DIRECT ANSWER
Definition
A CUSIP is a nine-character alphanumeric identifier used for many financial instruments. In Form 13F information tables, the reported CUSIP helps identify the security position, but it is not the same as a stock ticker and must be interpreted with issuer and security-class fields.
At a glance
- Length
- Nine characters
- Identifies
- Issuer/security issue
- 13F location
- Information table
- Not the same as
- Ticker symbol
01
CUSIP in 13F holdings data
The CUSIP is one of the most useful keys for normalizing reported holdings across managers and quarters. It should be stored as a string so leading zeros are not lost. The reported issuer name, class/title, and put/call field remain important context.
02
CUSIP vs. ticker
Tickers can change, be reused, vary by venue, or fail to represent a specific security class. A CUSIP is designed as a security identifier, but corporate actions and identifier changes still require historical mapping.
SRC
Primary sources
Definitions and regulatory claims on this page are grounded in the following official public resources.