GameStop CEO Picks Up 1M Shares, and Other Insiders Return to the Buy Window

Insider buying may have slowed as earnings-reporting ramps up, yet the CEO of GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME | GME Price Prediction) showed some love to the beleaguered retailer. Meanwhile, beneficial owners continue to build their stakes in Mission Produce Inc. (NASDAQ: AVO), Under Armour Inc. (NYSE: UAA), and W.R. Berkley Corp. (NYSE: WRB).

Though these were the most prominent insider purchases in the past week, there were a few other notable ones as well. Let’s take a quick look at these transactions.

Is Insider Buying Important?

What does insider buying tell us?

A well-known adage reminds us that corporate insiders and 10% owners really only buy shares of a company because they believe the stock price will rise and they want to profit from it. Thus, insider buying can be an encouraging signal for potential investors. This is especially so during times of market uncertainty, and even when markets are near all-time highs.

Note that the fourth-quarter earnings-reporting season is underway, so many insiders are prohibited from buying or selling shares. Below are some of the most notable insider purchases that were reported recently, starting with the largest and most prominent.

W.R. Berkley

• Buyer(s): 10% owner Mitsui Sumitomo
• Total shares: over 1.3 million
• Price per share: $66.51 to $68.21
• Total cost: around $89.5 million

Last spring, this buyer reached an agreement to acquire 15% of W.R. Berkley’s shares. Mitsui Sumitomo expects to complete its investment in this Connecticut-based insurance holding company during the first quarter of 2026. Its stake is up to almost 54.6 million shares, or over 13%.

The share price was last seen within the buyer’s latest purchase price range. Yet, the stock is more than  2% lower than six months ago because of recent volatility due to profit-taking. But note that shares are up 16.7% year over year, outperforming the S&P 500 in that time. Analysts are cautious, with only four out of 18 of them recommending buying shares. The mean price target of $70.31 is 4.8% higher than the current price but less than the recent all-time high of $78.96.

Mitsui Sumitomo is a massive Japanese financial conglomerate. Note that it also recently acquired an 18% stake in MassMutual’s Barings.

Under Armour

• Buyer(s): 10% owner Fairfax Financial
• Total shares: around 8.6 million
• Price per share: $5.51 to $5.94
• Total cost: almost $49.7 million

This buyer, led by billionaire V. Prem Watsa, sometimes called the Warren Buffett of Canada, also scooped up $67 million worth of shares prior to this purchase. The stake is now up to more than 18.0 million shares, and the investment helped boost the stock still suffering after the brand parted ways with spokesperson Steph Curry. Shares were last seen trading for more than the purchase price range above.

The stock is still more than 13% lower than six months ago. Given the Wall Street consensus target of $6.19, the analysts anticipate no upside in the next 12 months. Only five of 26 analysts recommend buying shares. Citigroup just reiterated a Neutral rating but lifted its price target to $6.20.

Watsa, founder and CEO of Fairfax, maintains a controlling interest in the company but reportedly is stepping back from some roles to plan for succession.

GameStop

• Buyer(s): CEO Ryan Cohen and another director
• Total shares: over 1.0 million
• Price per share: $20.80 to $21.65
• Total cost: almost $21.9 million

As this specialty retailer continues to close stores, the chief executive has scooped up shares of this meme stock. That has helped boost shares recently. The stock is up more than 17% year to date. Yet, it is over 15% lower than a year ago.

Wall Street still is not convinced. The mean price target is just $13.50. The share price has not been that low in the past year. Note that during the height of the meme stock craze, GameStop traded for more than $120 a share.

Almost 40% of shares are held by institutions. Blackrock and Vanguard each have stakes of more than 7%. Some institutional analysts point to the company’s strong balance sheet and lack of long-term debt.

Mission Produce

• Buyer(s): 10% owner Globalharvest Holdings Venture
• Total shares: about 1.6 million
• Price per share: $10.40 to $12.29
• Total cost: over $19.3 million

This buyer has been scooping up shares since early November, more than 2.5 million of them altogether. The California-based avocado producer acquired a competitor earlier this month. The share price recently hit a 52-week high of $14.23, and it was last seen well above the buyer’s most recent purchase price range.

The stock will rise more than 27% in the next 12 months if it reaches analysts’ mean price target of $17.33. Their consensus recommendation is to buy shares. Analysts are bullish on the acquisition and its record annual revenue of $1.39 billion for fiscal year 2025.

Blackrock and Vanguard are top institutional holders with stakes of 5% or less. The Globalharvest Holdings Venture stake is almost 14%.

And Other Insider Buying

These were not the only notable insider purchases of the past week. Here is a quick look at some others.

Some smaller insider buying was reported at Ally Financial, Commercial Metals, and Strategy, as well.

Mitsui Sumitomo Continues to Build W.R. Berkley Stake