How to Read an Insider Trade Row
Walk through every field on a Blue Collar Picks row, from the ticker on the left to the SEC Form 4 button in the drawer. Annotated example built from the live feed.
Learn how to read insider trades.
Plain-English explainers for SEC filings, the Form 4 transactions that power Blue Collar Picks, and the rules we use to filter the noise. New here? Start with the beginner path.
The path
Start Here
Eight short lessons take you from "what is a Form 4" to using the feed with confidence. Read them in order.
- Legal vs Illegal Insider Trading Insider trading has two very different meanings. Here is the plain-English difference between legal Section 16 reporting and illegal trading on material non-public information.
- What Is SEC Form 4? Learn what SEC Form 4 is, who files it, when it is due, what insider transactions it reports, and why traders watch insider buying and selling.
- How to Read an Insider Trade Row Walk through every field on a Blue Collar Picks row, from the ticker on the left to the SEC Form 4 button in the drawer. Annotated example built from the live feed.
- Transaction Codes Explained Form 4 uses one and two letter transaction codes to describe what happened. Here is the plain-English glossary for every code you will see in the Blue Collar Picks feed, with a does-this-matter verdict for each.
- What Qualified Buy Means Qualified Buy is a Blue Collar Picks label, not an SEC term. Here is exactly what it means, what filters it implies, and what it does not mean.
- What Is Cluster Buying? A cluster buy is when multiple insiders buy shares of the same company within a short window. Here is why it matters, when it doesn't, and how Blue Collar Picks defines it.
- What Is a 10b5-1 Plan? 10b5-1 plans let insiders schedule trades in advance to avoid trading on non-public information. Here is what that means for how you read insider sales.
- Which View Should I Use? Blue Collar Picks has several feed views. Here is which one to start with as a beginner, and what each view is actually for.
Featured · The form that powers every row
SEC Form 4
Form 4 is the public filing officers, directors, and 10% holders use to disclose changes in their company stock ownership. Every row in the Blue Collar Picks feed traces back to a Form 4. If you only read one explainer, read this one.
The transaction code, dollar value, and role tell you whether a filing is a real open-market buy, a routine grant, a tax withholding, or a scheduled sale. The full lesson walks through each.
Read the Form 4 explainer →Reference
SEC Filings Library
The forms that show up in the Blue Collar Picks feed and the broader SEC reporting system, grouped by what each set of forms is for.
Insider Ownership
The forms Section 16 reporters file when they own or change ownership of company shares.
- What Is SEC Form 3? SEC Form 3 is the initial insider ownership filing. Learn who files it, when it is due, and how traders use it as context for Form 4 transactions.
- What Is SEC Form 4? Learn what SEC Form 4 is, who files it, when it is due, what insider transactions it reports, and why traders watch insider buying and selling.
- What Is SEC Form 5? SEC Form 5 is the annual insider filing that catches exempt transactions not reported on Form 4. Learn what it contains and why traders care.
Company Disclosures
Material events the company itself is required to report.
- What Is Form 8-K? Learn what Form 8-K is, what kinds of material events trigger it, when it must be filed, and why traders watch 8-K filings for stock-moving news.
- What Is Form 6-K? Learn what Form 6-K is, who files it, how it differs from Form 8-K, and why traders follow foreign issuer disclosures filed with the SEC.
Annual & Quarterly
The periodic financial reports.
- What Is Form 10-K? Learn what Form 10-K is, what it contains, when it is due, how it differs from an annual report, and what traders and investors should read first.
- What Is Form 10-Q? Learn what Form 10-Q is, when it is due, what quarterly financial and business updates it includes, and how it differs from Form 10-K.
Offerings
Registration statements for raising capital.
- What Is Form S-1? Learn what Form S-1 is, when companies file it, what it contains, and why traders and investors read S-1 filings before an IPO.
- What Is Form S-3? Learn what Form S-3 is, which issuers can use it, how it supports shelf registrations and follow-on offerings, and why traders watch it for capital raises and dilution risk.
Large Holders
Beneficial-ownership filings by 5%+ holders.
- What Is Schedule 13D? Learn what Schedule 13D is, who must file it after crossing 5% ownership, what information it contains, and why traders watch it for activist or control signals.
- What Is Schedule 13G? Learn what Schedule 13G is, who files it, how it differs from Schedule 13D, and why traders track large passive ownership changes.
Using Blue Collar Picks
How the feed works
The labels and views in the product, explained without jargon.
- What Qualified Buy Means Qualified Buy is a Blue Collar Picks label, not an SEC term. Here is exactly what it means, what filters it implies, and what it does not mean.
- What Is Cluster Buying? A cluster buy is when multiple insiders buy shares of the same company within a short window. Here is why it matters, when it doesn't, and how Blue Collar Picks defines it.
- Which View Should I Use? Blue Collar Picks has several feed views. Here is which one to start with as a beginner, and what each view is actually for.
- Transaction Codes Explained Form 4 uses one and two letter transaction codes to describe what happened. Here is the plain-English glossary for every code you will see in the Blue Collar Picks feed, with a does-this-matter verdict for each.
Trust & Transparency
Where the data comes from
All data is sourced from public SEC EDGAR filings. Blue Collar Picks normalizes filings for readability. If site data is unclear, the original SEC filing is the source of truth.
Blue Collar Picks is a research tool, not a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer. Lessons describe how the feed works. They are not investment advice.
All posts
Filter by topic. Older posts use freeform tags; newer lessons use the controlled taxonomy.
Legal vs Illegal Insider Trading
Insider trading has two very different meanings. Here is the plain-English difference between legal Section 16 reporting and illegal trading on material non-public information.
Transaction Codes Explained
Form 4 uses one and two letter transaction codes to describe what happened. Here is the plain-English glossary for every code you will see in the Blue Collar Picks feed, with a does-this-matter verdict for each.
What Is a 10b5-1 Plan?
10b5-1 plans let insiders schedule trades in advance to avoid trading on non-public information. Here is what that means for how you read insider sales.
What Is Cluster Buying?
A cluster buy is when multiple insiders buy shares of the same company within a short window. Here is why it matters, when it doesn't, and how Blue Collar Picks defines it.
What Qualified Buy Means
Qualified Buy is a Blue Collar Picks label, not an SEC term. Here is exactly what it means, what filters it implies, and what it does not mean.
Which View Should I Use?
Blue Collar Picks has several feed views. Here is which one to start with as a beginner, and what each view is actually for.
What Is SEC Form 5?
SEC Form 5 is the annual insider filing that catches exempt transactions not reported on Form 4. Learn what it contains and why traders care.
What Is SEC Form 3?
SEC Form 3 is the initial insider ownership filing. Learn who files it, when it is due, and how traders use it as context for Form 4 transactions.
What Is Form 6-K?
Learn what Form 6-K is, who files it, how it differs from Form 8-K, and why traders follow foreign issuer disclosures filed with the SEC.
What Is Form S-1?
Learn what Form S-1 is, when companies file it, what it contains, and why traders and investors read S-1 filings before an IPO.
What Is Form S-3?
Learn what Form S-3 is, which issuers can use it, how it supports shelf registrations and follow-on offerings, and why traders watch it for capital raises and dilution risk.
What Is Form 144?
Learn what Form 144 is, when it must be filed, who files it, and what traders should know about proposed sales of restricted or control securities.
What Is Schedule 13D?
Learn what Schedule 13D is, who must file it after crossing 5% ownership, what information it contains, and why traders watch it for activist or control signals.
What Is Schedule 13G?
Learn what Schedule 13G is, who files it, how it differs from Schedule 13D, and why traders track large passive ownership changes.
What Is Form 10-K?
Learn what Form 10-K is, what it contains, when it is due, how it differs from an annual report, and what traders and investors should read first.
What Is Form 10-Q?
Learn what Form 10-Q is, when it is due, what quarterly financial and business updates it includes, and how it differs from Form 10-K.
What Is Form 8-K?
Learn what Form 8-K is, what kinds of material events trigger it, when it must be filed, and why traders watch 8-K filings for stock-moving news.
What Is SEC Form 4?
Learn what SEC Form 4 is, who files it, when it is due, what insider transactions it reports, and why traders watch insider buying and selling.
SEC Filings Explained for Traders
Learn what SEC filings are, which SEC forms matter most to traders, how to read them, and where to find Form 4, 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, 13D, and more.
What Is a Day Trade? A Plain-English Explainer
Day trading explained without jargon. What it means, how it works, and whether a regular person can actually do it.
Why Blue Collar Picks Exists
Why Blue Collar Picks focuses on public SEC Form 4 filings, plain-English insider data, and research tools for self-directed investors.
March 16, 2026 Insider Pick Spotlight
Top insider-buy setups from today's qualified signals.
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