Financial Tear Sheet Generator
Generate audience-specific company tear sheets by pulling live data from S&P Capital IQ via the S&P Global MCP tools and formatting the result as a professional Word document.
Style Configuration
These are sensible defaults. To customize for your firm's brand, modify this section — common changes include swapping the color palette, changing the font (Calibri is standard at many banks), and updating the disclaimer text.
Colors:
- Primary (header banner background, section header text): #1F3864
- Accent (signature section highlights): #2E75B6
- Table header row fill: #D6E4F0
- Table alternating row fill: #F2F2F2
- Table borders: #CCCCCC
- Header banner text: #FFFFFF
Typography (sizes in half-points for docx-js):
- Font family: Arial
- Company name: 18pt bold (size: 36)
- Section headers: 11pt bold (size: 22), Primary color
- Body text: 9pt (size: 18)
- Table text: 8.5pt (size: 17)
- Footer/disclaimer: 7pt italic (size: 14)
- Per-template overrides are specified in each reference file's Formatting Notes.
Company Header Banner:
- The header is a navy (#1F3864) banner spanning the full page width with company name in white.
- Below the banner, key-value pairs MUST be rendered in a two-column borderless table spanning the full page width. Left column: company identifiers (ticker, HQ, founded, employees, sector). Right column: financial identifiers (market cap, EV, stock price, shares outstanding). Each cell contains a bold label and regular-weight value on the same line (e.g., "Market Cap $124.7B"). Do not left-justify all fields in a single column — this wastes horizontal space and looks unprofessional. The two-column spread is the single most important visual signal that distinguishes a professional tear sheet from a default document.
- Implementation: Create a 2-column table with
borders: none and shading: none on all cells. Set column widths to 50% each. Place left-column fields (ticker, HQ, founded, employees) as separate paragraphs in the left cell. Place right-column fields (market cap, EV, stock price, shares outstanding) in the right cell. Each field is a single paragraph: bold run for the label, regular run for the value.
- The specific fields in each column vary by audience — see the reference file's header spec. The principle is always: spread across the page, not clumped left.
- Do not use a bordered table for the header key-value block. Bordered tables are reserved for financial data only.
- Key metrics in the header (market cap, EV, stock price) should be displayed as inline key-value pairs, not in a separate bordered table.
Section Headers:
- Each section header gets a horizontal rule (thin line, #CCCCCC, 0.5pt) directly beneath it to create clean visual separation between sections.
- Render the rule as a bottom border on the header paragraph itself — do not insert a separate paragraph element for the rule. A separate paragraph adds its own before/after spacing and causes excessive whitespace below section titles.
- Implementation: In docx-js, apply a bottom border to the section header paragraph via
paragraph.borders.bottom = { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: "CCCCCC" }. Do not use doc.addParagraph() with a separate horizontal rule element. Do not use thematicBreak. The border must be on the heading paragraph itself with 0pt spacing after, so the rule sits tight against the header text.
- Spacing: 12pt before the header paragraph, 0pt after the header paragraph, 4pt before the next content element.
Bullet Formatting:
- Use a single bullet character (•) for all bulleted content across all tear sheet types. Do not mix •, -, ▸, or numbered lists within or across tear sheets.
- Synthesis/analysis bullets (Earnings Highlights, Strategic Fit, Integration Considerations, Conversation Starters): indented block-style formatting with left indent 360 DXA (0.25") and a hanging indent for the bullet character. These should be visually offset from body text — they're interpretive content and should look distinct from data tables and prose paragraphs.
- Informational bullets within relationship sections: standard body indent (180 DXA), no hanging indent.
- Do not apply left-border accents to any bullet sections. Left-border styling renders inconsistently in docx-js and creates visual artifacts. Use indentation and text size differentiation to distinguish signature sections instead.
Tables (financial data only):
- Header row: Table Header Fill (#D6E4F0) with bold dark text
- Body rows: alternating white / Table Alternating Fill (#F2F2F2)
- Borders: Table Border color (#CCCCCC), thin (BorderStyle.SINGLE, size 1)
- Cell padding: top/bottom 40 DXA, left/right 80 DXA
- Right-align all numeric columns
- Always use ShadingType.CLEAR (never SOLID — SOLID causes black backgrounds)
Layout:
- US Letter portrait, 0.75" margins (1080 DXA all sides)
Number formatting:
- Currency: USD. Use millions unless company revenue > $50B (then billions, one decimal). Label units in column headers (e.g., "Revenue ($M)"), not in individual cells.
- Table cells: plain numbers with commas, no dollar signs. Example: a revenue cell shows "4,916" not "$4,916". The column header carries the unit.
- Fiscal years: actual years (FY2022, FY2023, FY2024), never relative labels (FY-2, FY-1).
- Negatives: parentheses, e.g., (2.3%)
- Percentages: one decimal place
- Large numbers: commas as thousands separators
Footer (document footer, not inline):
Place the source attribution and disclaimer in the actual document footer (repeated on every page), not as inline body text at the bottom. The footer is exactly two lines, centered, on every page:
- Line 1: "Data: S&P Capital IQ via Kensho | Analysis: AI-generated | [Month Day, Year]"
- Line 2: "For informational purposes only. Not investment advice."
- Style: 7pt italic, centered, #666666 text color
- This footer text must be identical across all tear sheet types for the same company. Do not vary the wording by audience.
- This footer is required on every tear sheet, every audience type, every page. Do not omit it.
Component Functions
You MUST use these exact functions to create document elements. Do NOT write custom docx-js styling code. Copy these functions into your generated Node script and call them. The Style Configuration prose above remains as documentation; these functions are the enforcement mechanism.
const docx = require("docx");
const {
Document, Paragraph, TextRun, Table, TableRow, TableCell,
WidthType, AlignmentType, BorderStyle, ShadingType,
Header, Footer, PageNumber, HeadingLevel, TableLayoutType,
convertInchesToTwip
} = docx;
// ── Color constants ──
const COLORS = {
PRIMARY: "1F3864",
ACCENT: "2E75B6",
TABLE_HEADER_FILL: "D6E4F0",
TABLE_ALT_ROW: "F2F2F2",
TABLE_BORDER: "CCCCCC",
HEADER_TEXT: "FFFFFF",
FOOTER_TEXT: "666666",
};
const FONT = "Arial";
// ── 1. createHeaderBanner ──
// Returns an array of docx elements: [banner paragraph, key-value table]
function createHeaderBanner(companyName, leftFields, rightFields) {
// leftFields / rightFields: arrays of { label: string, value: string }
const banner = new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({
text: companyName,
bold: true,
size: 36, // 18pt
color: COLORS.HEADER_TEXT,
font: FONT,
}),
],
shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: COLORS.PRIMARY },
spacing: { after: 0 },
alignment: AlignmentType.LEFT,
});
function buildCellParagraphs(fields) {
return fields.map(
(f) =>
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({ text: f.label + " ", bold: true, size: 18, font: FONT }),
new TextRun({ text: f.value, size: 18, font: FONT }),
],
spacing: { after: 40 },
})
);
}
const noBorder = { style: BorderStyle.NONE, size: 0, color: "FFFFFF" };
const noBorders = { top: noBorder, bottom: noBorder, left: noBorder, right: noBorder };
const noShading = { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: "FFFFFF" };
const kvTable = new Table({
rows: [
new TableRow({
children: [
new TableCell({
children: buildCellParagraphs(leftFields),
width: { size: 50, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
borders: noBorders,
shading: noShading,
}),
new TableCell({
children: buildCellParagraphs(rightFields),
width: { size: 50, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
borders: noBorders,
shading: noShading,
}),
],
}),
],
width: { size: 100, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
});
return [banner, kvTable];
}
// ── 2. createSectionHeader ──
// Returns a single Paragraph with bottom border rule
function createSectionHeader(text) {
return new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({
text: text,
bold: true,
size: 22, // 11pt
color: COLORS.PRIMARY,
font: FONT,
}),
],
spacing: { before: 240, after: 0 }, // 12pt before, 0pt after
border: {
bottom: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
},
});
}
// ── 3. createTable ──
// headers: string[], rows: string[][], options: { accentHeader?, fontSize? }
function createTable(headers, rows, options = {}) {
const fontSize = options.fontSize || 17; // 8.5pt default
const headerFill = options.accentHeader ? COLORS.ACCENT : COLORS.TABLE_HEADER_FILL;
const headerTextColor = options.accentHeader ? COLORS.HEADER_TEXT : "000000";
const cellBorders = {
top: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
bottom: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
left: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
right: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
};
const cellMargins = { top: 40, bottom: 40, left: 80, right: 80 };
function isNumeric(val) {
if (typeof val !== "string") return false;
const cleaned = val.replace(/[,$%()]/g, "").trim();
return cleaned !== "" && !isNaN(cleaned);
}
// Header row
const headerRow = new TableRow({
children: headers.map(
(h) =>
new TableCell({
children: [
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({
text: h,
bold: true,
size: fontSize,
color: headerTextColor,
font: FONT,
}),
],
}),
],
shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: headerFill },
borders: cellBorders,
margins: cellMargins,
})
),
});
// Data rows with alternating shading
const dataRows = rows.map((row, rowIdx) => {
const fill = rowIdx % 2 === 1 ? COLORS.TABLE_ALT_ROW : "FFFFFF";
return new TableRow({
children: row.map((cell, colIdx) => {
const align = colIdx > 0 && isNumeric(cell)
? AlignmentType.RIGHT
: AlignmentType.LEFT;
return new TableCell({
children: [
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({ text: cell, size: fontSize, font: FONT }),
],
alignment: align,
}),
],
shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: fill },
borders: cellBorders,
margins: cellMargins,
});
}),
});
});
return new Table({
rows: [headerRow, ...dataRows],
width: { size: 100, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
});
}
// ── 4. createBulletList ──
// items: string[], style: "synthesis" | "informational"
function createBulletList(items, style = "synthesis") {
const indent =
style === "synthesis"
? { left: 360, hanging: 180 } // 360 DXA left, hanging indent for bullet
: { left: 180 }; // 180 DXA, no hanging
return items.map(
(item) =>
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({ text: "• ", font: FONT, size: 18 }),
new TextRun({ text: item, font: FONT, size: 18 }),
],
indent: indent,
spacing: { after: 60 },
})
);
}
// ── 5. createFooter ──
// date: string (e.g., "February 23, 2026")
function createFooter(date) {
return new Footer({
children: [
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({
text: `Data: S&P Capital IQ via Kensho | Analysis: AI-generated | ${date}`,
italics: true,
size: 14, // 7pt
color: COLORS.FOOTER_TEXT,
font: FONT,
}),
],
alignment: AlignmentType.CENTER,
}),
new Paragraph({
children: [
new TextRun({
text: "For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.",
italics: true,
size: 14,
color: COLORS.FOOTER_TEXT,
font: FONT,
}),
],
alignment: AlignmentType.CENTER,
}),
],
});
}
Usage in generated scripts:
- Copy all functions and constants above into the generated Node.js script
- Call
createHeaderBanner(...) instead of manually building banner paragraphs and tables
- Call
createSectionHeader(...) for every section title — never manually set paragraph borders
- Call
createTable(...) for all tabular data — financial summaries, trading comps, M&A activity, relationship tables, funding history, etc. Pass { accentHeader: true } for M&A activity tables (IB/M&A template). For non-numeric tables (e.g., relationships, ownership), the function still works correctly — it only right-aligns cells that contain numeric values.
- Call
createBulletList(items, "synthesis") for earnings highlights, strategic fit, integration considerations, and conversation starters
- Call
createBulletList(items, "informational") for relationship entries
- Pass
createFooter(date) to the Document constructor's footers.default property
What these functions eliminate:
- Black background tables (enforces
ShadingType.CLEAR everywhere)
- Separate horizontal rule paragraphs under section headers (enforces
border.bottom on the paragraph itself)
- Bordered key-value tables in headers (enforces
borders: none)
- Inconsistent bullet styles (enforces
• character only)
- Missing footers (provides the exact footer structure)
Workflow
Step 1: Identify Inputs
Gather up to four things before proceeding:
- Company — name or ticker. If only a ticker, resolve the full company name with an initial query (e.g., use the company info tool).
- Audience — one of four types:
- Equity Research — for buy-side/sell-side analysts evaluating an investment
- IB / M&A — for bankers profiling a company in transaction context
- Corp Dev — for internal strategic teams evaluating an acquisition target
- Sales / BD — for commercial teams preparing for a client meeting
- Comparable companies (optional) — if the user has specific comps in mind, note them. Otherwise the skill will identify peers from S&P Global data. This matters for Equity Research, IB/M&A, and Corp Dev tear sheets.
- Page length preference (optional) — defaults vary by audience (see below), but the user can override.
If the user doesn't specify an audience, ask.
Step 2: Read the Audience-Specific Reference
Read the corresponding reference file from this skill's directory:
- Equity Research →
references/equity-research.md
- IB / M&A →
references/ib-ma.md
- Corp Dev →
references/corp-dev.md
- Sales / BD →
references/sales-bd.md
Each reference defines sections, a query plan, formatting guidance, and page length defaults.
Step 3: Pull Data via S&P Global MCP
First: Create the intermediate file directory:
mkdir -p /tmp/tear-sheet/
Use the S&P Global MCP tools (also known as the Kensho LLM-ready API). Claude will have access to structured tools for financial data, company information, market data, consensus estimates, earnings transcripts, M&A transactions, and business relationships. The query plans in each reference file describe what data to retrieve for each section — map these to the appropriate S&P Global tools available in the conversation.
After each query step, immediately write the retrieved data to the intermediate file(s) specified in the reference file's query plan. Do not defer writes — data written to disk is protected from context degradation in long conversations.
Query strategy:
Each reference file includes a query plan with 4-6 data retrieval steps. These are starting points, not rigid constraints. Prioritize data completeness over minimizing calls:
- Always pull 4 fiscal years of financial data, even though only 3 years are displayed. The fourth (earliest) year is needed to compute YoY revenue growth for the first displayed year. Without it, the earliest year's growth rate will show "N/A" — which looks like missing data, not a design choice.
- Execute the query plan as written, using whichever S&P Global tools match the data needed.
- If a tool call returns incomplete results, try alternative tools or narrower queries. For example, if company summary doesn't include segment detail, try the segments tool directly.
- If a data point isn't returned after a targeted retry, move on — label it "N/A" or "Not disclosed."
- Never fabricate data. If the tools don't return a number, do not estimate from training knowledge.
User-specified comps: If the user provided comparable companies, query financials and multiples for each comp explicitly. If no comps were provided, use whatever peer data the tools return, or identify peers from the company's sector using the competitors tool.
Optional context from the user: Listen for additional context the user provides naturally. If they mention who the acquirer is ("we're looking at this for our platform"), what they sell ("we sell data analytics to banks"), or who the likely buyers are ("this would be interesting to Salesforce or Microsoft"), incorporate that context into the relevant synthesis sections (Strategic Fit, Conversation Starters, Deal Angle). Don't prompt for this information — just use it if offered.
Private company handling:
CIQ includes private company data, so query the same way. However, expect sparser results. When generating for a private company:
- Skip: stock price, 52-week range, beta, stock performance, consensus estimates, trading comps
- Lean into: business overview, relationships, ownership structure, whatever financials are available
- Note "Private Company" prominently in the header
Step 3b: Calculate Derived Metrics
After all data collection is complete and intermediate files are written, compute all derived metrics in a single dedicated pass. This is a calculation-only step — no new MCP queries.
Read all intermediate files back into context, then compute:
- Margins: Gross Margin %, EBITDA Margin %, FCF Margin %, Operating Margin %
- Growth rates: YoY revenue growth, YoY segment revenue growth, YoY EPS growth
- Efficiency ratios: FCF Conversion (FCF/EBITDA), R&D as % of Revenue, Capex as % of Revenue
- Capital structure: Net Debt (Total Debt − Cash & Equivalents), Net Debt / EBITDA
- Segment mix: Each segment's revenue as % of consolidated total revenue (use consolidated revenue as denominator per Data Integrity Rule 8)
Validation (moved from Arithmetic Validation): During this calculation pass, enforce all arithmetic checks:
- Margin calculations: Verify EBITDA Margin = EBITDA / Revenue, Gross Margin = Gross Profit / Revenue, etc. If the computed margin doesn't match the raw numbers, use the computation from raw components.
- Growth rates: Verify YoY growth = (Current − Prior) / Prior. Don't rely on pre-computed growth rates if you have the underlying values.
- Segment totals: If showing revenue by segment, verify segments sum to total revenue (within rounding tolerance). If they don't, omit the total row rather than publishing inconsistent math.
- Percentage columns: Verify "% of Total" columns sum to ~100%.
- Valuation cross-checks: If you show both EV and EV/Revenue, verify EV / Revenue ≈ the stated multiple.
If a validation fails: attempt recalculation from raw data. If still inconsistent, flag the metric as "N/A" rather than publishing incorrect numbers. Quiet math errors in a tear sheet destroy credibility.
Write results to /tmp/tear-sheet/calculations.csv with columns: metric,value,formula,components
Example rows:
metric,value,formula,components
gross_margin_fy2024,72.4%,gross_profit/revenue,"9524/13159"
revenue_growth_fy2024,12.3%,(current-prior)/prior,"13159/11716"
net_debt_fy2024,2150,total_debt-cash,"4200-2050"
Step 3c: Verify Data Files
Before generating the document, verify that all intermediate files are present and populated.
Read each intermediate file via separate read operations and print a verification summary:
=== Tear Sheet Data Verification ===
company-profile.txt: ✓ (12 fields)
financials.csv: ✓ (36 rows)
segments.csv: ✓ (8 rows)
valuation.csv: ✓ (5 rows)
calculations.csv: ✓ (18 rows)
earnings.txt: ✓ (populated)
relationships.txt: ⚠ MISSING
peer-comps.csv: ✓ (12 rows)
================================
Soft gate: If any file expected for the current audience type is missing or empty, print a warning but continue. The tear sheet handles missing data gracefully with "N/A" and section skipping. However, the warning ensures visibility into what data was lost.
Critical rule: The files — not your memory of earlier conversation — are the single source of truth for every number in the document. When generating the DOCX in Step 4, read values from the intermediate files. Do not rely on conversation context for financial data.
Step 4: Format as DOCX
Read /mnt/skills/public/docx/SKILL.md for docx creation mechanics (docx-js via Node). Apply the Style Configuration above plus the section-specific formatting in the reference file.
Page length defaults (user can override):
- Equity Research: 1 page (density is the convention)
- IB / M&A: 1-2 pages
- Corp Dev: 1-2 pages
- Sales / BD: 1-2 pages
If content exceeds the target, each reference file specifies which sections to cut first.
Output filename: [CompanyName]_TearSheet_[Audience]_[YYYYMMDD].docx
Example: Nvidia_TearSheet_CorpDev_20260220.docx
Save to /mnt/user-data/outputs/ and present to the user.
Data Integrity Rules
These override everything else:
- S&P Global tools are the only source for financial data. Do not fill gaps with training knowledge — it may be stale or wrong.
- Label what you can't find. Use "N/A" or "Not disclosed" rather than omitting a row silently.
- Dates matter. Note the fiscal year end or reporting period. Don't assume calendar year = fiscal year. Market data (stock prices, market cap) should include an "as of" date.
- Don't mix reporting periods. If you have FY2023 revenue and LTM EBITDA, label them distinctly.
- Prefer MCP-returned fields over manual computation. If the S&P Global tools return a pre-computed field (e.g., net debt, EBITDA, FCF), use that value directly rather than computing it from components. Only compute derived metrics manually when the tools do not return the field. This reduces discrepancies.
- Ensure consistency across tear sheet types. If generating multiple tear sheets for the same company (e.g., equity research and IB/M&A in the same session), the same underlying data points must produce identical values across all outputs. Net debt, revenue, EBITDA, margins, and growth rates must match exactly. Do not re-query or re-compute independently per report — reuse the same retrieved values.
- Never downgrade known transaction values. If the M&A tools return a deal value for a transaction, that value must appear in the output. Do not replace a known deal value with "Undisclosed." Use "Undisclosed" only when the tools genuinely return no value for a transaction.
- Use consolidated revenue as the denominator for segment percentages. When computing "% of Total" for segment tables, divide each segment's revenue by consolidated total revenue (as reported on the income statement), not by the sum of segment revenues. The sum of segments often exceeds consolidated revenue due to intersegment eliminations. Using consolidated revenue ensures percentages align with the total revenue figure shown elsewhere in the document.
- Always include forward (NTM) multiples when available. If the tools return both trailing and forward valuation multiples, both must appear in the output. Forward multiples are the primary valuation reference for equity research, IB/M&A, and corp dev audiences. Never show only trailing multiples when forward data is available.
- No S&P Global tool returns executive or management data. Do not populate management names, titles, or biographical details from training data — this violates Rule 1 and produces stale information. If a management section appears in a template, omit it entirely. Ownership structure (institutional holders, insider %, PE sponsor) may be included only if returned by the tools — gate with "data permitting."
Intermediate File Rule
All data retrieved from MCP tools must be persisted to structured intermediate files before document generation. These files — not conversation context — are the single source of truth for every number in the document.
Setup: At the start of Step 3, create the working directory:
mkdir -p /tmp/tear-sheet/
Write-after-query mandate: After each MCP query step completes, immediately write the retrieved data to the appropriate intermediate file(s). Do not wait until all queries finish. Each reference file's query plan specifies which file(s) to write after each step.
File schemas:
| File |
Format |
Columns / Structure |
Used By |
/tmp/tear-sheet/company-profile.txt |
Key-value text |
name, ticker, exchange, HQ, sector, industry, founded, employees, market_cap, enterprise_value, stock_price, 52wk_high, 52wk_low, shares_outstanding, beta, ownership |
All |
/tmp/tear-sheet/financials.csv |
CSV |
period,line_item,value,source |
All |
/tmp/tear-sheet/segments.csv |
CSV |
period,segment_name,revenue,source |
ER, IB, CD |
/tmp/tear-sheet/valuation.csv |
CSV |
metric,trailing,forward,source |
ER, IB, CD |
/tmp/tear-sheet/consensus.csv |
CSV |
metric,fy_year,value,source |
ER |
/tmp/tear-sheet/earnings.txt |
Structured text |
Quarter, date, key quotes, guidance, key drivers |
ER, IB, Sales |
/tmp/tear-sheet/relationships.txt |
Structured text |
Customers, suppliers, partners, competitors — each with descriptors |
IB, CD, Sales |
/tmp/tear-sheet/peer-comps.csv |
CSV |
ticker,metric,value,source |
ER, IB, CD |
/tmp/tear-sheet/ma-activity.csv |
CSV |
date,target,deal_value,type,rationale,source |
IB, CD |
/tmp/tear-sheet/calculations.csv |
CSV |
metric,value,formula,components |
All (written in Step 3b) |
Abbreviations: ER = Equity Research, IB = IB/M&A, CD = Corp Dev, Sales = Sales/BD.
Not every audience type uses every file — the reference files define which query steps apply. Files not relevant to the current audience type need not be created.
Raw values only. Intermediate files store raw values as returned by the tools. Do not pre-compute margins, growth rates, or other derived metrics in these files — that happens in Step 3b.
Page budget enforcement: Each reference file specifies a default page length and a numbered cut order. If the rendered document exceeds the target, apply cuts in the order specified — do not attempt to shrink font sizes or margins below the template minimums. The cut order is a strict priority stack: cut section 1 completely before touching section 2.
Content Quality Rules
- Rewrite every narrative section for the audience. The CIQ company summary is an input, not an output. Each audience type needs a different description: concise and thesis-oriented for equity research, pitchbook prose for IB, product-focused for Corp Dev, plain language for Sales/BD. Never paste the CIQ summary verbatim into any tear sheet.
- Differentiate earnings highlights by audience. The same earnings call produces different takeaways for different readers. Equity research wants segment-level performance and consensus beat/miss. IB wants margin trajectory and strategic commentary. Sales/BD wants strategic themes that create conversation angles. Do not reuse the same bullets across tear sheet types.
- Synthesis sections are the differentiator. Strategic Fit Analysis, Integration Considerations, Conversation Starters, and Business Overview paragraphs are where the tear sheet earns its value. These sections require analytical reasoning that connects data points into a narrative — listing company names without context is not synthesis.
- Flag pending divestitures in segment tables. If a company has announced a pending divestiture of a segment or business unit, add a footnote or parenthetical to the segment table noting the pending transaction (e.g., "Mobility* — *Pending divestiture, expected mid-2026"). For Corp Dev and IB/M&A tear sheets, include a one-line note below the segment table showing pro-forma revenue and revenue mix excluding the divested segment. This helps the reader evaluate the "go-forward" business without doing the math themselves.
Arithmetic Validation
→ Arithmetic validation is now enforced in Step 3b (Calculate Derived Metrics). All margin calculations, growth rates, segment totals, percentage columns, and valuation cross-checks are validated during the dedicated calculation pass, before document generation begins. See Step 3b for the full validation checklist.
1---2name: tear-sheet3description: Generate professional company tear sheets using S&P Capital IQ data via the Kensho LLM-ready API MCP server. Use this skill whenever the user asks for a tear sheet, company one-pager, company profile, fact sheet, company snapshot, or company overview document — especially when they mention a specific company name or ticker. Also trigger when users ask for equity research summaries, M&A company profiles, corporate development target profiles, sales/BD meeting prep documents, or any concise single-company financial summary. This skill supports four audience types: equity research, investment banking/M&A, corporate development, and sales/business development. If the user doesn't specify an audience, ask. Works for both public and private companies.4---5
6# Financial Tear Sheet Generator
7
8Generate audience-specific company tear sheets by pulling live data from S&P Capital IQ via the S&P Global MCP tools and formatting the result as a professional Word document.
9
10## Style Configuration
11
12These are sensible defaults. To customize for your firm's brand, modify this section — common changes include swapping the color palette, changing the font (Calibri is standard at many banks), and updating the disclaimer text.
13
14**Colors:**
15- Primary (header banner background, section header text): #1F3864
16- Accent (signature section highlights): #2E75B6
17- Table header row fill: #D6E4F0
18- Table alternating row fill: #F2F2F2
19- Table borders: #CCCCCC
20- Header banner text: #FFFFFF
21
22**Typography (sizes in half-points for docx-js):**
23- Font family: Arial
24- Company name: 18pt bold (size: 36)
25- Section headers: 11pt bold (size: 22), Primary color
26- Body text: 9pt (size: 18)
27- Table text: 8.5pt (size: 17)
28- Footer/disclaimer: 7pt italic (size: 14)
29- Per-template overrides are specified in each reference file's Formatting Notes.
30
31**Company Header Banner:**
32- The header is a navy (#1F3864) banner spanning the full page width with company name in white.
33- **Below the banner, key-value pairs MUST be rendered in a two-column borderless table spanning the full page width.** Left column: company identifiers (ticker, HQ, founded, employees, sector). Right column: financial identifiers (market cap, EV, stock price, shares outstanding). Each cell contains a bold label and regular-weight value on the same line (e.g., "**Market Cap** $124.7B"). Do not left-justify all fields in a single column — this wastes horizontal space and looks unprofessional. The two-column spread is the single most important visual signal that distinguishes a professional tear sheet from a default document.
34 - **Implementation:** Create a 2-column table with `borders: none` and `shading: none` on all cells. Set column widths to 50% each. Place left-column fields (ticker, HQ, founded, employees) as separate paragraphs in the left cell. Place right-column fields (market cap, EV, stock price, shares outstanding) in the right cell. Each field is a single paragraph: bold run for the label, regular run for the value.
35 - The specific fields in each column vary by audience — see the reference file's header spec. The principle is always: spread across the page, not clumped left.
36- **Do not use a bordered table for the header key-value block.** Bordered tables are reserved for financial data only.
37- Key metrics in the header (market cap, EV, stock price) should be displayed as inline key-value pairs, not in a separate bordered table.
38
39**Section Headers:**
40- Each section header gets a horizontal rule (thin line, #CCCCCC, 0.5pt) directly beneath it to create clean visual separation between sections.
41- **Render the rule as a bottom border on the header paragraph itself** — do not insert a separate paragraph element for the rule. A separate paragraph adds its own before/after spacing and causes excessive whitespace below section titles.
42- **Implementation:** In docx-js, apply a bottom border to the section header paragraph via `paragraph.borders.bottom = { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: "CCCCCC" }`. Do not use `doc.addParagraph()` with a separate horizontal rule element. Do not use `thematicBreak`. The border must be on the heading paragraph itself with 0pt spacing after, so the rule sits tight against the header text.
43- Spacing: 12pt before the header paragraph, 0pt after the header paragraph, 4pt before the next content element.
44
45**Bullet Formatting:**
46- Use a single bullet character (•) for all bulleted content across all tear sheet types. Do not mix •, -, ▸, or numbered lists within or across tear sheets.
47- **Synthesis/analysis bullets** (Earnings Highlights, Strategic Fit, Integration Considerations, Conversation Starters): indented block-style formatting with left indent 360 DXA (0.25") and a hanging indent for the bullet character. These should be visually offset from body text — they're interpretive content and should look distinct from data tables and prose paragraphs.
48- **Informational bullets** within relationship sections: standard body indent (180 DXA), no hanging indent.
49- **Do not apply left-border accents to any bullet sections.** Left-border styling renders inconsistently in docx-js and creates visual artifacts. Use indentation and text size differentiation to distinguish signature sections instead.
50
51**Tables (financial data only):**
52- Header row: Table Header Fill (#D6E4F0) with bold dark text
53- Body rows: alternating white / Table Alternating Fill (#F2F2F2)
54- Borders: Table Border color (#CCCCCC), thin (BorderStyle.SINGLE, size 1)
55- Cell padding: top/bottom 40 DXA, left/right 80 DXA
56- Right-align all numeric columns
57- Always use ShadingType.CLEAR (never SOLID — SOLID causes black backgrounds)
58
59**Layout:**
60- US Letter portrait, 0.75" margins (1080 DXA all sides)
61
62**Number formatting:**
63- Currency: USD. Use millions unless company revenue > $50B (then billions, one decimal). Label units in column headers (e.g., "Revenue ($M)"), not in individual cells.
64- **Table cells: plain numbers with commas, no dollar signs.** Example: a revenue cell shows "4,916" not "$4,916". The column header carries the unit.
65- Fiscal years: actual years (FY2022, FY2023, FY2024), never relative labels (FY-2, FY-1).
66- Negatives: parentheses, e.g., (2.3%)
67- Percentages: one decimal place
68- Large numbers: commas as thousands separators
69
70**Footer (document footer, not inline):**
71Place the source attribution and disclaimer in the actual document footer (repeated on every page), not as inline body text at the bottom. The footer is exactly two lines, centered, on every page:
72- Line 1: "Data: S&P Capital IQ via Kensho | Analysis: AI-generated | [Month Day, Year]"
73- Line 2: "For informational purposes only. Not investment advice."
74- Style: 7pt italic, centered, #666666 text color
75- This footer text must be identical across all tear sheet types for the same company. Do not vary the wording by audience.
76- **This footer is required on every tear sheet, every audience type, every page.** Do not omit it.
77
78## Component Functions
79
80**You MUST use these exact functions to create document elements. Do NOT write custom docx-js styling code.** Copy these functions into your generated Node script and call them. The Style Configuration prose above remains as documentation; these functions are the enforcement mechanism.
81
82```javascript
83const docx = require("docx");
84const {
85 Document, Paragraph, TextRun, Table, TableRow, TableCell,
86 WidthType, AlignmentType, BorderStyle, ShadingType,
87 Header, Footer, PageNumber, HeadingLevel, TableLayoutType,
88 convertInchesToTwip
89} = docx;
90
91// ── Color constants ──
92const COLORS = {
93 PRIMARY: "1F3864",
94 ACCENT: "2E75B6",
95 TABLE_HEADER_FILL: "D6E4F0",
96 TABLE_ALT_ROW: "F2F2F2",
97 TABLE_BORDER: "CCCCCC",
98 HEADER_TEXT: "FFFFFF",
99 FOOTER_TEXT: "666666",
100};
101
102const FONT = "Arial";
103
104// ── 1. createHeaderBanner ──
105// Returns an array of docx elements: [banner paragraph, key-value table]
106function createHeaderBanner(companyName, leftFields, rightFields) {
107 // leftFields / rightFields: arrays of { label: string, value: string }
108 const banner = new Paragraph({
109 children: [
110 new TextRun({
111 text: companyName,
112 bold: true,
113 size: 36, // 18pt
114 color: COLORS.HEADER_TEXT,
115 font: FONT,
116 }),
117 ],
118 shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: COLORS.PRIMARY },
119 spacing: { after: 0 },
120 alignment: AlignmentType.LEFT,
121 });
122
123 function buildCellParagraphs(fields) {
124 return fields.map(
125 (f) =>
126 new Paragraph({
127 children: [
128 new TextRun({ text: f.label + " ", bold: true, size: 18, font: FONT }),
129 new TextRun({ text: f.value, size: 18, font: FONT }),
130 ],
131 spacing: { after: 40 },
132 })
133 );
134 }
135
136 const noBorder = { style: BorderStyle.NONE, size: 0, color: "FFFFFF" };
137 const noBorders = { top: noBorder, bottom: noBorder, left: noBorder, right: noBorder };
138 const noShading = { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: "FFFFFF" };
139
140 const kvTable = new Table({
141 rows: [
142 new TableRow({
143 children: [
144 new TableCell({
145 children: buildCellParagraphs(leftFields),
146 width: { size: 50, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
147 borders: noBorders,
148 shading: noShading,
149 }),
150 new TableCell({
151 children: buildCellParagraphs(rightFields),
152 width: { size: 50, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
153 borders: noBorders,
154 shading: noShading,
155 }),
156 ],
157 }),
158 ],
159 width: { size: 100, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
160 });
161
162 return [banner, kvTable];
163}
164
165// ── 2. createSectionHeader ──
166// Returns a single Paragraph with bottom border rule
167function createSectionHeader(text) {
168 return new Paragraph({
169 children: [
170 new TextRun({
171 text: text,
172 bold: true,
173 size: 22, // 11pt
174 color: COLORS.PRIMARY,
175 font: FONT,
176 }),
177 ],
178 spacing: { before: 240, after: 0 }, // 12pt before, 0pt after
179 border: {
180 bottom: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
181 },
182 });
183}
184
185// ── 3. createTable ──
186// headers: string[], rows: string[][], options: { accentHeader?, fontSize? }
187function createTable(headers, rows, options = {}) {
188 const fontSize = options.fontSize || 17; // 8.5pt default
189 const headerFill = options.accentHeader ? COLORS.ACCENT : COLORS.TABLE_HEADER_FILL;
190 const headerTextColor = options.accentHeader ? COLORS.HEADER_TEXT : "000000";
191
192 const cellBorders = {
193 top: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
194 bottom: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
195 left: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
196 right: { style: BorderStyle.SINGLE, size: 1, color: COLORS.TABLE_BORDER },
197 };
198
199 const cellMargins = { top: 40, bottom: 40, left: 80, right: 80 };
200
201 function isNumeric(val) {
202 if (typeof val !== "string") return false;
203 const cleaned = val.replace(/[,$%()]/g, "").trim();
204 return cleaned !== "" && !isNaN(cleaned);
205 }
206
207 // Header row
208 const headerRow = new TableRow({
209 children: headers.map(
210 (h) =>
211 new TableCell({
212 children: [
213 new Paragraph({
214 children: [
215 new TextRun({
216 text: h,
217 bold: true,
218 size: fontSize,
219 color: headerTextColor,
220 font: FONT,
221 }),
222 ],
223 }),
224 ],
225 shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: headerFill },
226 borders: cellBorders,
227 margins: cellMargins,
228 })
229 ),
230 });
231
232 // Data rows with alternating shading
233 const dataRows = rows.map((row, rowIdx) => {
234 const fill = rowIdx % 2 === 1 ? COLORS.TABLE_ALT_ROW : "FFFFFF";
235 return new TableRow({
236 children: row.map((cell, colIdx) => {
237 const align = colIdx > 0 && isNumeric(cell)
238 ? AlignmentType.RIGHT
239 : AlignmentType.LEFT;
240 return new TableCell({
241 children: [
242 new Paragraph({
243 children: [
244 new TextRun({ text: cell, size: fontSize, font: FONT }),
245 ],
246 alignment: align,
247 }),
248 ],
249 shading: { type: ShadingType.CLEAR, color: "auto", fill: fill },
250 borders: cellBorders,
251 margins: cellMargins,
252 });
253 }),
254 });
255 });
256
257 return new Table({
258 rows: [headerRow, ...dataRows],
259 width: { size: 100, type: WidthType.PERCENTAGE },
260 });
261}
262
263// ── 4. createBulletList ──
264// items: string[], style: "synthesis" | "informational"
265function createBulletList(items, style = "synthesis") {
266 const indent =
267 style === "synthesis"
268 ? { left: 360, hanging: 180 } // 360 DXA left, hanging indent for bullet
269 : { left: 180 }; // 180 DXA, no hanging
270
271 return items.map(
272 (item) =>
273 new Paragraph({
274 children: [
275 new TextRun({ text: "• ", font: FONT, size: 18 }),
276 new TextRun({ text: item, font: FONT, size: 18 }),
277 ],
278 indent: indent,
279 spacing: { after: 60 },
280 })
281 );
282}
283
284// ── 5. createFooter ──
285// date: string (e.g., "February 23, 2026")
286function createFooter(date) {
287 return new Footer({
288 children: [
289 new Paragraph({
290 children: [
291 new TextRun({
292 text: `Data: S&P Capital IQ via Kensho | Analysis: AI-generated | ${date}`,
293 italics: true,
294 size: 14, // 7pt
295 color: COLORS.FOOTER_TEXT,
296 font: FONT,
297 }),
298 ],
299 alignment: AlignmentType.CENTER,
300 }),
301 new Paragraph({
302 children: [
303 new TextRun({
304 text: "For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.",
305 italics: true,
306 size: 14,
307 color: COLORS.FOOTER_TEXT,
308 font: FONT,
309 }),
310 ],
311 alignment: AlignmentType.CENTER,
312 }),
313 ],
314 });
315}
316```
317
318**Usage in generated scripts:**
3191. Copy all functions and constants above into the generated Node.js script
3202. Call `createHeaderBanner(...)` instead of manually building banner paragraphs and tables
3213. Call `createSectionHeader(...)` for every section title — never manually set paragraph borders
3224. Call `createTable(...)` for **all** tabular data — financial summaries, trading comps, M&A activity, relationship tables, funding history, etc. Pass `{ accentHeader: true }` for M&A activity tables (IB/M&A template). For non-numeric tables (e.g., relationships, ownership), the function still works correctly — it only right-aligns cells that contain numeric values.
3235. Call `createBulletList(items, "synthesis")` for earnings highlights, strategic fit, integration considerations, and conversation starters
3246. Call `createBulletList(items, "informational")` for relationship entries
3257. Pass `createFooter(date)` to the Document constructor's `footers.default` property
326
327**What these functions eliminate:**
328- Black background tables (enforces `ShadingType.CLEAR` everywhere)
329- Separate horizontal rule paragraphs under section headers (enforces `border.bottom` on the paragraph itself)
330- Bordered key-value tables in headers (enforces `borders: none`)
331- Inconsistent bullet styles (enforces `•` character only)
332- Missing footers (provides the exact footer structure)
333
334## Workflow
335
336### Step 1: Identify Inputs
337
338Gather up to four things before proceeding:
339
3401. **Company** — name or ticker. If only a ticker, resolve the full company name with an initial query (e.g., use the company info tool).
3412. **Audience** — one of four types:
342 - **Equity Research** — for buy-side/sell-side analysts evaluating an investment
343 - **IB / M&A** — for bankers profiling a company in transaction context
344 - **Corp Dev** — for internal strategic teams evaluating an acquisition target
345 - **Sales / BD** — for commercial teams preparing for a client meeting
3463. **Comparable companies** (optional) — if the user has specific comps in mind, note them. Otherwise the skill will identify peers from S&P Global data. This matters for Equity Research, IB/M&A, and Corp Dev tear sheets.
3474. **Page length preference** (optional) — defaults vary by audience (see below), but the user can override.
348
349If the user doesn't specify an audience, ask.
350
351### Step 2: Read the Audience-Specific Reference
352
353Read the corresponding reference file from this skill's directory:
354
355- Equity Research → `references/equity-research.md`
356- IB / M&A → `references/ib-ma.md`
357- Corp Dev → `references/corp-dev.md`
358- Sales / BD → `references/sales-bd.md`
359
360Each reference defines sections, a query plan, formatting guidance, and page length defaults.
361
362### Step 3: Pull Data via S&P Global MCP
363
364**First:** Create the intermediate file directory:
365```bash
366mkdir -p /tmp/tear-sheet/
367```
368
369Use the **S&P Global** MCP tools (also known as the Kensho LLM-ready API). Claude will have access to structured tools for financial data, company information, market data, consensus estimates, earnings transcripts, M&A transactions, and business relationships. The query plans in each reference file describe what data to retrieve for each section — map these to the appropriate S&P Global tools available in the conversation.
370
371**After each query step, immediately write the retrieved data to the intermediate file(s) specified in the reference file's query plan.** Do not defer writes — data written to disk is protected from context degradation in long conversations.
372
373**Query strategy:**
374Each reference file includes a query plan with 4-6 data retrieval steps. These are starting points, not rigid constraints. Prioritize data completeness over minimizing calls:
375
376- **Always pull 4 fiscal years of financial data**, even though only 3 years are displayed. The fourth (earliest) year is needed to compute YoY revenue growth for the first displayed year. Without it, the earliest year's growth rate will show "N/A" — which looks like missing data, not a design choice.
377- Execute the query plan as written, using whichever S&P Global tools match the data needed.
378- If a tool call returns incomplete results, try alternative tools or narrower queries. For example, if company summary doesn't include segment detail, try the segments tool directly.
379- If a data point isn't returned after a targeted retry, move on — label it "N/A" or "Not disclosed."
380- Never fabricate data. If the tools don't return a number, do not estimate from training knowledge.
381
382**User-specified comps:** If the user provided comparable companies, query financials and multiples for each comp explicitly. If no comps were provided, use whatever peer data the tools return, or identify peers from the company's sector using the competitors tool.
383
384**Optional context from the user:** Listen for additional context the user provides naturally. If they mention who the acquirer is ("we're looking at this for our platform"), what they sell ("we sell data analytics to banks"), or who the likely buyers are ("this would be interesting to Salesforce or Microsoft"), incorporate that context into the relevant synthesis sections (Strategic Fit, Conversation Starters, Deal Angle). Don't prompt for this information — just use it if offered.
385
386**Private company handling:**
387CIQ includes private company data, so query the same way. However, expect sparser results. When generating for a private company:
388- Skip: stock price, 52-week range, beta, stock performance, consensus estimates, trading comps
389- Lean into: business overview, relationships, ownership structure, whatever financials are available
390- Note "Private Company" prominently in the header
391
392### Step 3b: Calculate Derived Metrics
393
394After all data collection is complete and intermediate files are written, compute all derived metrics in a single dedicated pass. This is a calculation-only step — no new MCP queries.
395
396**Read all intermediate files back into context**, then compute:
397
398- **Margins:** Gross Margin %, EBITDA Margin %, FCF Margin %, Operating Margin %
399- **Growth rates:** YoY revenue growth, YoY segment revenue growth, YoY EPS growth
400- **Efficiency ratios:** FCF Conversion (FCF/EBITDA), R&D as % of Revenue, Capex as % of Revenue
401- **Capital structure:** Net Debt (Total Debt − Cash & Equivalents), Net Debt / EBITDA
402- **Segment mix:** Each segment's revenue as % of consolidated total revenue (use consolidated revenue as denominator per Data Integrity Rule 8)
403
404**Validation (moved from Arithmetic Validation):** During this calculation pass, enforce all arithmetic checks:
405
406- **Margin calculations:** Verify EBITDA Margin = EBITDA / Revenue, Gross Margin = Gross Profit / Revenue, etc. If the computed margin doesn't match the raw numbers, use the computation from raw components.
407- **Growth rates:** Verify YoY growth = (Current − Prior) / Prior. Don't rely on pre-computed growth rates if you have the underlying values.
408- **Segment totals:** If showing revenue by segment, verify segments sum to total revenue (within rounding tolerance). If they don't, omit the total row rather than publishing inconsistent math.
409- **Percentage columns:** Verify "% of Total" columns sum to ~100%.
410- **Valuation cross-checks:** If you show both EV and EV/Revenue, verify EV / Revenue ≈ the stated multiple.
411
412If a validation fails: attempt recalculation from raw data. If still inconsistent, flag the metric as "N/A" rather than publishing incorrect numbers. Quiet math errors in a tear sheet destroy credibility.
413
414**Write results** to `/tmp/tear-sheet/calculations.csv` with columns: `metric,value,formula,components`
415
416Example rows:
417```
418metric,value,formula,components
419gross_margin_fy2024,72.4%,gross_profit/revenue,"9524/13159"
420revenue_growth_fy2024,12.3%,(current-prior)/prior,"13159/11716"
421net_debt_fy2024,2150,total_debt-cash,"4200-2050"
422```
423
424### Step 3c: Verify Data Files
425
426Before generating the document, verify that all intermediate files are present and populated.
427
428**Read each intermediate file** via separate read operations and print a verification summary:
429
430```
431=== Tear Sheet Data Verification ===
432company-profile.txt: ✓ (12 fields)
433financials.csv: ✓ (36 rows)
434segments.csv: ✓ (8 rows)
435valuation.csv: ✓ (5 rows)
436calculations.csv: ✓ (18 rows)
437earnings.txt: ✓ (populated)
438relationships.txt: ⚠ MISSING
439peer-comps.csv: ✓ (12 rows)
440================================
441```
442
443**Soft gate:** If any file expected for the current audience type is missing or empty, print a warning but continue. The tear sheet handles missing data gracefully with "N/A" and section skipping. However, the warning ensures visibility into what data was lost.
444
445**Critical rule: The files — not your memory of earlier conversation — are the single source of truth for every number in the document.** When generating the DOCX in Step 4, read values from the intermediate files. Do not rely on conversation context for financial data.
446
447### Step 4: Format as DOCX
448
449Read `/mnt/skills/public/docx/SKILL.md` for docx creation mechanics (docx-js via Node). Apply the Style Configuration above plus the section-specific formatting in the reference file.
450
451**Page length defaults (user can override):**
452- Equity Research: 1 page (density is the convention)
453- IB / M&A: 1-2 pages
454- Corp Dev: 1-2 pages
455- Sales / BD: 1-2 pages
456
457If content exceeds the target, each reference file specifies which sections to cut first.
458
459**Output filename:** `[CompanyName]_TearSheet_[Audience]_[YYYYMMDD].docx`
460Example: `Nvidia_TearSheet_CorpDev_20260220.docx`
461
462Save to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/` and present to the user.
463
464## Data Integrity Rules
465
466These override everything else:
4671. **S&P Global tools are the only source for financial data.** Do not fill gaps with training knowledge — it may be stale or wrong.
4682. **Label what you can't find.** Use "N/A" or "Not disclosed" rather than omitting a row silently.
4693. **Dates matter.** Note the fiscal year end or reporting period. Don't assume calendar year = fiscal year. Market data (stock prices, market cap) should include an "as of" date.
4704. **Don't mix reporting periods.** If you have FY2023 revenue and LTM EBITDA, label them distinctly.
4715. **Prefer MCP-returned fields over manual computation.** If the S&P Global tools return a pre-computed field (e.g., net debt, EBITDA, FCF), use that value directly rather than computing it from components. Only compute derived metrics manually when the tools do not return the field. This reduces discrepancies.
4726. **Ensure consistency across tear sheet types.** If generating multiple tear sheets for the same company (e.g., equity research and IB/M&A in the same session), the same underlying data points must produce identical values across all outputs. Net debt, revenue, EBITDA, margins, and growth rates must match exactly. Do not re-query or re-compute independently per report — reuse the same retrieved values.
4737. **Never downgrade known transaction values.** If the M&A tools return a deal value for a transaction, that value must appear in the output. Do not replace a known deal value with "Undisclosed." Use "Undisclosed" only when the tools genuinely return no value for a transaction.
4748. **Use consolidated revenue as the denominator for segment percentages.** When computing "% of Total" for segment tables, divide each segment's revenue by consolidated total revenue (as reported on the income statement), not by the sum of segment revenues. The sum of segments often exceeds consolidated revenue due to intersegment eliminations. Using consolidated revenue ensures percentages align with the total revenue figure shown elsewhere in the document.
4759. **Always include forward (NTM) multiples when available.** If the tools return both trailing and forward valuation multiples, both must appear in the output. Forward multiples are the primary valuation reference for equity research, IB/M&A, and corp dev audiences. Never show only trailing multiples when forward data is available.
47610. **No S&P Global tool returns executive or management data.** Do not populate management names, titles, or biographical details from training data — this violates Rule 1 and produces stale information. If a management section appears in a template, omit it entirely. Ownership structure (institutional holders, insider %, PE sponsor) may be included only if returned by the tools — gate with "data permitting."
477
478## Intermediate File Rule
479
480All data retrieved from MCP tools must be persisted to structured intermediate files before document generation. These files — not conversation context — are the single source of truth for every number in the document.
481
482**Setup:** At the start of Step 3, create the working directory:
483```
484mkdir -p /tmp/tear-sheet/
485```
486
487**Write-after-query mandate:** After each MCP query step completes, immediately write the retrieved data to the appropriate intermediate file(s). Do not wait until all queries finish. Each reference file's query plan specifies which file(s) to write after each step.
488
489**File schemas:**
490
491| File | Format | Columns / Structure | Used By |
492|---|---|---|---|
493| `/tmp/tear-sheet/company-profile.txt` | Key-value text | name, ticker, exchange, HQ, sector, industry, founded, employees, market_cap, enterprise_value, stock_price, 52wk_high, 52wk_low, shares_outstanding, beta, ownership | All |
494| `/tmp/tear-sheet/financials.csv` | CSV | `period,line_item,value,source` | All |
495| `/tmp/tear-sheet/segments.csv` | CSV | `period,segment_name,revenue,source` | ER, IB, CD |
496| `/tmp/tear-sheet/valuation.csv` | CSV | `metric,trailing,forward,source` | ER, IB, CD |
497| `/tmp/tear-sheet/consensus.csv` | CSV | `metric,fy_year,value,source` | ER |
498| `/tmp/tear-sheet/earnings.txt` | Structured text | Quarter, date, key quotes, guidance, key drivers | ER, IB, Sales |
499| `/tmp/tear-sheet/relationships.txt` | Structured text | Customers, suppliers, partners, competitors — each with descriptors | IB, CD, Sales |
500| `/tmp/tear-sheet/peer-comps.csv` | CSV | `ticker,metric,value,source` | ER, IB, CD |
501| `/tmp/tear-sheet/ma-activity.csv` | CSV | `date,target,deal_value,type,rationale,source` | IB, CD |
502| `/tmp/tear-sheet/calculations.csv` | CSV | `metric,value,formula,components` | All (written in Step 3b) |
503
504**Abbreviations:** ER = Equity Research, IB = IB/M&A, CD = Corp Dev, Sales = Sales/BD.
505
506Not every audience type uses every file — the reference files define which query steps apply. Files not relevant to the current audience type need not be created.
507
508**Raw values only.** Intermediate files store raw values as returned by the tools. Do not pre-compute margins, growth rates, or other derived metrics in these files — that happens in Step 3b.
509
510**Page budget enforcement:** Each reference file specifies a default page length and a numbered cut order. If the rendered document exceeds the target, apply cuts in the order specified — do not attempt to shrink font sizes or margins below the template minimums. The cut order is a strict priority stack: cut section 1 completely before touching section 2.
511
512## Content Quality Rules
513
51411. **Rewrite every narrative section for the audience.** The CIQ company summary is an input, not an output. Each audience type needs a different description: concise and thesis-oriented for equity research, pitchbook prose for IB, product-focused for Corp Dev, plain language for Sales/BD. Never paste the CIQ summary verbatim into any tear sheet.
51512. **Differentiate earnings highlights by audience.** The same earnings call produces different takeaways for different readers. Equity research wants segment-level performance and consensus beat/miss. IB wants margin trajectory and strategic commentary. Sales/BD wants strategic themes that create conversation angles. Do not reuse the same bullets across tear sheet types.
51613. **Synthesis sections are the differentiator.** Strategic Fit Analysis, Integration Considerations, Conversation Starters, and Business Overview paragraphs are where the tear sheet earns its value. These sections require analytical reasoning that connects data points into a narrative — listing company names without context is not synthesis.
51714. **Flag pending divestitures in segment tables.** If a company has announced a pending divestiture of a segment or business unit, add a footnote or parenthetical to the segment table noting the pending transaction (e.g., "Mobility* — *Pending divestiture, expected mid-2026"). For Corp Dev and IB/M&A tear sheets, include a one-line note below the segment table showing pro-forma revenue and revenue mix excluding the divested segment. This helps the reader evaluate the "go-forward" business without doing the math themselves.
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519### Arithmetic Validation
520
521**→ Arithmetic validation is now enforced in Step 3b (Calculate Derived Metrics).** All margin calculations, growth rates, segment totals, percentage columns, and valuation cross-checks are validated during the dedicated calculation pass, before document generation begins. See Step 3b for the full validation checklist.