Insiders may sell shares for any number of reasons, but there is really only one reason insiders buy shares of a company -- they believe the stock price will move higher and they want to profit from it. Pullbacks and sell-offs provide a perfect opportunity for investors who have faith in a company to snap up shares. Here are some stocks that have seen insider buying recently. Avanir Pharmaceuticals AVNR: The CEO, a vice president and a director purchased 18,000 shares this week. That was worth more than $47,000. This California-based company focuses on therapeutic products for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. It has a market cap of $375.5 million. Short interest is 19.6% of the float. The share price has dropped more than 8% in the past month but is still up about 38% year to date. The stock has underperformed the likes of Bristol-Myers Squibb BMY and Eli Lilly LLY over the past six months. See also: Avanir Pharmaceuticals and Concert Pharmaceuticals Announce License Agreement BlackRock BLK: Some 11,500 shares, worth more than $2.2 million, were purchased last week by one of the investment manager's directors. The New York-based company has a market cap of $35.3 billion and posted better-than-expect Q4 EPS. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 16.3% and the dividend yield is 3.1%. The share price pulled back a bit this past week but is still more than 11% higher year to date. Over the past six months, the stock outperformed competitors State Street STT and UBS UBS, as well as the broader markets. See also: Citigroup Raises Target on BlackRock to $197 Builders FirstSource BLDR: Two directors and Warburg Pincus have bought up more than 374,000 shares recently. That was worth more than $1.1 million. The market cap of his building products manufacturer is $307.9 million and its long-term EPS growth forecast is 15.0%. It posted a narrower-than-expected loss in the most recent quarter. Shares have traded mostly between $2.80 and $3.20 since early February, but the share price is up almost 56% year to date. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed the broader markets. Cenveo CVO: The CEO of this diversified printing company purchased 46,000 shares worth more than $200,000 this week. Other insiders bought shares throughout December. Cenveo has a market cap of $297.9 million and an operating margin better than its industry average. It posted better-than-expected Q4 EPS. The share price is up more than 38% year to date but still down more than 31% from the 52-week high. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed competitors such as Quad/Graphics QUAD and R.R. Donnelley RRD. Fresh Del Monte Produce FDP: One director recently purchased more than 82,900 shares, worth over $7 million. Shares tumbled in late February after the company posted a wider fourth-quarter net loss due in part to economic weakness in Europe. The company has a forward earnings multiple that is less than the industry average P/E. Its dividend yield is 1.8%. Shares have traded between $22 and $23 since the decline and are down more than 10% year to date. The stock has outperformed Chiquita Brands CQB and Dole Food DOLE over the past six months. See also: Fresh Del Monte Posts Q4 Loss Opko Health OPK: The CEO has been frequently scooping up batches of between 5,000 and 500,000 shares since November. This Miami-based health care company announced last week it bought a stake in BioZone Pharmaceuticals. Opko has a market cap of $1.4 billion. Shares have traded mostly between $4.50 and $5.50 since October. The share price has pulled back more than 8% in the past month. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed competitor Allergan AGN, but its performance has been in line with the S&P 500.
ACTION ITEMS: Bullish: Investors interested in exchange traded funds focused on insider sentiment might want to consider the following trades:
  • Direxion All Cap Insider Sentiment Shares KNOW is more than 12% higher year to date.
  • Guggenheim Insider Sentiment NFO is about 10% higher year to date.
Bearish: Traders may prefer to consider these alternative positions to some of the stocks listed above:
  • Orexigen Therapeutics OREX is up more than 123% year to date.
  • MAKO Surgical MAKO is up more than 44% year to date.
  • Janus Capital Group JNS is up more than 36% year to date.
  • Alico ALCO is up about 22% year to date.
Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.
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