Form 13H vs 13F: two very different SEC filings
On Form 13H vs 13F, the numbers look alike but the filings could hardly be more different. A Form 13H is a confidential registration that tells the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who is trading in large size. A 13F is a public quarterly list of what a large manager holds. One is about identity and is never published; the other is about holdings and is free to read. This guide compares Form 13H vs 13F so you know which one actually shows you a portfolio. It is not investment advice.
Definition
Form 13H versus Form 13F
are two distinct SEC filings. Form 13H is a confidential large-trader registration under Rule 13h-1, triggered by trading volume. Form 13F is a public quarterly report of a large manager's US equity holdings, triggered by holding $100 million or more. Source: SEC.
What is Form 13H?
A Form 13H registers a large trader with the SEC. You cross a threshold based on trading volume, two million shares or $20 million in a day, or 20 million shares or $200 million in a month, then file and receive a Large Trader Identification Number. The information is confidential and is used to trace heavy trading, not to disclose positions.
What is Form 13F?
A 13F is filed by an institutional manager that holds at least $100 million in 13(f) securities. It lists the manager's US long holdings as of quarter-end and is posted publicly on EDGAR within 45 days. It is the filing behind every superstar-investor and hedge-fund portfolio tracker.
How do the two filings compare?
| What to check | Form 13H | Form 13F |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identify large traders | Disclose a manager's holdings |
| Trigger | Trading volume thresholds | $100M in 13(f) securities |
| Rule | Rule 13h-1 | Section 13(f) |
| Public? | No, confidential | Yes, on EDGAR |
| Shows holdings? | No | Yes, as of quarter-end |
| Frequency | Initial, then annual and amended | Quarterly |
Confidential vs public
The core split: Form 13H is a private identity registration, Form 13F a public quarterly holdings list
Source: SEC
Which one to read
If you want to follow what smart money owns, the 13F is the filing that matters, and the 13H is not something you can track at all. To turn public 13F data into named holdings, see what a 13F filing is and how a 13F tracker decodes it. To read the filings yourself, see how to search EDGAR.
Flock works only from public disclosure filings and keeps each one dated and linked to its source. What any of it means for your money is your call to make.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Form 13H and Form 13F?
Form 13H is a confidential SEC registration that identifies large traders under Rule 13h-1. Form 13F is a public quarterly report of a large manager's US equity holdings. One tracks who trades heavily, the other lists what a manager owns. Source: SEC.
What triggers each filing?
Form 13H is triggered by trading volume: two million shares or $20 million in a day, or 20 million shares or $200 million in a month. Form 13F is triggered by holding at least $100 million in 13(f) securities. Source: SEC.
Which one is public?
Only the 13F is public. It is posted on EDGAR within 45 days of quarter-end. Form 13H information is confidential and is not published, because it is a regulatory identity registration rather than a disclosure to investors. Source: SEC.
Can I track holdings from a Form 13H?
No. Form 13H does not list holdings and is not public, so it cannot be used to follow positions. To follow disclosed positions, use the public 13F filings. Source: SEC.
Flock tracks these filings, sourced, dated, and linked back to the original. See what smart-money entities disclosed, without the guesswork about what it means.
Disclosures shown are public regulatory filings. Data may be delayed or incomplete. Smart-money entities may no longer hold positions shown. Not investment advice.