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.
Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX-T)
On Oct. 1, executive chairman John Thornton purchased 165,689 shares at a price per share of US$11.1121. The previous trading day, on Sept. 28, he acquired 2,105,340 shares at a cost per share of US$11.1047. The total cost of these purchases is over US$25-million. Mr. Thornton’s held 3,985,219 shares in his portfolio after these transactions.
On Sept. 28, director Patricia Hatter, accumulated 2,699 shares at a price per share of US$11.22, raising her account balance to 4,563 shares.
On Sept. 26, director Pablo Marcet bought 3,500 shares at a price per share of US$11.06 for an account in which he has indirect ownership (Geo Logic SA). The prior day, he acquired 8,000 shares at an average price per share of approximately US$11.43 for this account. These purchases increased the account’s holdings to 16,500 shares.
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS-T)
On Sept. 26, director Nora Aufreiter purchased 1,500 shares at a cost per share of $77.58, lifting her account balance to 2,500 shares.
Last month, we reported the following trades that also occurred in September.
On Sept. 12, president and chief executive officer Brian Porter purchased over $375,000 worth of stock. He acquired 5,000 shares at a price per share of $75.1834, raising his portfolio’s holdings to 119,692 shares.
In a transaction valued at over $1-million, director Aaron Regent purchased 13,400 shares at an average cost per share of approximately $74.91 on Sept. 7, increasing his portfolio’s position to 45,777 shares.
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The following three securities have had recent selling activity reported by insiders.
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (ATA-T)
On Sept. 27, Simon Roberts, senior vice-president – global after sales service, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares (5,000) at an average price per share of approximately $24.03, eliminating his portfolio’s position. The proceeds from the sale totaled approximately $120,000.
On Sept. 17, Jeff Brennan, vice-president – operations, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares (12,500) at an average price per share of approximately $23.75, eliminating his account’s holdings. Proceeds from the sale totaled nearly $300,000.
On Sept. 17, Chris Hart, president- life sciences, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares (4,000) at an average price per share of approximately $23.80, eliminating his portfolio’s position.
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC-T)
Between Sept. 17 and Oct. 4, Robert Baker, who sits on the board of directors, sold a total of 122,498 shares in the public market at an average price per share of approximately $9.76 for an account in which he has control or direction over (Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker Family Foundation) with 500,000 shares remaining in the account.
Northland Power Inc. (NPI-T)
On Sept. 28, John Brace, who currently sits on the board of directors and is the former chief executive officer of Northland (retired on Aug. 4), divested 60,000 shares, trimming his portfolio’s balance to 1,442,026 shares.
Jennifer Dowty