File photo of a Goldcorp mining operation in Guatemala.
Featured below are 15 companies that have experienced recent insider buying and selling activity in the public market through their direct and indirect ownerships.
Keep in mind, when looking at transaction activities by insiders, purchasing activity may reflect perceived value in a security.
Selling activity may or may not be related to a stock's valuation; perhaps an insider needs to raise money for personal reasons. An insider's total holdings should be considered because a sale may, in context, be insignificant if this person has a large remaining position in the company. I tend to put great weight on insider transaction activity when I see multiple insiders trading a company's shares or units.
Let's begin the report detailing companies with buying activity.
Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (BGM-X)
On May 18, chief financial officer Andres Tinajero bought 100,000 shares at an average price per share of 95 cents, lifting his portfolio's position to 550,000 shares.
Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (BIR-T)
Chief financial officer Bruno Geremia accumulated 22,000 shares over the course of a few days. He bought 10,000 shares at an average price per share of $6.75 on May 19, 5,000 shares at $6.66 on May 17, 4,400 shares at $6.90 per share on May 16, 600 shares priced at $6.88 per share on May 15, and 2,000 shares priced at $6.79 per share on May 12. As a result, his portfolio's position climbed to 87,000 shares.
Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (BBU.UN-T)
Chief financial officer Craig Laurie bought 2,000 units priced at $26.6991 (U.S) per unit on May 16, increasing his portfolio's position to 6,528 units. In addition, board member Stephen Girsky added 2,000 units to his portfolio on May 12 at an average price per unit of $27.2616 (U.S.), doubling his portfolio's position to 4,000 units.
Goldcorp Inc. (G-T)
Insider Lincoln Schreiner bought 5,000 shares in two separate trades, initiating a portfolio position. Mr. Schreiner purchased 3,000 shares at an average price per share of $14.21 (U.S.) on May 15, and 2,000 shares at of $14.17 (U.S.) on May 11.
Inter Pipeline Ltd. (IPL-T)
On May 17, Cory Neufeld, vice-president of oil sand pipeline development, bought 2,000 shares.
Journey Energy Inc. (JOY-T)
President and chief executive officer Alex Verge purchased 50,000 shares at an average price per share of $2.43 on May 17, increasing his portfolio's positon to 326,400 shares.
Methanex Corp. (MX-T)
On May 16, managing director Mohamed Shindy purchased 1,500 shares at an average price per share of $43.5449 (U.S.), taking his portfolio's holdings up to 3,629 shares. In relatively small transactions, board member Doug Arnell purchased 140 shares on May 19, and bought 500 shares at an average price of $58.24 on May 4.
SEMAFO Inc. (SMF-T)
President and chief executive officer Benoit Desormeaux purchased 10,000 shares at an average price per share of $2.94 on May 16 and added 15,000 shares at an average price per share of $3.11 on May 12. After these two transactions, he held 237,400 shares in this portfolio.
Slate Office REIT (SOT.UN-T)
On May 12, Nora Duke, who sits on the board of trustees, purchased 9,100 units at a price of $8.18 per unit, initiating a portfolio position.
Waste Connections Inc. (WCN-T)
Sue Lee, who sits on the board of directors, bought 600 shares at an average price per share of $124.78 on May 16, and purchased 600 shares at $125.427 on May 12. These trades increased her portfolio's holdings to 4,279 shares.
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Turning to the sell list, companies with recent insider selling activity are highlighted below.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM-T)
Several members of the executive management team were selling shares in the public market.
Chief financial officer David Smith sold 10,000 shares at an average price per share of $68.60 on May 17, and eliminated 13,750 shares at an average price per share of $66.30 from his portfolio on May 15. These sales reduced his portfolio's holdings to 12,887 shares.
Yvon Sylvestre, the company's vice-president of Canadian and European operations, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares (15,000) that same day. The prior day, he exercised his options and that same day sold the corresponding number of shares (5,000). His portfolio's position stood at 1,973 shares after these transactions.
Alain Blackburn, senior vice-president of exploration, has also been exercising his options and selling the corresponding number of shares on the same day. On May 16, he exercised his options and sold 3,000 shares. On May 15, he exercised his options and sold 6,000 shares. On May 12, he exercised his options and sold 8,000 shares, and on May 5, he exercised his options and sold 5,500 shares. His portfolio's position stood at 8,298 shares post these transactions.
Atrium Mortgage Investment Corp. (AI-T)
Director Nancy Lockhart sold 18,700 shares on May 17, and divested 9,900 shares the previous day.
Extendicare Inc. (EXE-T)
Director Frederic Waks sold 5,000 shares from his portfolio on May 15 at an average price per share of $10.23. This trade eliminated this portfolio's position.
Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (WDO-T)
Philip Ng, chief operating officer, divested 23,300 shares at an average price per share of $3.45 on May 12. The previous day, he trimmed 1,700 shares from his portfolio at an average price of $3.33 per share. After these trades, his portfolio's holdings stood at 25,000 shares.
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Lastly, there was mixed trading in the following company with both recent buying and selling activity by insiders.
Altus Group Ltd. (AIF-T)
On May 15, Alex Probyn, the U.K. president, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares (9,000) at an average price of $30.27 per share on the same day.
In a separate transaction during the same trading day, he sold 4,429 shares at an average price of $30.25.
On the flip side, chairman of the board of directors Raymond Mikulich purchased 1,000 shares priced at $30 per share on May 17, increasing his portfolio's position to 4,000 shares.
Jennifer Dowty