
Cik and CUSIP are two distinct identifiers used in the financial and corporate world. A CUSIP is a nine-character alphanumeric code assigned to a security, such as a stock or bond, by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
A Cik, on the other hand, is a unique identifier assigned to a company or individual by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It's used to identify the company or individual in SEC filings.
The CUSIP is primarily used for trading and settlement purposes, while the Cik is used for regulatory and reporting purposes. This distinction highlights the different roles these identifiers play in the financial ecosystem.
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What is CUSIP
A CUSIP, or Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, is a unique 9-character code assigned to a security, such as a stock or bond.
This code is used to identify and track securities, making it easier for investors to buy, sell, and trade.
What is CUSIP?
A CUSIP is a nine-character alphanumeric code assigned to a security by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
It's used to uniquely identify a security in the financial industry.
CUSIPs are used for a wide range of securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
They're also used for exchange-traded funds, options, and other financial instruments.
CUSIPs were developed in the 1960s to improve the efficiency of securities trading.
The first CUSIP was assigned in 1964.
CUSIPs are now used in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
They're a crucial part of the financial infrastructure.
CUSIPs are not the same as ISINs, which are used in other countries.
ISINs are also nine-character codes, but they're used for international securities.
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What is CUSIP used for
CUSIP is used to identify and differentiate securities issued by the same company.
It's a unique nine-character code that helps investors, financial institutions, and regulators accurately identify and track securities.
The CUSIP system was developed by S&P Global Market Intelligence, and it's now managed by S&P Global.
CUSIP codes are used in a variety of applications, including trading, clearing, and settlement of securities.
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These codes are also used to report ownership and other information to regulatory agencies.
CUSIP codes are required for all securities traded on major US exchanges, such as the NYSE and NASDAQ.
They're also used internationally, particularly in countries that have adopted the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) framework.
What is CIK
A CIK, or Central Index Key, is a unique identifier assigned to a company by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It's used to track corporate filings and other regulatory information.
The CIK is typically used for public companies, but it can also be assigned to other types of organizations, such as investment companies and partnerships.
A CIK is usually 10 digits long and can be found on a company's EDGAR filing, which is the SEC's electronic database of corporate filings.
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What is CIK?
CIK, or Central Index Key, is a unique identifier assigned to companies and individuals registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

It's a 10-digit number that's used to track and monitor financial activities.
The CIK is generated automatically when a company or individual files paperwork with the SEC.
This number is used to identify and verify the filer's identity.
CIK numbers are used to track and monitor insider transactions, ownership, and other financial information.
CIK filings are publicly available and can be accessed through the SEC's EDGAR database.
What is CIK used for
CIK is used as a unique identifier for companies and other entities, such as mutual funds and pension plans. It's assigned by the SEC to help track and analyze financial information.
Companies use CIK to file reports and other documents with the SEC, like annual reports and proxy statements. These filings provide valuable information to investors and the public.
CIK is also used by the SEC to track and analyze financial data, such as insider trading and ownership changes. This helps the SEC identify potential issues and enforce regulations.
The CIK number is usually listed on a company's website and in its financial reports. It's a quick way to find a company's CIK and access its filings with the SEC.
CIK is not the same as a company's stock ticker symbol or its tax ID number. Each CIK is unique and assigned to a specific entity.
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Mapping and Conversion
This repository produces a robust link between cik and cusip using EDGAR 13D and 13G fillings, which is more reliable than Compustat.
The cik-cusip mapping is available for download as a CSV file, cik-cusip-maps.csv, which contains the mapping without timestamp information.
You can download this file directly if you don't need the original data, and it's suitable for merging databases as long as you handle duplications yourself.
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CUSIP Mapping
CUSIP Mapping is a crucial step in the mapping and conversion process. It involves assigning a unique identifier to a security, allowing for easy tracking and identification.

A CUSIP (Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures) number is a nine-character alphanumeric code that represents a specific security. It's used to distinguish between different securities, even if they have the same name or ticker symbol.
The CUSIP number is assigned by S&P Global Market Intelligence and is widely used in the financial industry. The CUSIP number is unique to each security and remains unchanged even if the security is merged or acquired.
In the context of mapping and conversion, CUSIP mapping is essential for ensuring that the correct securities are matched and converted. This process requires a high degree of accuracy to avoid errors and discrepancies.
CIK Mapping
You can download the CIK-CUSIP mapping from a repository that produces the link between CIK and CUSIP using EDGAR 13D and 13G fillings.
This repository is a competitor to WRDS SEC platform, and the best part is that it's free.
The mapping is generated using a robust method that's more reliable than Compustat due to backward filling of new CUSIP to old records.

You can download the mapping directly from the repository by downloading cik-cusip-maps.csv.
The repository also includes a script called dl_idx.py that downloads the EDGAR index file containing addresses for each filing.
This index file generates a full_index.csv file.
After downloading the mapping, you can clean the resulting CSV files to get the mapping.
Note that the mapping doesn't include timestamp information, which can be a problem if you need to know when the link was valid.
The reason for this is that the timestamp information can be truncated due to the timing of the filings, making it difficult to determine when the link was valid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a ticker symbol and a CUSIP?
A CUSIP is a unique 9-digit identifier for stocks and bonds, unlike a ticker symbol which can be reused over time. This makes CUSIPs a more reliable identifier for financial instruments
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