Insider Buying Stays Red-Hot as Trump Rally Rolls On: Wendy’s, Medicines Company, Transdigm and More

[cnxvideo id=”655412″ placement=”ros”]As one of the biggest rallies the market has seen in years rolls on, the buyers were out in full force last week. All the indexes were again hitting all-time highs, and the transports were hitting the highest levels in two years. That is a very bullish sign for stock investors, as the transports are often a solid leading economic indicator. One thing’s for sure, the market rally didn’t slow insiders from continuing to buy shares.

We cover insider buying each week at 24/7 Wall St., and we like to remind readers that while insider buying is usually a very positive sign, it is not in of itself a reason to run out and buy a stock. Sometimes insiders and 10% owners have stock purchase plans set up at intervals to add to their holdings. That aside, it still remains an overall positive indicator.

Also check out the notable insider selling of the past week at Invesco, Palo Alto Networks and more.

Here are some of the companies that reported notable insider buying last week:

Wendy’s Co. (NYSE: WEN) had a big-time buyer acquiring shares last week. Activist investor and board member Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund bought an additional 3,743,384 shares of the stock at prices that ranged from $12.62 to $12.94 apiece. This gives the fund a whopping 23% of the outstanding shares of the company’s stock. The total for these purchases was a whopping $48 million. Wendy’s shares closed trading on Friday at $13.82, so needless to say, a well-timed buy.

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Medicines Co. (NASDAQ: MDCO) had a director buying shares last week. That director purchased a total of 62,720 shares at between $32.66 and $34.15 per share. The total for the purchase was a very stout $21 million. The company provides medicines for patients in acute and intensive care hospitals worldwide. This is a positive for shareholders as pharmaceuticals and biotechs struggled some last week after President-Elect Trump commented on lowering drug prices. The shares closed last Friday at $34.85, so the timing looks good.

Transdigm Group Inc. (NYSE: TDG) also had a big buyer step up last week. Berkshire Partners bought 82,695 shares of the company at prices that ranged from $244.52 to $247.99. The total for the buy was posted at $20 million. The company designs, produces and supplies aircraft components in the United States. Its shares closed the day Friday at $249.46.

American Midstream Partners L.P. (NYSE: AMID) saw a director, who is also a 10% owner, buying stock last week. Arclight Energy Partners picked up a total of 626,304 shares at $14.32 apiece. The total for the trade was $9 million. The company engages in gathering, treating, processing and transporting natural gas in the United States. Shares closed Friday at $16.30, so an outstanding buy.

Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.‘s (NYSE: TR) president bought shares of the candy company last week. The 53,355 shares were priced at $38.45 per share. The total for the buy was set right at $2 million. The stock closed trading on Friday at $40.85, so a very tasty purchase indeed.

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These companies also reported insider buying last week: Buckeye Partners L.P. (NYSE: BPL), CoreSite Realty Corp. (NYSE: COR), Intra-Cellular Therapies Inc. (NASDAQ: ITCI), Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) and Zynerba Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE).

Solid insider buying into the teeth of one of the biggest rallies in years is a very bullish sign for investors. Clearly insiders would not be willing to risk capital at this level if they were not very bullish on the prospects for their companies going forward.