Institutional holders (13F)

Investing glossary · Markets and instruments

Large investors such as mutual funds, pension funds and insurers that hold shares of a company on behalf of others.

Definition

Institutional holders are organizations that invest large pools of money: mutual funds, pension funds, insurers, hedge funds and asset managers. In the US, institutions managing over 100 million dollars must report their equity holdings to the SEC every quarter on Form 13F, within 45 days of the quarter's end.

Institutional ownership data shows who stands behind a stock and how that changes. High institutional ownership can mean the company is well followed and liquid, while big changes in holdings can hint at shifting views. The data is delayed and covers only long positions in US-listed shares, so it is a view of the past, not a live feed.

Worked example

Illustrative numbers

A 13F lists each holding by company, number of shares and value on the last day of the quarter. Comparing two consecutive quarters shows whether a fund bought more, trimmed or exited a position.

Because filings arrive weeks after the quarter ends, they show what funds held, not what they hold now.

How ATLAS uses it

ATLAS shows who owns a company, including the largest institutional holders, as part of the company information on its page.

Frequently asked questions

How often is institutional ownership data updated?

Quarterly, because Form 13F is filed once per quarter, up to 45 days after the quarter ends.

Does high institutional ownership mean a stock is a good investment?

Not by itself. It indicates that professionals follow and hold the stock, but they can be wrong and they also sell.

Related terms

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Not investment advice. ATLAS estimates are produced by statistical models from public data; they can be wrong and past performance does not predict future results. Consider your own situation before investing. Disclaimer