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SEC Form 4 transaction code

Form 4 Code J: Other Acquisition or Disposition

Code J marks an acquisition or disposition that no other code fits. The filer must describe the transaction, usually in a footnote.

“Other acquisition or disposition (describe transaction)”
SEC Form 4, General Instruction 8 (Transaction Codes), under “Other Transaction Codes”. Form 4 and instructions (PDF, sec.gov)

How often code J appears in real filings

Share of transaction rows
2.1%
1,072 of 50,023 rows, 6th most common
Filings with a code J row
2.8%
566 of 20,089 filings
Companies
174
of 2,099 in the sample
Median days, trade to filing
2
calendar days

820 of the rows are in Table I (non-derivative securities) and 252 in Table II (derivative securities).

Sample: 50,023 transaction rows in 20,089 Form 4 and 4/A filings filed Jul 23 – Oct 21, 2026 by insiders of 2,099 companies with an AlphaScala stock page. Rows are counted as filed; see how the codes are counted.

SEC Form 4 filings as of Oct 21, 2026

Reading code J on a Form 4

General Instruction 8 tells filers to "use the code that most appropriately describes the transaction" and, when the transaction is not listed, to use J and "describe the nature of the transaction in the space for explanation of responses". A J row cannot be read without its footnote.

In AlphaScala’s sample many J rows are indirect holdings: shares moving between trusts the same insider reports for, or held through partnerships and funds. Many such rows change how shares are held; the footnote says what happened.

J is a catch-all, so its rows do not share one meaning. AlphaScala’s insider tables count none of them as purchases or sales.

Code J in real filings

Recent Form 4 lines coded J, chosen from the newest filings in the sample, one company each. Figures are as filed; each links to the filing on sec.gov.

VFSVinFast Auto Ltd.

Filing on sec.gov
Insider
Vuong Pham Nhat, Director
Transaction date
Sep 26, 2026
Filed
Sep 28, 2026
Table
II, derivative
Units
500,000,000
Price
–
Shares × price
–
Held after
1,204,667,875 (indirect)
  • Vuong Pham Nhat (Director) reported 500,000,000 derivative securities under code J; the filing's footnotes describe the transaction.
  • Derivative securities of this kind held after the transaction: 1,204,667,875, held indirectly (By Vingroup).
  • Filed 2 days after the transaction date.

MMEDMiniMed Group, Inc.

Filing on sec.gov
Insider
Medtronic plc, 10%+ Owner
Transaction date
Oct 15, 2026
Filed
Oct 16, 2026
Table
I, non-derivative
Shares
252,813,348
Price
–
Shares × price
–
Held after
0 (direct)
  • Medtronic plc (10%+ Owner) reported 252,813,348 shares under code J; the filing's footnotes describe the transaction.
  • Shares held after the transaction: 0, held directly.
  • Filed 1 day after the transaction date.

ROLROLLINS INC

Filing on sec.gov
Insider
Gary W. Rollins Voting Trust U/A dated September 14, 1994, 10%+ Owner
Transaction date
Sep 17, 2026
Filed
Sep 21, 2026
Table
I, non-derivative
Shares
145,284,066
Price
–
Shares × price
–
Held after
0 (indirect)
  • Gary W. Rollins Voting Trust U/A dated September 14, 1994 (10%+ Owner) reported 145,284,066 shares under code J; the filing's footnotes describe the transaction.
  • Shares held after the transaction: 0, held indirectly (Held indirectly through LOR, Inc.).
  • The same filing also reports 4 code J rows (14,954,791 shares).
  • Filed 4 days after the transaction date.

Codes read alongside J

Questions about these codes

How common is code J on Form 4?

In AlphaScala’s sample of 50,023 Form 4 transaction rows filed Jul 23 – Oct 21, 2026, code J made up 2.1% of rows (1,072) and appeared on 2.8% of filings (566 of 20,089). It was the 6th most common of the 16 codes found.

What does code J mean on Form 4?

The SEC defines it as "other acquisition or disposition (describe transaction)". It is the code for transactions the SEC’s list does not cover, and the filer has to explain the transaction in the footnotes.

Is code J a buy or a sell?

Either. A J row can be an acquisition or a disposition; the acquired-or-disposed column on the form and the footnote say which. Open-market and private purchases and sales have their own codes, P and S.

Where do I find what a code J transaction was?

In the "Explanation of Responses" footnotes at the bottom of the filing. Each example on this page links to the filing on sec.gov.

Definition: SEC Form 4, General Instruction 8 (sec.gov). Examples and counts: AlphaScala's copy of SEC EDGAR Form 4 filings. See all 20 Form 4 transaction codes, insider cluster buys and our methodology.

Educational reference only, not investment advice. Insider transactions have many motives and a Form 4 does not record them. See our risk disclaimer.