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How to Gain Investment Insights from Form 13F Using FMP’s Filings Extract API

Jun 20, 2025 4:40 PM - Sanzhi Kobzhan

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Investors are always looking for ways to make smarter decisions. One powerful tool for this is the SEC's Form 13F, a quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets. By combining this form with the Filings Extract API from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP), you can easily access valuable data to guide your investment strategies. In this article, we'll explain what insights you can get from Form 13F and how to use FMP's API to extract this information in a simple, efficient way.

What Is Form 13F and Why Does It Matter?

Form 13F is a report that large institutional investors, like hedge funds, mutual funds, and banks, must file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It shows their holdings in U.S. stocks, ETFs, and other securities at the end of each quarter. These filings are public, so anyone can see what the “smart money” is doing.

Here are some key insights you can gain from Form 13F:

Track Big Investors' Moves: You can see which stocks top investors like Warren Buffett or Vanguard are buying or selling. For example, if a major fund increases its stake in a company, it might signal confidence in its future growth.
Spot Market Trends: By analyzing multiple 13F filings, you can identify sectors or industries that are gaining or losing favor. For instance, if many funds are investing in tech stocks, it could indicate a bullish trend in that sector.
Discover New Investment Ideas: Form 13F can reveal stocks you might not have considered. If a trusted fund manager holds a large position in a lesser-known company, it could be worth researching.
Monitor Portfolio Changes: You can track how an investor's holdings change over time. A fund selling a stock might suggest they've lost confidence, while a new position could mean they see an opportunity.

However, Form 13F has limitations. The data is delayed (filed within 45 days after the quarter ends), so it's not real-time. Also, it only shows long positions, not short bets or other strategies. Still, it's a great starting point for understanding what big players are doing.

How FMP's Filings Extract API Helps You Access Form 13F Data

Manually digging through SEC filings on the SEC's EDGAR website can be time-consuming and overwhelming. That's where FMP's Filings Extract API comes in. This tool simplifies the process by pulling key data from Form 13F filings into a clean, structured format (JSON). Here's how it works and why it's useful:

What the Filings Extract API Does

The Filings Extract API lets you retrieve detailed information from SEC filings, including Form 13F. It's designed for investors and analysts who want to save time while analyzing ownership, security details, and other data. The API returns information like:

Date: The reporting period (e.g., “2023-09-30”).
Filing Date: When the form was filed (e.g., “2023-11-13”).
CIK: The Central Index Key of the filing institution.
Security CUSIP and Symbol: Identifiers for the stock (e.g., “CHRD” for Chord Energy).
Name of Issuer: The company name (e.g., “CHORD ENERGY CORPORATION”).
Shares and Value: How many shares are held and their total value.
Links: Direct URLs to the SEC filing for further review.

This data makes it easy to track ownership changes, compare filings across quarters, or analyze specific stocks or investors.

Why It's Useful

Saves Time: Instead of manually searching the SEC's website, you get structured data instantly.
Simplifies Analysis: The JSON format is easy to work with, especially if you use tools like Python or Excel.
Tracks Trends: You can compare filings over time to see how an investor's portfolio evolves.
Customizable: You can focus on specific companies, investors, or time periods.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using FMP's Filings Extract API

To use the Filings Extract API, you need a few things: a CIK number, an FMP API key, and the year/quarter you're interested in. Here's how to get started:

1. Find the CIK Number

The CIK (Central Index Key) is a unique identifier for each institution filing with the SEC. To find it:

use FMP's CIK List API to find CIKs for specific funds.

2. Get an FMP API Key

To access the Filings Extract API, you need an API key from Financial Modeling Prep:

Visit financialmodelingprep.com and sign up for an account.
Choose a plan (FMP offers a free tier with limited access or premium plans for more data).
After signing up, you'll find your custom API key in your account dashboard.

3. Set Up the API Request

The Filings Extract API endpoint looks like this:

https://financialmodelingprep.com/stable/institutional-ownership/extract?cik=0001388838&year=2023&quarter=3&apikey=your_api_key

Here's what you need to input:

CIK: Replace “0001388838” with the CIK of the institution you're researching.
Year: Enter the year (e.g., “2023”).
Quarter: Specify the quarter (1, 2, 3, or 4).
API Key: Replace “your_api_key” with your FMP API key.

For example, to get 13F data for Berkshire Hathaway (CIK: 0001067983) for Q3 2023, your URL would be:

https://financialmodelingprep.com/stable/institutional-ownership/extract?cik=0001067983&year=2023&quarter=3&apikey=your_api_key

4. Run the API and Analyze the Data

Use a tool like Postman, Python, or a web browser to send the API request.
The API will return a JSON response with details about the institution's holdings, like the example below:

json

[
  {
    "date": "2023-09-30",
    "filingDate": "2023-11-13",
    "acceptedDate": "2023-11-13",
    "cik": "0001388838",
    "securityCusip": "674215207",
    "symbol": "CHRD",
    "nameOfIssuer": "CHORD ENERGY CORPORATION",
    "shares": 13280,
    "titleOfClass": "COM NEW",
    "sharesType": "SH",
    "putCallShare": "",
    "value": 2152290,
    "link": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1388838/000117266123003760/0001172661-23-003760-index.htm",
    "finalLink": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1388838/000117266123003760/infotable.xml"
  },
  ...
]

You can import this data into Excel, Python, or another tool to analyze trends, such as which stocks the institution bought or sold, or how their portfolio value changed.

5. Use the Insights

With the data in hand, you can:

Compare holdings across quarters to spot buying or selling trends.
Identify new positions to research potential investment opportunities.
Analyze the value of holdings to gauge an institution's confidence in a stock.
Cross-reference with other data (e.g., stock performance) to make informed decisions.

Example: How an Investor Might Use This

Imagine you're an investor tracking Vanguard's moves. You use the Filings Extract API to pull their Q3 2023 13F data (CIK: 0000102909). The API shows Vanguard increased its stake in Apple (AAPL) by 10% compared to Q2. This could signal they're bullish on Apple's future. You might decide to research Apple further or add it to your portfolio.

Alternatively, you notice Vanguard reduced its position in a small energy stock. By comparing filings over multiple quarters, you see they've been selling this stock consistently. This might prompt you to avoid or sell that stock.

Combine with Other Data: Use Form 13F data alongside stock performance, news, or earnings reports for a fuller picture.
Automate Analysis: Write a Python script to pull API data regularly and flag significant changes in holdings.
Be Aware of Delays: Since 13F data is delayed, use it for long-term strategies, not short-term trading.
Check Multiple Funds: Look at several institutions' filings to confirm trends, as one fund's moves might not tell the whole story.

Form 13F is a goldmine for investors wanting to follow the “smart money” and uncover market trends. With FMP's Filings Extract API, accessing this data is easier than ever. By finding the right CIK, getting an API key, and using the API endpoint, you can quickly pull detailed 13F data to inform your investment decisions. Whether you're tracking top funds, spotting new opportunities, or analyzing portfolio changes, this tool can save you time and give you a competitive edge.

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