What is a 13F?
Every investment manager that controls at least $100 million in US-listed stocks must file a Form 13F with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) each quarter. The filing lists every qualifying position: the company, the number of shares and the market value at quarter end.
Filings are due within 45 days after each quarter ends. That is why most super investors update in mid-February, mid-May, mid-August and mid-November.
What it shows you
A 13F is the closest thing to looking over a great investor’s shoulder. You can see their biggest bets, what they bought or sold since last quarter and how concentrated they are.
Comparing several filings shows patterns: stocks that many respected investors are buying at the same time, or positions a manager keeps adding to for years.
What it doesn’t show
The data is delayed: by the time you read it, the positions may already have changed. It only covers US-listed long positions, so it leaves out short sales, most bonds, cash, private investments and many foreign stocks.
A 13F also doesn’t say why a manager bought something. A position could be a hedge, part of a larger trade or a stake that is about to be sold.
How to use it well
Use 13Fs as an idea generator, not a buy list. If a stock shows up in several high-conviction portfolios, it is worth researching, then decide whether it fits your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.
At QWERTx every number links back to the original SEC filing, so you can always check the source yourself.
See it on real portfolios
Open any super investor page to see these ideas applied to live 13F data.
Explore super investorsEducational content only, not investment advice. Published by QWERTx, October 2026.
