Investing

NYSE Blue Chips Targeted as Insider Buying Jumps: ConocoPhillips, Bank of America, Boeing, Caterpillar and More

Lee Jackson

Published: August 7, 2016 10:40 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 4:50 am

With August comes the end of the bulk of second-quarter earnings, and it also opens windows for insiders to buy and sell stock again, and boy did we see a jump in volume last week. While nothing compared to the buying we saw earlier this year when the market sold off in January and February, volumes did jump dramatically, and with the markets trading right at all-time highs. the jump in buying is a positive for sure.

We cover insider buying each week at 24/7 Wall St., and we like to remind readers that while insider buying is usually a very positive sign, it is not in of itself a reason to run out and buy a stock. Sometimes insiders and 10% owners have stock purchase plans set up at intervals to add to their holdings. That aside, it still remains an overall positive indicator.

Here are some of the companies that reported notable insider buying last week.

CBRE Group Inc. (NYSE: CBG) checked in with a massive buy when a director and 10% owner of the company, Value Act, bought 1,502,200 shares of the stock at prices that ranged from $28.28 to $28.43. The total for the purchase was posted at a stunning $43 million. The company operates as a commercial real estate services and investment company worldwide. Its shares closed trading on Friday at $29.61.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) had two directors at the energy giant buying shares last week, in the wake of a disappointing quarterly report. The pair bought a total of 19,000 shares of stock at prices posted between $39.92 and $39.74 apiece. The total for the two trades came in at $800,000. The stock closed on Friday at $40.60.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) also saw a director purchasing shares this past week. The banking giant’s director bought a block of 25,000 shares of the stock at $14.13 per share. The total for the trade was listed at $400,000. The stock closed the day on Friday at $15.05, so a well-timed trade, it appears.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is yet another blue chip giant that had a board member picking up stock this past week. A director at the aerospace conglomerate bought a total of 1871 shares of the stock at $133.89 apiece. That cost the director a total of about $300,000. Boeing shares closed the trading day Friday at $131.73.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) joined in the director buying spree as a member of the board at the industrial giant bought a total of 1930 shares of the stock at a price of $82.75. The total for the trade was posed at $200,000. Caterpillar closed on Friday at $82.56. Note that Caterpillar is among the big stocks that have risen above their fair value targets.

These companies also reported insider buying last week: Infinera Corp. (NASDAQ: INFN), Lands’ End Inc. (NASDAQ: LE), Mattress Firm Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: MFRM), Penske Automotive Group Inc. (NYSE: PAG) and SunCoke Energy Inc. (NYSE: SXC).

Insider buying when the market is at current levels is very bullish and a sign that the breakout in the S&P 500 may be the push to new levels later this year. It is important to remember that August and September can be challenging months for stocks, so maintaining a degree of caution now is smart.