CUSIP Explained: Meaning, Types, Process, and Use Cases
A CUSIP is a standardized security identifier used mainly in the United States and Canada to distinguish one stock or bond issue from another. If a ticker symbol is the market’s nickname for a security, the CUSIP is the precise operational identity used in settlement, custody, reporting, and many regulatory filings. Understanding CUSIP helps investors read disclosures more accurately and helps professionals prevent costly data, trading, and corporate-action errors.