A quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers with over $100M in qualifying assets.
Definition
The SEC Form 13F requires institutional investors (like hedge funds, mutual funds, and pension funds) managing over $100 million to disclose their U.S. equity holdings at the end of each quarter.
Why it matters for Whale Tracking
While Form 4 tracks internal executives, 13F tracks external institutional 'smart money'. Analyzing 13F filings allows data providers to map out exactly which funds are accumulating or dumping specific sectors over a macro timeframe.
Real-World Example
"Forty-five days after the quarter ends, Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management files its 13F. Data terminals parse the XML to reveal he has closed his short positions and bought millions in semiconductor stocks, shifting market narratives."