What is a CUSIP? The 9-character security ID (2026)
A CUSIP is the 9-character code that identifies a security issued in the United States or Canada. If you have ever opened a raw SEC 13F filing and seen a column of 9-character codes instead of company names, those are CUSIPs. This guide explains what a CUSIP is, how it is built, and why it sits at the centre of US filings. It is not investment advice.
Definition
A CUSIP
is a 9-character alphanumeric identifier for a security issued in the United States or Canada. The first six characters identify the issuer, the next two identify the specific issue, and the ninth is a check digit. It is assigned by CUSIP Global Services on behalf of the American Bankers Association. Source: CUSIP Global Services.
How is a CUSIP structured?
A CUSIP packs an issuer and an issue into nine characters:
- Characters 1 to 6 the base, or CUSIP-6, which identifies the issuer.
- Characters 7 and 8 identify the exact issue, such as a specific class of stock or a bond.
- Character 9 a check digit that catches typos.
Because the first six characters are shared across everything one issuer puts out, all of a company's securities sit under the same CUSIP-6, with the 7th and 8th characters separating them.
Who administers the CUSIP system?
CUSIP stands for Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures. The system is owned by the American Bankers Association and administered by CUSIP Global Services (CGS), which is operated by FactSet. CGS is the national numbering agency for North America, so a US or Canadian CUSIP also serves as that security's national identifier.
9 characters
Length of a CUSIP: six for the issuer, two for the issue, one check digit
Source: CUSIP Global Services
Why CUSIPs matter for reading filings
US institutional filings identify positions by CUSIP, not by ticker. A 13F filing lists each holding as a CUSIP and a dollar value, so turning that into a readable portfolio means mapping every CUSIP back to its issuer. This is one of the quiet jobs any 13F tool does for you.
Outside North America, the equivalent identifier is the ISIN. For how the two relate, see CUSIP vs ISIN and the explainer on what an ISIN is. For a global entity identifier used alongside them in regulatory reporting, see what a legal entity identifier is.
Flock decodes filings and keeps each holding linked to its source and dated. What any of it means for your money is your call to make.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CUSIP number?
A CUSIP is a 9-character alphanumeric code that identifies a security issued in the United States or Canada. The first six characters identify the issuer, the next two the specific issue, and the last is a check digit. Source: CUSIP Global Services.
Who assigns CUSIP numbers?
CUSIP numbers are assigned by CUSIP Global Services (CGS), operated by FactSet on behalf of the American Bankers Association. CGS is the national numbering agency for the United States and Canada. Source: CUSIP Global Services, American Bankers Association.
Where do CUSIPs appear in filings?
US regulatory filings identify holdings by CUSIP. A SEC 13F filing lists each position by CUSIP rather than by ticker, so decoding the CUSIP is how you turn a raw 13F into named holdings. Source: SEC.
Is a CUSIP the same as a ticker?
No. A ticker is a short trading symbol on one exchange and can be reused. A CUSIP is a fixed 9-character identifier for a specific security and does not change between venues. Source: CUSIP Global Services.
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.