Insider Trading 12 April 2013: Facebook Insiders Selling

by Asif Suria

Insider buying decreased with insiders purchasing $27.2 million of their stock last week compared to $90.2 million in the week prior. Selling also decreased with insiders selling $499.4 million of stock last week compared to $1.05 billion in the week prior.

Sell/Buy Ratio: The insider Sell/Buy ratio is calculated by dividing the total insider sales in a given week by total insider purchases that week. The adjusted ratio for last week went up to 18.36. In other words, insiders sold more than 18 times as much stock as they purchased. The Sell/Buy ratio this week compares unfavorably with the prior week, when the ratio stood at 11.69.

We are calculating an adjusted ratio by removing transactions by funds and companies and trying as best as possible only to retain information about insiders and 10% owners who are not funds or companies.

Insider Sell Buy Ratio April 12, 2013

Note: As mentioned in the first post in this series, certain industries have their preferred metrics such as same store sales for retailers, funds from operations (FFO) for REITs and revenue per available room (RevPAR) for hotels that provide a better basis for comparison than simple valuation metrics. However metrics like Price/Earnings, Price/Sales and Enterprise Value/EBITDA included below should provide a good starting point for analyzing the majority of stocks.

Notable Insider Buys:

1. Opko Health, Inc. (OPK): $7.17

CEO & Chairman Phillip Frost M.D. acquired 298,600 shares of this medical devices and drug development company, paying $6.98 per share for a total amount of $2.1 million. These shares were purchased indirectly  by Frost Gamma Investments Trust.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Opko Health, Inc. here.

2. American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (ARCP): $16.64

Shares of this commercial real estate company were acquired by 6 insiders:

• EVP & Chief Investment Officer Peter M. Budko acquired 30,001 shares, paying $15.69 per share for a total amount of $470,629. Mr. Budko increased his stake by 10.54% to 314,754 shares with this purchase.
• Chairman of the BoD and CEO Nicholas S. Schorsch acquired 30,000 shares, paying $15.69 per share for a total amount of $470,613. Mr. Schorsch increased his stake by 2.49% to 1,234,811 shares with this purchase.
• Director William M. Kahane acquired 30,000 shares, paying $15.69 per share for a total amount of $470,613. Mr. Kahane increased his stake by 10.54% to 314,754 shares with this purchase.
• President, Treasurer, Secretary & Director Edward M. Weil Jr. acquired 10,000 shares, paying $15.69 per share for a total amount of $156,871. Mr. Weil increased his stake by 13.95% to 81,707 shares with this purchase.
• EVP & CFO Brian S. Block acquired 10,000 shares, paying $15.69 per share for a total amount of $156,871. Mr. Block increased his stake by 18.20% to 64,952 shares with this purchase.
• Chief Operating Officer Brian D. Jones acquired 3,000 shares, paying $15.56 per share for a total amount of $46,692. Mr. Jones increased his stake by 16.14% to 21,586 shares with this purchase.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. here.

3. AGCO Corporation (AGCO): $50.92

Director Mallika Srinivasan acquired 13,900 shares of this farm & construction machinery company, paying $49.81 per share for a total amount of $692,359. These shares were purchased indirectly by TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for AGCO Corporation here.

4. U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (PRTS): $1.14

Director Robert J. Majteles acquired 150,000 series A convertible preferred shares of this auto parts company, paying $1.45 per share for a total amount of $217,500.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. here.

5. Callon Petroleum Co. (CPE): $3.85

Shares of this independent oil & gas company were acquired by 4 insiders:

• Senior VP – Operatons Gary Newberry acquired 27,300 shares, paying $3.65 per share for a total amount of $99,645. Mr. Newberry increased his stake by 75.78% to 63,327 shares with this purchase. These shares were purchased indirectly through the reporting person’s 401(k) account.
• Chairman, President, CEO Fred L. Callon acquired 14,286 shares, paying $3.50 per share for a total amount of $50,001. These shares were purchased indirectly through the reporting person’s 401(k) account.
• Executive Vice President/ CFO B F. Weatherly acquired 11,019 shares, paying $3.63 per share for a total amount of $39,999. These shares were purchased indirectly through the reporting person’s 401(k) account.
• Chief Information Officer Howard Clark Smith acquired 5,365 shares, paying $3.90 per share for a total amount of $20,924. These shares were purchased indirectly through the reporting person’s 401(k) account.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Callon Petroleum Co. here.

You can view the full list of purchases from this Insider Buying page.

Notable Insider Sales:

1. Signet Jewelers Limited (SIG): $68

Shares of this specialty jewelry retailer (parent of Kay Jewelers, Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry, H.Samuel, and Ernest Jones) were sold by 8 insiders:

• Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Barnes sold 59,340 shares for $67.90, generating $4.03 million from the sale.
• US Chief Executive Officer Mark Light sold 39,991 shares for $67.37, generating $2.7 million from the sale. 16,463 of these shares were sold as a result of exercising options immediately prior to the sale.
• Group Company Secretary Mark Andrew Jenkins sold 7,358 shares for $67.48, generating $496,508 from the sale. 5,424 of these shares were sold as  a result of exercising options immediately prior to the sale.
• US Chief Financial Officer Robert Trabucco sold 6,900 shares for $66.96, generating $461,991 from the sale.
• UK CHIEF EXEUTIVE OFFICER Robert William Anderson sold 2,380 shares for $65.54, generating $155,985 from the sale.
• UK Stores Operations Director Kevin Ryan sold 2,146 shares for $65.54, generating $140,649 from the sale.
• UK Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Pratt sold 859 shares for $65.54, generating $56,299 from the sale.
• UK Chief Admin.Officer Michael Povall sold 820 shares for $65.54, generating $53,743 from the sale.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Signet Jewelers Limited here.

2. Facebook, Inc. (FB): $27.4

Shares of Facebook were sold by 4 insiders:

• Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg sold 176,452 shares for $26.88, generating $4.7 million from the sale. 6,696 of these shares were sold indirectly through a trust.
• VP, General Counsel & Secretary Theodore Warren Ullyot sold 51,270 shares for $27.49, generating $1.4 million from the sale.
• Chief Technology Officer Michael Todd Schroepfer sold 39,280 shares for $27.14, generating $1.1 million from the sale.
• Chief Financial Officer David A. Ebersman sold 23,400 shares for $27.24, generating $637,533 from the sale.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Facebook, Inc. here.

3. Boston Beer Co. Inc. (SAM): $157.5

Chairman James C. Koch sold 30,000 shares of this beverages company for $154.31, generating $4.6 million from the sale.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Boston Beer Co. Inc. here.

4. Liquidity Services, Inc. (LQDT): $33.12

Chairman of the Board and CEO William P. Angrick III sold 114,837 shares of this online auction company for $33.25, generating $3.8 million from the sale. These shares were sold indirectly through a trust.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Liquidity Services, Inc. here.

5. Calavo Growers Inc. (CVGW): $28.87

Chairman, President & CEO Lecil E. Cole sold 115,708 shares of this avocado and food products company for $28.51, generating $3.3 million from the sale.

You can view the list of recent insider transactions for Calavo Growers Inc. here.

You can view the full list of sales from this Insider Sales page.