Featured below are companies that have experienced recent insider trading activity in the public market through their direct and indirect ownerships, including accounts they have control or direction over.
The list features insider transaction activity; it does not convey total ownership information as an insider may hold numerous accounts.
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 featuring two stocks that have had recent insider buying activity.
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS-T)
On Oct. 3, Guillermo Babatz, who sits on the board of directors, purchased 781 shares at a price per share of $74.93, lifting his portfolio’s position to 1,800 shares.
That day, fellow director Susan Segal acquired 839 shares, raising her account balance to 1,839 shares.
Pengrowth Energy Corp. (PGF-T)
Earlier this month, billionaire investor Seymour Schulich invested nearly $6-million in this company. Between Oct. 2 and Oct. 4, Mr. Schulich, with an ownership position exceeding 10 per cent, purchased a total of 5-million shares at an average cost per share of approximately $1.20 for an account in which he has indirect ownership (Nevada Capital Corporation Ltd.), increasing the account’s holdings to 115-million shares.
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The following two stocks have had recent selling activity reported by insiders.
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB-T)
Chairman Michael Singer completed the following transactions in his personal trading account. On Oct. 4, he exercised his options, receiving 175,000 shares, and sold 96,178 shares at a price per share of $12.16. The previous day, he exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares received (50,000). After these transactions, this portfolio held 100,151 shares.
On Oct. 1, chief global business development officer Neil Belot exercised his rights, receiving 58,333 shares. The following day, he sold the 58,333 shares received at a price per share of $12.0351, leaving an account balance of 151,593 shares.
DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. (DRT-T)
Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, Geoff Gosling, vice-president – product development, sold a total of 149,500 shares at an average price per share of approximately $6.54 with 402,814 shares remaining in his portfolio. Proceeds from these sales amounted to just under $1-million.
On Sept. 24, chief operating officer Tracy Baker divested 35,735 shares at a price per share of $6.40, reducing her account balance to 39,932 shares. Proceeds from the sale totaled over $228,000.
Jennifer Dowty