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 three securities that have had recent insider buying activity.
Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (CHP.UN-T)
With a relatively small total transaction value, between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11, Rashid Wasti, executive vice-president and chief talent officer at George Weston Ltd., purchased a total of 1,500 units at an average cost per unit of approximately $12.37, taking his account balance up to 16,200 units. George Weston currently has a 3.8 per cent interest in Choice Properties REIT, which will increase to a 65.4 per cent ownership position if the reorganization is approved by shareholders (proposed to receive Loblaw’s current 61.6 interest in Choice Properties REIT).
George Weston Ltd. (WN-T)
Between Sept. 6 and Sept. 11, Mr. Wasti, accumulated a total of 1,750 shares, increasing his account’s holdings to 3,450 shares.
On Sept. 6, director Robert Sawyer, who was the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Rona Inc., purchased 2,000 shares at a cost per share of $99.91, initiating a portfolio position. He was appointed to the board of directors in September 2016.
Morneau Shepell Inc. (MSI-T)
In a relatively small transaction, executive vice-president Rita Fridella accumulated 215 shares at a price per share of $27.164 for an account in which she has indirect ownership on Sept. 11. On Sept. 7, in a transaction valued at over $158,000, she purchased 5,845 shares in her personal account at a cost per share of $27.12, increasing her portfolio’s position to 9,370 shares.
=====
The following two stocks have had recent selling activity reported by insiders.
Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLDP-T)
In recent days, four management executives have been sellers in the market.
On Sept. 10, David Whyte, vice-president of operations, exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares received (7,500) at a price per share of $4.87, leaving 33,272 shares in his account.
On Sept. 7, chief financial officer Tony Guglielmin exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares received (60,674) at a price per share of $4.87 with 192,705 shares remaining in his portfolio.
On Sept. 4 and Sept. 5, senior officer Jay Murray exercised his options and divested the corresponding total number of shares received (16,666) at an average price per share of approximately $5.08, eliminating his portfolio’s position.
On Sept. 4, management executive Kerry Hillier exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares received (10,000) at a price per share of $5.12, eliminating his account’s holdings.
Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF-T)
In a transaction valued at over $4.5-million, president of Sun Life Investment Management Steve Peacher exercised his options and sold the corresponding number of shares received (89,485) at a price per share of $51.39 on Sept. 6, eliminating his account’s position.