OptionsHawk monitors insider trading activity daily and pay the greatest attention to insider buying as while selling is done for a multitude of reasons, buying is always a positive signal from management. We often notice insider activity aligning with key technical/valuation levels and can also draw conclusions from related options activity. We focus on the most intriguing insider buys which may be ones at attractive valuation, ones that are large and/or rare, or when buyers are active with shares strong and near highs.
Trading Spotlight – Carrier Global (CARR)
Carrier Global (CARR) with two notable open market buys last week as the company remains in the early days of trading post-spinoff from United Tech. On 5/18, the CEO bought 57,580 shares at $17.45, a more than $1M buy and later a director bought 35,000 shares at...
Trading Spotlight – Illinois Tool (ITW)
Illinois Tool (ITW) with two notable insider buys recently from the CEO and a director, the former a $1M purchase at $158.42. ITW last saw insider activity in mid-2018 and in late 2017 the GC bought $780,000 in stock at $156.34, similar levels to today. The $51.25B...
Trading Spotlight – Stepan (SCL)
Stepan (SCL) with some smaller but interesting insider activity recently including a $76,500 buy last week from the VP of Tech at $90. Last week’s action follows buyers in March between $81.90 and $97.50, the largest a more than $159k buy. SCL shares are down around...
Trading Spotlight – Neogen (NEOG)
Neogen (NEOG) with smaller but notable open market buys recently from CEO John Advent, more than $200,000 in stock down around $58.25. On 3/26, a director bought $45,000 in stock at $60.62 as well. The recent buying is the first since 2018 in the name. The $3.26B...
Trading Spotlight – Synnex (SNX)
Synnex (SNX) notable insider buying recently from director Matthew Miau of 52,000 shares at $74.20, a more than $3.85M buy. Miau has been the Chairman Emeritus since 2008 and formerly served as Chairman of the Board since 1992. SNX has traded down 40% in 2020 and back...
Trading Spotlight – Science Applications (SAIC)
Science Applications (SAIC) with two notable insider buys over the last two weeks including a more than $1M purchase from CEO Nazzic Keene on 4/3 at $70.75. Keene, the company’s former COO, took over as CEO in August 2019 after the longtime CEO retired. Shares are...
Trading Spotlight – Baxter (BAX)
Baxter (BAX) with a rare insider buy last week from General Counsel and SVP Sean Martin of 9,780 shares at $82.19, a more than $800k investment. The last open market buy in the name was in 2016 when CEO bought $500k in stock at $42.75. BAX has held up better than...
Trading Spotlight – Sensata Tech (ST)
Sensata Tech (ST) with a rare insider buy last week from CEO Jeffrey Cote of 15,000 shares at $34.86, a more than $522k purchase. ST traded around $55 before the fall and down 52% now on the year. The $4.43B company trades 6.55X earnings and 1.29X sales with strong...
Trading Spotlight – Churchill Downs (CHDN)
Churchill Downs (CHDN) with a sizable insider buy from director Paul Varga between 3/5 and 3/12 of 6,200 shares between $81.18 and $125. The overall investment was $655,568. Varga joined the board in February and most recently was the CEO of Brown Forman. His buy...
Trading Spotlight – Huntington Ingalls (HII)
Huntington Ingalls (HII) with a rare, sizable insider buy this week from director Thomas Schievelbein of 4,000 shares at $205.46 to $208.74. The total buy was over $830k and the largest in the name since early 2018. Scheivelbein is the retired chairman and CEO of...