What Is the SEC Form 13F?

By Keith Noonan – Updated Jul 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM

Key Points

SEC Form 13F provides insights into equities held by managers with over $100M assets.
Retail investors use 13F filings to track strategies of major investment firms.
13F disclosures can significantly affect stock valuations and market sentiment.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a federal regulatory agency that enforces financial laws and aims to prevent stock market manipulation and other illegal activity. SEC filings are available to the public and provide a level of transparency that helps prevent financial abuse and allows investors to stay informed.

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An infographic defining and explaining the SEC Form 13F. — Image source: The Motley Fool

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The 13F disclosures can also substantially impact the valuation of individual stocks and the market at large. These filings show the stocks that Wall Street's most high-profile investment managers are buying and selling, and this information can help shape market sentiment.

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Many investors pay close attention to Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly 13F filings because they reveal which stocks the investment company bought and sold in the previous quarter and how much cash and fixed income investments it owned. By tracking which stocks Buffett's company owns, investors can observe and replicate the strategies of one of the world's most successful financial conglomerates.

Monitoring Berkshire's cash pile and whether the company has been a net buyer or seller of stocks can also provide insight into how Buffett and his team of analysts feel about the health of the overall stock market.

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About the Author

Keith Noonan is a contributing writer at The Motley Fool covering technology, consumer goods, and other sectors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College.

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Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.