How to read an Institutional Positioning report

What it measures. Institutional ownership from SEC 13F filings (how many institutions hold the stock, the change in holders and shares, new/increased/reduced/closed positions), the largest holders and their moves, insider Form 4 transactions over 180 days, disclosed congressional trades, and the third-party analyst consensus.

How to read it. The scorecard uses plain phrases: "Institutions added on balance", "Insiders net sellers", "Very broad ownership". 13F data is quarterly and lags by up to 45 days — the report says which quarter it covers. Insider sales are common (compensation, diversification); the report separates open-market purchases, which are rarer, from awards and option exercises.

What it does not say. Institutions buying is not a reason to buy, and a hedge fund's position may be a hedge. Analyst rating counts are third-party data.

How to use it. The Smart-money feed on your dashboard shows these filings as they arrive for the names you follow; this report is the depth behind a feed item. Run it quarterly after 13F season (mid-February, May, August, November) or when the feed shows an unusual insider purchase.