with categories
[ ] All charts packaged in zip file
[ ] File naming follows convention: chart_##_description.png
Task 5: Report Assembly
Purpose: Write and assemble the comprehensive final DOCX report.
Prerequisites: ⚠️ Verify before starting
Required: Company research from Task 1
All 6-8K words of content
Management bios
Competitive analysis
Risk assessment
Required: Financial model from Task 2
Excel workbook
All projections and scenarios
Required: Valuation analysis from Task 3
Price target and recommendation
DCF, comps, precedent transactions
All valuation data
Required: Chart files from Task 4
Zip file containing all 25-35 PNG/JPG files
Chart index included in zip
⚠️ CRITICAL: DO NOT START THIS TASK UNLESS ALL TASKS 1-4 ARE COMPLETE
This is the final assembly task. It cannot be completed without all previous work products.
IF ANY OF TASKS 1, 2, 3, OR 4 ARE NOT COMPLETE: Stop immediately and inform the user which tasks need to be completed first. The specific requirements are:
Task 1: Company research document (6-8K words)
Task 2: Financial model with all 6 tabs
Task 3: Valuation analysis with price target and recommendation
Task 4: Charts zip file with 25-35 charts
Do not attempt to create placeholder content, substitute missing sections, or assemble an incomplete report. The report requires ALL inputs to be publication-ready.
Input Verification:
BEFORE STARTING - ALL TASKS MUST BE COMPLETE:
Task 1 Verification:
- [ ] Company research document exists? (6-8K words)
- [ ] Management bios complete? (300-400 words × 3-4 execs)
- [ ] Competitive analysis complete? (5-10 competitors)
- [ ] Risk assessment complete? (8-12 risks)
Task 2 Verification:
- [ ] Financial model exists and can be opened?
- [ ] Model has projections (5 years)?
- [ ] Scenarios exist (Bull/Base/Bear)?
Task 3 Verification:
- [ ] Valuation analysis complete?
- [ ] Price target determined?
- [ ] Recommendation set? (BUY/HOLD/SELL)
- [ ] DCF and comps complete?
Task 4 Verification:
- [ ] Chart zip file exists?
- [ ] Can extract/access all 25-35 chart files from zip?
- [ ] All 4 mandatory charts present?
- [ ] Revenue by product (stacked area)
- [ ] Revenue by geography (stacked bar)
- [ ] DCF sensitivity (heatmap)
- [ ] Valuation football field
- [ ] Chart files accessible and can be opened?
IF ANY VERIFICATION FAILS: Stop and complete missing task first.Process:
CRITICAL: Verify ALL prerequisites before starting
Load detailed instructions from references/task5-report-assembly.md
Execute report assembly workflow using Claude's built-in skills:
Use DOCX skill to create and manipulate the Word document
Use XLSX skill to read Excel data from Task 2/3
Use Read tool to read Task 1 and Task 3 markdown files
Read Task 1 .md file → Convert to Word formatting → Insert charts inline
Read Task 2 .xlsx file → Extract tables → Write quantitative analysis
Read Task 3 .md file + Excel tabs → Copy/adapt valuation analysis
Insert Task 4 .png chart files throughout using DOCX skill
Create text-dense report with charts interspersed every 200-300 words
Save and deliver final DOCX report
Key Principles:
Use Claude's DOCX and XLSX skills (NOT Python libraries)
Use actual file operations (read .md/.xlsx/.png files, write .docx file)
Good equity research reports are text-dense with lots of illustrating images (60-80% page coverage, 1+ chart per page)
🔥 CRITICAL: GO ALL OUT ON THIS TASK
THIS IS THE FINAL DELIVERABLE. DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS.
✅ Use full token budget - This is the culmination of all previous work
✅ Write every section completely - Do not summarize or abbreviate
✅ Hit ALL minimum requirements - 30+ pages, 10,000+ words, 25+ charts, 12+ tables
✅ Be thorough on projection assumptions - 2,000-3,000 words with product-by-product detail
✅ Be comprehensive on scenarios - 1,500-2,000 words with specific Bull/Base/Bear parameters
✅ Insert ALL charts from Task 4 - Not just a few, ALL 25-35 charts throughout
✅ Create ALL tables from Task 2/3 - Extract every financial table, don't skip any
✅ Use Task 1 content verbatim - Copy/paste full Company 101 sections (6-8K words)
✅ Professional quality only - This must be indistinguishable from JPMorgan/Goldman Sachs research
NEVER:
❌ "This section would include..." - WRITE THE ACTUAL SECTION
❌ "Charts would be inserted here..." - INSERT THE ACTUAL CHARTS
❌ "See financial model for details..." - EXTRACT AND INCLUDE THE DETAILS
❌ Skip sections due to length - Every section MUST be complete
❌ Abbreviate for token conservation - Use whatever tokens are needed
This is publication-ready institutional research. Spare no effort, tokens, or detail.
Output: Comprehensive Equity Research Report (.docx)
Specifications:
Length: 30-50 pages (MINIMUM 30)
Word count: 10,000-15,000 words (MINIMUM 10,000)
Charts: 25-35 embedded images
Tables: 12-20 comprehensive tables
Format: Professional DOCX with clickable hyperlinks
Structure:
Page 1: Investment Summary (INITIATING COVERAGE format)
Pages 2-5: Investment thesis & risks
Pages 6-17: Company 101
Pages 18-30: Financial analysis & projections
Pages 31-40: Valuation analysis
Pages 41-50: Appendices
File name: [Company]_Initiation_Report_[Date].docx
⚠️ DELIVER ONLY THIS 1 DOCX FILE. NO executive summaries, no "highlights" documents, no extra files.
Final Verification:
[ ] Report is 30-50 pages
[ ] Word count is 10,000-15,000
[ ] 25-35 charts embedded
[ ] 12-20 tables included
[ ] All citations are clickable hyperlinks
[ ] Numbers match financial model exactly
Input Verification Protocol
Why Input Verification Matters
Each task has strict prerequisites. Running a task without required inputs will:
Waste time with incomplete work
Produce low-quality outputs
Require rework
Always verify inputs before starting a task.
Verification Checklist by Task
Task 1: ✅ No verification needed (independent)
Task 2: Check historical financials available
Task 3: Check financial model exists and is accessible
Task 4: Check both model (Task 2) AND valuation (Task 3) exist
Task 5: Check ALL previous tasks complete (1, 2, 3, 4)
What to Do if Verification Fails
IF prerequisites are missing:
1. Stop the current task
2. Identify which prerequisite task(s) need to be completed
3. Execute the missing task(s) first
4. Return to current task once prerequisites are metExample Verification Dialogue
User: "Use initiating-coverage, Task 5 for Tesla"
Claude: "Starting Task 5: Report Assembly for Tesla
VERIFICATION - Checking prerequisites:
- Task 1 (Company research)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 2 (Financial model)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 3 (Valuation)... ❌ NOT FOUND
- Task 4 (Charts)... ❌ NOT FOUND
⚠️ VERIFICATION FAILED
Task 5 requires ALL previous tasks to be complete.
To proceed:
1. Complete Task 1: Company Research
2. Complete Task 2: Financial Modeling
3. Complete Task 3: Valuation Analysis
4. Complete Task 4: Chart Generation
5. Then return to Task 5
Would you like to start with Task 1 first?"Task Reference Files
Detailed instructions for each task are in separate reference files to keep this skill lean:
references/task1-company-research.md - Company research workflow
references/task2-financial-modeling.md - Financial modeling workflow
references/task3-valuation.md - Valuation methodology
Also see: references/valuation-methodologies.md for DCF/comps deep dive
references/task4-chart-generation.md - Chart generation workflow
references/task5-report-assembly.md - Report writing workflow
Also see: assets/report-template.md for report structure
Also see: assets/quality-checklist.md for quality checks
When to load reference files: Load ONLY the reference file associated with the specific task being performed. These files are very large - do not load multiple reference files at once. Read the appropriate task reference file at the start of the task for detailed step-by-step instructions.
Quality Standards
All outputs meet institutional standards from leading investment banks (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley):
Comprehensive: Meet all minimum requirements
Detailed: Specific data and examples, not generic statements
Quantified: Lead with numbers and metrics
Cited: Proper sources with clickable hyperlinks
Professional: Institutional-quality formatting
Accurate: All numbers verified and cross-checked
Important Notes
Task Independence
Task 1 can run anytime (no dependencies)
Task 2 can run anytime (just needs historical data)
Tasks 1 & 2 can run in parallel
Task 3 requires Task 2
Task 4 requires Tasks 2 & 3
Task 5 requires Tasks 1, 2, 3, & 4
Session Management
Same session: Outputs automatically available to subsequent tasks
Different sessions: Reference previous task outputs explicitly
"Use Task 3 with the model from yesterday at [path]"
"Use Task 5 with the research document at [path]"File Organization
Recommended structure during workflow:
ProjectFolder/
├── Task1_Research/
│ └── [Company]_Research_Document.md
├── Task2_Model/
│ └── [Company]_Financial_Model.xlsx
├── Task3_Valuation/
│ └── [Company]_Valuation_Analysis.pdf
├── Task4_Charts/
│ ├── chart_01.png
│ └── ... (25-35 files)
└── Task5_Report/
└── [Company]_Initiation_Report.docxNo End-to-End Execution
This skill does NOT support running all tasks automatically in sequence. Each task must be explicitly requested and verified.
Why: This ensures:
Quality control at each stage
Ability to review outputs before proceeding
Flexibility to pause/resume workflow
Clear verification of prerequisites
Success Criteria
A successful initiation report workflow should:
Complete all 5 tasks in order
Pass all input verifications
Meet all quality standards
Produce all required deliverables
Numbers cross-check between outputs
Final report is publication-ready
Output quality: Institutional (JPMorgan/Goldman/Morgan Stanley level) Use case: First-time comprehensive coverage of a company
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer937 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer11.1 KiB
- SKILL.md29.1 KiB
- assets/quality-checklist.md9.4 KiB
- assets/report-template.md28.5 KiB
- references/task1-company-research.md11.8 KiB
- references/task2-financial-modeling.md27.2 KiB
- references/task3-valuation.md22.2 KiB
- references/task4-chart-generation.md32.1 KiB
- references/task5-report-assembly.md50.8 KiB
- references/valuation-methodologies.md13.8 KiB
references/task1-company-research.md
Task 1: Company Research - Detailed Workflow
This document provides step-by-step instructions for executing Task 1 (Company Research) of the initiating-coverage skill.
Task Overview
Purpose: Research company's business, management, competitive position, industry, and risks.
Prerequisites: ✅ None (fully independent)
Company name or ticker symbol only
Output: Company Research Document (6,000-8,000 words)
Data Sources to Gather
Primary Sources (Company)
SEC Filings (for public companies):
Latest 10-K: Business description, risk factors, MD&A, financials
Recent 10-Qs: Quarterly updates
DEF 14A (Proxy): Executive compensation, board composition
8-Ks: Material events, acquisitions, management changes
Company Website & IR:
Investor presentations
Earnings transcripts (last 2-3 quarters)
Press releases
Product documentation
For Private Companies:
Company website and blog
Press releases and media coverage
LinkedIn for management bios
Crunchbase or PitchBook for funding history
Secondary Sources (Industry/Competitive)
Competitor websites and SEC filings
Industry research reports (Gartner, Forrester, IDC, etc.)
News articles and trade publications
Market research reports
LinkedIn profiles for key executives
Key Information to Extract
Key Information:
Company founding date, headquarters, employee count
Revenue size and growth trajectory (if available)
Product portfolio and pricing
Customer segments and case studies
Management backgrounds and track records
Competitive landscape and market share
Industry trends and growth drivers
Regulatory considerations
High-level financial metrics (from 10-K prose, not detailed extraction)
Step-by-Step Research Workflow
Step 1: Initial Data Collection
Start with company website
Read About/Company pages
Review product pages
Identify customer case studies
Note key metrics mentioned (employees, customers, etc.)
Gather SEC filings (if public)
Download latest 10-K from SEC EDGAR
Download most recent 10-Q
Download latest DEF 14A (proxy statement)
Note filing dates
Read earnings materials
Latest earnings transcript
Most recent investor presentation
Press releases from last 12 months
Document basic facts
Founding date and story
Headquarters location
Employee count
Products/services
Key customers
Step 2: Business Model Analysis
Map revenue streams
What does the company sell?
How is it priced? (subscription, transaction, license, etc.)
Who pays?
What are typical deal sizes?
Understand customer segments
Enterprise vs. SMB vs. consumer
Industries served
Geographic distribution
Customer concentration (top 10 customers)
Document go-to-market
Direct sales vs. channel partners
Sales cycle length
Customer acquisition strategy
Distribution model
Identify unit economics
LTV/CAC if available
Gross margins
Net revenue retention
Payback periods
Step 3: Management Research
For each of 3-4 key executives:
Identify key leaders
CEO (always required)
CFO (always required)
COO, CTO, or other C-suite (2 additional)
Research each executive
Find LinkedIn profile
Review DEF 14A for background
Search for press interviews
Note tenure at company
Write 300-400 word bio including:
Current role and responsibilities
Prior roles and companies (last 2-3 positions)
Key accomplishments and track record
Education and credentials
Years of experience in industry
Time at current company
Assess governance
Board composition and independence
Key board members and their backgrounds
Insider ownership percentage
Executive compensation structure
Step 4: Competitive Intelligence
Identify 5-10 competitors
Direct competitors (same products/markets)
Indirect competitors (substitute solutions)
Emerging competitors (disruptors)
Check 10-K for company's own list of competitors
Research each competitor
Visit competitor website
Review their SEC filings (if public)
Note key products and positioning
Identify differentiators
Estimate market share (if data available)
Create competitive framework
Map on key dimensions (price, features, scale, etc.)
Identify company's competitive advantages
Note competitive vulnerabilities
Assess switching costs and network effects
Document competitive insights
Who are the market leaders?
Where does this company rank?
What are unique differentiators?
What are competitive threats?
Step 5: Industry Analysis
Define the industry
Industry classification (NAICS/SIC)
Scope and boundaries
Related/adjacent industries
Size the market
Total addressable market (TAM)
Serviceable addressable market (SAM)
Serviceable obtainable market (SOM)
Current penetration rate
Research growth drivers
Historical market growth rate
Projected growth rate (next 3-5 years)
Key trends accelerating/decelerating growth
Technology changes impacting industry
Understand industry structure
Fragmented vs. consolidated
Barriers to entry
Supplier/buyer power
Threat of substitutes
Regulatory environment
Step 6: Risk Assessment
Identify 8-12 risks across four categories. For each risk, write 50-100 words.
Company-Specific Risks (4-6 risks):
Execution risk (can management deliver?)
Customer concentration (top customers)
Key person dependency
Product/technology obsolescence
Geographic concentration
Integration risk (if recent M&A)
Industry/Market Risks (3-4 risks):
Competitive intensity
Regulatory changes
Technology disruption
Market saturation
Financial Risks (2-3 risks):
Profitability timeline
Funding requirements
Debt levels and covenants
Cash burn rate (if unprofitable)
Macroeconomic Risks (2-3 risks):
Economic sensitivity (cyclical vs. defensive)
Interest rate sensitivity
Foreign exchange exposure
Geopolitical factors
For each risk:
Describe the risk clearly
Quantify impact if possible
Note likelihood/severity
Identify mitigating factors
Step 7: Synthesis and Writing
Write document following this structure:
Company Overview (800-1,200 words)
What does the company do? (plain English)
How do they make money? (business model)
Where do they operate? (geographic presence)
How large are they? (revenue, employees, customers)
Key metrics and scale indicators
Company History (800-1,200 words)
Founding story (who, when, why, where)
Timeline of major milestones
Strategic pivots or transformations
Key acquisitions
Recent developments (last 1-2 years)
Management Team (1,000-1,400 words)
300-400 word bio for each of 3-4 executives
Board composition and governance
Insider ownership
Management track record assessment
Products & Services (700-1,000 words)
Detailed product portfolio
Key features and capabilities
Product differentiation
Target customers and use cases
Pricing models and typical deal sizes
Customers & Go-to-Market (500-700 words)
Customer segments and profiles
Distribution channels
Sales strategy and cycle
Key partnerships
Customer case studies
Industry Overview (800-1,200 words)
Industry definition and scope
Market size and structure
Growth rates (historical and projected)
Key trends and drivers
Regulatory environment
Industry dynamics
Competitive Landscape (700-1,000 words)
Analysis of 5-10 key competitors
Market positioning framework
Company's competitive advantages
Competitive vulnerabilities
Market share analysis
Market Opportunity (500-700 words)
TAM sizing and methodology
Market growth projections
Company's serviceable market
Market share opportunity
Penetration strategy
Risk Assessment (600-900 words)
Company-specific risks (4-6)
Industry/market risks (3-4)
Financial risks (2-3)
Macroeconomic risks (2-3)
Each risk: 50-100 word description
Data Sources Section
List all sources used
Include dates and URLs
Organize by source type
Quality Standards
Content Depth
Each section must meet minimum word count targets
Analysis should be substantive, not just descriptive
Use specific examples and quantitative data
Cite sources throughout
Maintain objectivity and balance
Management Bios
300-400 words per executive for 3-4 key executives
Must include: current role, prior experience, key accomplishments, education
Provide enough detail to assess track record and capabilities
Competitive Analysis
Must analyze 5-10 specific competitors
Include both direct and indirect competitors
Assess relative positioning on key dimensions
Identify company's competitive advantages and vulnerabilities
Use specific data and examples
Risk Assessment
Must identify 8-12 distinct risks across all four categories
Each risk needs 50-100 word description
Quantify impact where possible
Note mitigating factors
Cover all four risk categories
Writing Quality
Professional, analytical tone
Lead with key insights
Use concrete examples and data
Avoid generic statements
Proper citations throughout
Output Format
COMPANY RESEARCH REPORT: [Company Name]
Date: [Date]
Analyst: [Your name if applicable]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Company Overview
2. Company History
3. Management Team
4. Products & Services
5. Customers & Go-to-Market
6. Industry Overview
7. Competitive Landscape
8. Market Opportunity (TAM)
9. Risk Assessment
======================================
1. COMPANY OVERVIEW (800-1,200 words)
[Content]
2. COMPANY HISTORY (800-1,200 words)
[Content]
3. MANAGEMENT TEAM (1,000-1,400 words)
[Name], [Title]
[300-400 word bio]
[Repeat for 3-4 key executives]
[Governance section]
4. PRODUCTS & SERVICES (700-1,000 words)
[Content]
5. CUSTOMERS & GO-TO-MARKET (500-700 words)
[Content]
6. INDUSTRY OVERVIEW (800-1,200 words)
[Content]
7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE (700-1,000 words)
[Content]
8. MARKET OPPORTUNITY (500-700 words)
[Content]
9. RISK ASSESSMENT (600-900 words)
Company-Specific Risks:
[4-6 risks with descriptions]
Industry/Market Risks:
[3-4 risks with descriptions]
Financial Risks:
[2-3 risks with descriptions]
Macroeconomic Risks:
[2-3 risks with descriptions]
======================================
DATA SOURCES
[List all sources with dates and URLs]Success Criteria
A successful Task 1 completion should deliver:
Meet 6,000-8,000 word target (verify word count)
Include all 9 required sections with target word counts
Provide substantive analysis, not just description
Use specific examples and quantitative data
Cite all sources properly
Enable reader to understand:
What the company does and how it makes money
Quality and track record of management team
Company's competitive position
Market opportunity size
Key risks to consider
File Naming Convention
Save the output as:
[Company]_Research_Document_[Date].md
Example: Tesla_Research_Document_2024-10-27.md
Next Steps
After completing Task 1, the research document will be used:
As standalone company analysis
As input for Task 2 (Financial Modeling) - provides business context for projections
As input for Task 4 (Chart Generation) - provides data for company/competitive charts
As foundation for Task 5 (Report Assembly) - Company 101 sections copied verbatim
Requirements and compatibility
Written for: Claude Code, Claude apps
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Names Claude Code tools
Security
What our scanner noticed· Low risk
- Instructions that use the network
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- Published by
- Anthropic
- Publisher
- Anthropic (Official)
- Source
- anthropics/financial-services · plugins/vertical-plugins/equity-research/skills/initiating-coverage · commit 6056506
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic.
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