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The taxonomy

Every risk speaks the same language

Every public company discloses the risks it faces, but each describes them in its own words. Wealthwire organizes those disclosures into a single, standardized set of 30 risk categories — a common vocabulary that spans every company and sector. When the same risk is grouped under the same category everywhere, a risk at one company becomes directly comparable to the same risk at any other, making it possible to spot patterns, track changes over time, and compare companies side by side.

Built on research

The taxonomy is grounded in machine-learning analysis of thousands of real SEC filings and refined through deep research and expert curation — so the categories reflect how companies actually describe risk, not how we assume they do.

A living taxonomy

Risk doesn’t stand still. As new risks emerge in the world — AI is a recent example — the taxonomy is reviewed and revised to stay current, and every revision is versioned so prior analyses remain reproducible over time.

The categories

Search the full set or filter by group, and expand any category to see the exact id it returns in the API.

Market & business

General economic downturns, inflation, interest rates, recession, demand softness.

API category id

macroeconomic

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "macroeconomic" in the API response.

Competitive markets, new entrants, pricing pressure, loss of market share, and generic or biosimilar competition.

API category id

competition

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "competition" in the API response.

Failure to develop/launch products, shifting consumer preferences, product obsolescence.

API category id

product_demand

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "product_demand" in the API response.

Reliance on a few large customers, contracts, or channels for a large share of revenue.

API category id

customer_concentration

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "customer_concentration" in the API response.

Restructuring, cost-savings and productivity initiatives, and broader strategic/operational transformation failing to deliver expected benefits.

API category id

business_transformation

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "business_transformation" in the API response.

Operations & people

Dependence on single/limited suppliers, component shortages, manufacturing, logistics.

API category id

supply_chain

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "supply_chain" in the API response.

Reliance on partners, vendors, joint ventures, platforms, or outsourced services.

API category id

third_party_dependence

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "third_party_dependence" in the API response.

Attracting/retaining key personnel, labor relations, workforce costs.

API category id

human_capital

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "human_capital" in the API response.

Public-health events, pandemics, product safety, and workplace safety risks.

API category id

health_safety

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "health_safety" in the API response.

Development and construction projects — permitting delays, cost overruns, completion risk, and capital-intensive project execution.

API category id

capital_projects

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "capital_projects" in the API response.

Property-market conditions, owned/leased real estate, lease costs and renewals, rent regulation, and REIT qualification/status.

API category id

real_estate

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "real_estate" in the API response.

Technology

Security breaches, data loss, IT system failures, service outages, privacy-law exposure, and AI-enabled threats (e.g. generative-AI-powered attacks).

API category id

cybersecurity

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "cybersecurity" in the API response.

Risks from developing, deploying, or relying on AI/ML — model errors and "hallucinations," AI ethics/bias, AI-specific regulation, competitive disruption or service cannibalization from AI, and AI-enabled threats.

API category id

artificial_intelligence

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "artificial_intelligence" in the API response.

Patent/trademark/trade-secret protection, IP infringement claims, licensing disputes.

API category id

intellectual_property

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "intellectual_property" in the API response.

Financial

Access to financing, debt covenants, credit ratings, cash flow, capital requirements, interest-rate risk on variable-rate or refinanced debt, and exposure to banking-sector instability or counterparty/depository risk.

API category id

financial_liquidity

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "financial_liquidity" in the API response.

Accounting estimates, internal controls, restatements, goodwill/asset impairment, and valuation models, estimates, and assumptions.

API category id

financial_reporting

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "financial_reporting" in the API response.

Changes in tax law, tax rates, audits, and uncertain tax positions.

API category id

tax

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "tax" in the API response.

Share-price volatility, dilution, dividends, governance provisions, ownership concentration.

API category id

capital_markets_stock

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "capital_markets_stock" in the API response.

Acquisitions, divestitures, integration risk, and realizing expected synergies.

API category id

mergers_acquisitions

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "mergers_acquisitions" in the API response.

Adequacy and cost of insurance coverage, self-insurance/retentions, reinsurance availability, and underwriting or claims losses.

API category id

insurance

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "insurance" in the API response.

Value and credit quality of investment portfolios and securities, and counterparty/derivative credit risk on financial transactions.

API category id

investment_portfolio

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "investment_portfolio" in the API response.

Defined-benefit pension and post-retirement plan funding obligations and the market sensitivity of plan assets/liabilities.

API category id

pension_benefits

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "pension_benefits" in the API response.

Legal & regulatory

Changing laws/regulations, government investigations, antitrust, sanctions, compliance costs, and anti-corruption/anti-bribery laws (FCPA, UK Bribery Act).

API category id

regulatory_compliance

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "regulatory_compliance" in the API response.

Lawsuits, product liability, class actions, and other legal proceedings.

API category id

litigation

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "litigation" in the API response.

Foreign-market exposure, currency fluctuations, tariffs, trade policy, geopolitical risk.

API category id

foreign_operations

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "foreign_operations" in the API response.

Dependence on government contracts and spending, procurement regulation, contract audits, and funding/appropriation risk.

API category id

government_contracts

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "government_contracts" in the API response.

ESG & reputation

Climate change, environmental regulation, natural disasters, sustainability obligations, water access/scarcity and hydraulic-fracturing restrictions, and ESG stakeholder pressure around frameworks, disclosures, and reputation.

API category id

environmental_climate

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "environmental_climate" in the API response.

Damage to brand, reputation, or public perception affecting the business.

API category id

reputation_brand

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "reputation_brand" in the API response.

Healthcare & life sciences

Clinical-trial outcomes and efficacy, drug/device development, and obtaining or maintaining regulatory (e.g. FDA) product approvals.

API category id

clinical_development

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "clinical_development" in the API response.

Government and private reimbursement levels (Medicare/Medicaid), drug pricing and coverage, and healthcare payment regulation affecting demand.

API category id

healthcare_reimbursement

Every risk factor mapped to this category returns "category": "healthcare_reimbursement" in the API response.

Showing 30 categories