N-PORT vs N-CEN: fund holdings vs census
On N-PORT vs N-CEN, both are filings that registered funds make with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but they answer different questions. Form N-PORT answers "what does the fund own", reporting portfolio holdings. Form N-CEN answers "how is the fund built and run", reporting an annual operational census. This guide compares N-PORT vs N-CEN across what each reports and how often. It is not investment advice.
Definition
N-PORT versus N-CEN
are both SEC filings by registered funds. N-PORT reports the fund's portfolio holdings and is filed quarterly. N-CEN is an annual operational census covering the fund's structure, service providers, and practices, not its holdings. Source: SEC.
What does each report?
N-PORT is the portfolio report. It sets out the fund's positions, and complete quarter-end holdings are made public on EDGAR, so a reader can see what the fund actually held. N-CEN is the census. It reports the fund's organizational structure, its series and class identifiers, its service providers, and operational practices like securities lending and derivatives use. N-CEN tells you how the fund is wired; N-PORT tells you what is inside it.
How do they differ?
The differences come down to content, frequency, and what a reader can learn.
| What to check | N-PORT | N-CEN |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | Portfolio holdings | Operational and organizational data |
| Shows what the fund owns | Yes | No |
| Frequency | Quarterly (current regime) | Annual |
| Deadline | Complete quarter-end holdings public on EDGAR | Within 75 days of fiscal year-end |
| Format | Structured, machine-readable | Structured, machine-readable |
Quarterly vs annual
N-PORT reports holdings each quarter; N-CEN files the operational census once a year
Source: SEC
Which one should you read?
Read whichever matches the question. To see what a fund holds, read the N-PORT. To understand how a fund is organized and who services it, read the N-CEN. For how a fund cast its proxy votes, that is a separate record on Form N-PX. And for a manager-level snapshot of large US equity positions across the manager's book, the 13F is the disclosure to read.
Both N-PORT and N-CEN sit on the SEC's EDGAR system, free to read. Flock reads disclosure filings and keeps each one dated and linked to its source, so you can move from a summary to the original filing in one step. What any of it means for your money is your call to make.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between N-PORT and N-CEN?
Both are SEC filings by registered funds. Form N-PORT reports the fund's portfolio holdings and is filed quarterly. Form N-CEN is an annual operational census covering how the fund is organized, its service providers, and its practices, not its holdings. Source: SEC.
Which one shows what a fund owns?
Form N-PORT shows what a fund owns. It reports the fund's portfolio positions, and complete quarter-end holdings become public on EDGAR. Form N-CEN does not list holdings; it reports operational and organizational data. Source: SEC.
How often is each filed?
Form N-PORT is filed on a quarterly basis under the current regime, with complete quarter-end holdings made public. Form N-CEN is filed annually, within 75 days of the fund's fiscal year end. Source: SEC.
Are N-PORT and N-CEN filings public?
Yes. Both are filed on the SEC's EDGAR system in a structured format and are free to read. You can find either by searching the fund or fund family name. Source: SEC EDGAR.
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.