Investing

Gigantic Consumer Goods Trade Leads Insider Selling: Mondelez, Juniper Networks, Twitter, Franklin Resources, Harley-Davidson and More

Lee Jackson

Published: November 5, 2016 9:50 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 1:28 am

Last week is certainly one that investors are ready to see in the rear-view mirror. A huge spike in volatility plus and an entire week of the S&P getting hammered made for some frayed nerves. While there was some insider selling, it was dwarfed by the overall volume of insider buying, which is a positive for investors, to be sure.

We cover insider selling every week at 24/7 Wall St., and we like to remind readers that just because an individual or 10% institutional owner is selling stock, that is no cause for immediate alarm. Many top executives, and even directors, are compensated with stock and often sell just to diversify portfolios or purchase other assets.

Here are companies that reported notable insider selling last week.

Mondelez

Mondelez International Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) had a big seller hit the tape this week. Trian Fund sold a massive 3,800,000-share block of the stock at prices that ranged from $43.58 to $44.42 per share. The total for the sale was a huge $168 million.

The company manufactures and markets snack food and beverage products worldwide, including cookies, crackers, and salted snacks; chocolates, and gums and candies; powdered beverages and coffee; and cheese and grocery products. Its primary brand portfolio includes LU, Nabisco and Oreo biscuits; Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs Kaffee; and Tang powdered beverages. The shares closed Friday at $42.61, so the timing looks good.

Juniper Networks

A monster trade at Juniper Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: JNPR) hit the tape this week. A director at the networking company sold a total of 1.25 million shares at prices that ranged from $26.28 to $26.35. The total for the sale was posted at a whopping $33 million. The stock closed the day on Friday at $24.90, so well timed indeed.

Twitter

Two Twitter Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) executives were selling shares. Adam Messinger and Robert Kaiden parted with a combined total of 60,084 shares of the company at $17.58 per share. The total proceed from the trades was posted at $1,056,434. Somewhat disappointing for shareholders to see insiders selling when the company is reportedly up for sale. And note that the stock ended the week at $18.03 a share.

Franklin Resources

Franklin Resources Inc. (NYSE: BEN) caught a seller this week when the vice chairman of the mutual fund giant sold shares. Rupert Johnson disposed of a total of 300,000 shares of the company at a share price of $33.65. The total for the sale was posted at $10 million. The stock closed Friday at $33.80.

Harley-Davidson

A member of the Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG) board also was selling stock last week. That director shed a total of 100,000 shares of the venerable motorcycle company at prices that ranged from $56.00 to $56.40. The total for the sale was set at $6 million. The shares ended the day on Friday at $55.88, so the timing was right.

Some consistent, but not overwhelming selling this week as we begin the final two months of 2016. Investors who are nervous in front of the election will soon have that out of the way, and we can again focus on fundamentals and the economy.