Investing

Huge Trump Rally Doesn't Slow Insider Buying: Skechers, Home Depot, Lawson Products, Amtrust Financial, Datawatch and More

Lee Jackson

Published: December 4, 2016 10:05 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 5:09 pm

While things have cooled off some now that we have hit December, one thing is for sure: the rally sparked by the surprise election of Donald Trump didn’t keep the insiders from buying shares this past week. With all the markets recently hitting all-time highs for the first time since 1999, logic would seem to dictate a slowdown in insider buying activity, but just the opposite has happened.

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 companies that reported notable insider buying last week:

Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE: SKX) had the man at the top buying a big batch of shares this past week. CEO Robert Greenberg, who is also the co-founder, purchased a total of 500,000 shares at prices that ranged from $21.75 to $22.18 apiece. The total for the trade was posted at a hefty $11 million. The company designs, develops, markets and distributes footwear for men, women and children, as well as performance footwear for men and women under the Skechers GO brand name worldwide. The stock closed Friday at $26.16, so the timing looks right.

Lawson Products Inc. (NASDAQ: LAWS) had a 10% owner of the company buying shares. That buyer, not named in our research, bought a total of 300,000 shares at $23.45 apiece. The total for the purchase was $7 million. The company distributes products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair and operations marketplace in North America. Its products include fastening systems, specialty chemicals, fluid power products, cutting tools and abrasives, electrical products, aftermarket automotive supplies, safety products, welding and metal repair products and other products. The stock closed last Friday at $24.05.

Amtrust Financial Services Inc. (NASDAQ: AFSI) had a director buying stock last week. That director picked up a block of 175,000 shares at prices that ranged from $25.18 to $25.80. The total came to $4.4 million. The company underwrites and provides property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally. Its stock ended last week at $25.60.

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) also had a director buying stock of the home improvement giant last week. That director purchased 15,000 shares at $129.87 apiece. The total for the trade was posted at $2 million. Home Depot shares close last Friday at $129.87.

Datawatch Corp. (NASDAQ: DWCH) had a 10% owner of the stock adding to a position. G2 Investments bought a total of 198,954 shares at prices that ranged from $6.65 to $6.66. The total for the buy was just over $1 million. The company designs, develops, markets and distributes business computer software products to self-service data preparation and visual data discovery markets in the United States and internationally. The shares closed Friday at $6.10.

These companies also reported insider buying last week: Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE: EW), Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), Nustar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS), Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) and TransDigm Group In. (NYSE: TDG).

Also see the most notable insider sales of the past week.

While things did settle down late last week, the positive effects of the Trump election seem to be an encouraging sign to insiders. With 2016 almost over, it will be interesting to see how the final days play out for insider activity.