Insider Intel: What CEOs Are Buying (And What They Hope You Won’t Notice)
📅 Date: Mar 7, 2025
📊 Category: Insider Purchases
🔍 Quick Take: Last Week’s Insider Action
Who’s Buying?
✔️ CEOs, CFOs, Directors
✔️ 10% Owners
✔️ Other Key Executives
Which Stocks?
✅ Moderna (MRNA)
✅ Ameresco (AMRC)
✅ Walker & Dunlop (WD)
✅ Bloomin' Brands (BLMN)
✅ Encore Capital Group (ECPG)
✅ Solaredge Technologies (SEDG)
✅ Sunrun (RUN)
✅ Iheartmedia (IHRT)
✅ Permian Resources (PR)
✅ Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (CCO)
✅ Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS)
✅ Vimeo (VMEO)
🚀 Why It Matters
Insider buys can be a strong bullish signal—executives putting their own money on the line is often a sign of confidence (or desperation). But context matters. Is this conviction—or corporate window dressing?
1️⃣ Biggest or Most Notable Insider Purchases
| Company (Ticker) | Who Bought? | Shares @ Price | Total Value | Ownership Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderna (MRNA) | Stephane Bancel, CEO (joined by Paul Sagan, Director) | +160,314 @ $31.22 | +$5M | +1% |
| Ameresco (AMRC) | George Sakellaris, CEO | +125,000 @ $9.73 | +$1.2M | +6% |
| Walker & Dunlop (WD) | William Walker, CEO | +17,500 @ $86.21 | +$1.5M | +2% |
| Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) | Mike Spanos, CEO | +118,000 @ $8.63 | +$1M | New position |
| Permian Resources (PR) | William Quinn, Director | +750,000 @ $12.83 | +$9.6M | +240% (!) |
| Kratos Defense (KTOS) | Eric DeMarco, CEO | +9,500 @ $26.35 | +$250K | +1% |
| Vimeo (VMEO) | Philip Moyer, CEO | +10,000 @ $26.35 | +$100K | +0% |
🏆 Key Takeaway:
- Biggest Buy: Permian Resources—A 240% increase in holdings signals serious conviction.
- Most Interesting: Moderna—CEO Bancel doubling down after a rough year suggests confidence in the pipeline.
- Sleeper: Vimeo—Could this finally be the turnaround or just another head fake?
2️⃣ Patterns & Trends: What’s the Market Telling Us?
📈 Insiders Are Buying Across Industries – Energy, biotech, financial services, and real estate are seeing action.
📉 Tech Insiders Stay Quiet – Caution or lack of opportunity? Time will tell.
💡 Materials and Solar Making a Comeback – Early signs of value? Could be time to rotate in.
🤔 Conviction vs. Corporate Theater – Many insider buys top $1M—are these strategic plays or just PR moves?
3️⃣ Featured Insider Moves: The Good, The Bad & The WTF?!
✅ Biggest Conviction Buy:
Moderna (MRNA) – Despite a brutal 2024 (-$3.6B loss on $3.2B revenue), cost cuts of $2.6B and a robust drug pipeline could make this a turnaround story. CEO Stephane Bancel clearly thinks so—his purchase signals confidence in upcoming drug approvals.
🚨 Sleeper Alert:
Vimeo (VMEO) – 2024’s numbers were impressive:
✔️ 78% Gross Margin
✔️ $55M Adjusted EBITDA
✔️ $325M Cash Balance
But revenue fell 2%, and bookings grew just 3%. CEO Philip Moyer’s $100K buy suggests he’s betting on the enterprise video platform's pivot—but is the market buying it?
🫣 High-Risk, High-Reward:
Kratos Defense (KTOS) – 9.6% revenue growth in 2024 sounds good… until you see the 275x P/E ratio. CEO DeMarco’s insider buy suggests faith in future growth—but at this valuation, it better deliver.
4️⃣ What We Think: Should Investors Pay Attention?
✅ Bullish Case: Insider buys are emerging in beaten-down sectors like biotech and materials. Could signal a market bottom.
🚫 Bearish Case: Valuations are still high, and insider buys could just be PR moves.
🎯 Final Thought: Insider moves are great signals—but timing matters. Catching a falling knife is still a bad idea.
🔗 Want More Ideas?
➡️ Check out past insider trades – Learn from the hits (and the flops).
➡️ For a complete insider transaction log, visit the SEC’s EDGAR system.
➡️ Stay tuned—next week’s trades could reveal the next big trend.
✅ Final Takeaway:
Tracking insider moves can reveal market signals—if you know where to look. Always do your own due diligence, and remember: Just because the CEO is buying doesn’t mean you should. 😎
💡 Next Step:
🔗 For more insider insights, explore our Insider Purchases Hub.
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