Get SEC Form 4 Insider Data into Google Sheets

Why a tiny script, not IMPORTDATA

Form4API authenticates with an API key sent as an HTTP header, and Google Sheets' built-in IMPORTDATA / IMPORTHTML functions can only fetch fully public URLs — they can't send a header. A one-time Apps Script custom function solves that: it sends the key, calls the API, and returns the rows into your sheet. You paste it once and then use it like any built-in formula.

Setup — about two minutes

1. Get a free API key on the dashboard (500 requests/day, no card).
2. In your Google Sheet, open Extensions → Apps Script.
3. Delete the placeholder code, paste the script below, and save.
4. Put your key in setForm4ApiKey(), run it once (it stores the key securely), then remove the literal key from the code.
5. Back in the sheet, type =FORM4API_TX("AAPL").

The script

/**
 * Pull SEC Form 4 insider transactions into a cell range.
 * Usage:  =FORM4API_TX("AAPL")   or   =FORM4API_TX("AAPL", "P", 50)
 *
 * @param {string} ticker  Stock ticker, e.g. "AAPL"
 * @param {string} code    Optional transaction code filter, e.g. "P" (buys)
 * @param {number} limit   Optional row count (default 25, max 100)
 * @return A range of insider transactions
 * @customfunction
 */
function FORM4API_TX(ticker, code, limit) {
  if (!ticker) throw new Error('Pass a ticker, e.g. =FORM4API_TX("AAPL")');
  var key = PropertiesService.getScriptProperties().getProperty('FORM4API_KEY');
  if (!key) throw new Error('Run setForm4ApiKey() once to store your key.');

  var url = 'https://api.form4api.com/v1/transactions'
    + '?ticker=' + encodeURIComponent(ticker.toUpperCase())
    + (code ? '&code=' + encodeURIComponent(code.toUpperCase()) : '')
    + '&per_page=' + (limit || 25);

  var res = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, {
    headers: { 'X-Api-Key': key },
    muteHttpExceptions: true
  });
  if (res.getResponseCode() !== 200) {
    throw new Error('Form4API error ' + res.getResponseCode());
  }

  var body = JSON.parse(res.getContentText());
  var rows = body.data || body.transactions || body; // handles either shape
  var out = [['Date', 'Insider', 'Code', 'Shares', 'Price', 'Value']];
  rows.forEach(function (t) {
    out.push([t.transactionDate, t.insiderName, t.transactionCode,
              t.sharesAmount, t.pricePerShare, t.totalValue]);
  });
  return out;
}

/** Run this ONCE to store your key, then delete the key from the code. */
function setForm4ApiKey() {
  PropertiesService.getScriptProperties()
    .setProperty('FORM4API_KEY', 'YOUR_FORM4API_KEY');
}

The key lives in Script Properties — encrypted at rest by Google and not visible to people who only have access to the spreadsheet cells.

Using it in cells

• =FORM4API_TX("AAPL") — recent insider transactions for Apple.
• =FORM4API_TX("NVDA", "P") — open-market purchases only (code P).
• =FORM4API_TX("TSLA", "S", 50) — up to 50 open-market sales.

The function returns six columns — Date, Insider, Code, Shares, Price, Value — that spill into the cells below the formula. Extend it to other endpoints (company profiles, signals, 13F holdings) by copying the same fetch pattern; see the API docs for the full parameter list, or the Python guide for the same data in code.

The no-code CSV option

If you'd rather not touch Apps Script at all, the CSV export endpoint (available on the higher tiers) streams filtered transactions as a file you can bring in with File → Import → Upload in Google Sheets. It is a one-time snapshot rather than a live formula, but it needs zero scripting. See the docs for the export parameters.

Frequently asked questions