In this article, we will take a detailed look at 10 Mid–Cap Stocks Insiders Are Buying Recently.
Why is it important to keep track of insider trading activity? Insiders, meaning people in high positions, such as executives and directors, have valuable insights into the company’s strategic moves, plans and initiatives. When, for example, a CEO invests their own capital in company stocks, it can indicate strong confidence in the company’s future results.
It is important to note that behind insider selling can be various other motives, that’s why insider trading activity should be assessed within the broader context of the company’s fundamentals, industry trends, and overall market conditions. Many insider purchases don’t necessarily mean the company will be successful. That’s why due diligence before any investment is of crucial importance. Investors should also take into account and carefully analyze underlying reasons for insider transactions. However, insider trading activity in combination with other relevant factors can offer precious insights into a company’s capabilities, helping investors make more informed investment decisions.
To come up with the 10 mid-cap stocks insiders are buying recently, we only considered stocks with a market capitalization of between $2 to $10 billion. We first used Insider Monkey’s insider trading stock screener and looked for stocks with at least two insiders buying over the last three months.
With each stock we note the number of recent insider purchases and the company’s current market capitalization. But why is it important to follow insider activity? Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds, focusing on insider trading and stock picks from hedge fund investor newsletters and conferences. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here)
A busy trading room floor with analysts absorbing the day’s financial markets information.
10. Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 4
Market Capitalization: $2.47B
Four insiders, including the president and CEO bought around $1.29 million worth of Azenta’s shares at a price of $40 per share. Azenta is a provider of sample exploration and management solutions for the life sciences sector. About a year ago, Azenta was trading at $65.63 per share, indicating that the management seized the moment to acquire shares at a lower price, being confident in the company’s future. The stock is currently trading at about $52.67 per share, after dropping 5.66% over the last six months.
In its latest report for the fourth quarter, Azenta reported revenue of $170 million, down 1% year over year. The company attributed year-over-year revenue decline to lower B Medical Systems revenue. The report included a plan to sell B Medical Systems, which may have caused the November drop in its share price.
In January, Azenta was chosen as the technology provider by UK Biocentre to expand large-scale sample storage, in support of the preservation of internationally significant sample collections. This strategic partnership may have spiked the stock price again.
The consensus rating on Azenta’s stock is “Buy,” with a 12-month average price target of $61.60, suggesting a gain of 17% from the current price.
9. Albany International Corp. (NYSE:AIN)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 4
Market Capitalization: $2.527B
This mid-cap stock that insiders are buying recently is a diversified industrial company focused on engineered products and materials. Over the last three months, four officers, including CEO, President, Vice President, and CFO acquired around $317,000 worth of Albany International’s shares at a price of around $71 per share. The stock is now trading at $79.72 per share, having gained about 11% since then.
Insiders and officers used the stock’s drop in November to acquire these shares, as previously in August its shares were trading higher, at about $88 per share. Over the past six months, the shares lost 5.50%.
For the third quarter ended September 30, the company reported net revenues of $298 million, up 6.1%, or 5.8% after adjusting for currency translation, when compared to the prior year. In November, Albany International announced a plan to discontinue manufacturing operations in Olten, and to transfer production to other Heimbach GmbH manufacturing facilities.
In December, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, an increase of 4% from the prior dividend.
In January, Truist Financial raised its price target for AIN from $85.00 to $88.00, maintaining a buy rating, following TD Cowen’s report from December, where the financial services firm raised Albany International to a “strong-buy.” According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “moderate buy” and a consensus target price of $86.25. This suggests that the current trading price is undervalued.
8. Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 4
Market Capitalization: $5.839B
Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in healthcare facilities. In November and December, four directors acquired $492,000 worth of the company’s shares at a price of around $17 per share. With the current price of $16.55 per share, the stock is now trading just a bit lower than when insiders were buying. Even over the last six months, its price hasn’t changed much, having declined only 5.16%.
Out of six Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings on this stock, two have placed a Sell rating and four Hold. On the other hand, some analysts have given this mid-cap stock positive ratings due to its attractive dividend yield. The company offers a forward dividend yield of around 7.39%, which is considered higher than the average yield in the real estate sector.
7. FS KKR Capital Corp. (NYSE:FSK)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 4
Market Capitalization $6.402B
A business development company (BDC) specializing in debt investments in U.S. middle-market businesses, FS KKR Capital is currently trading at $23.21 per share. The firm’s investment strategy includes a focus on senior secured loans, with 58% of its portfolio comprised of first lien loans and 66% in senior secured debt. This conservative approach helps mitigate risk while maintaining substantial exposure to high-quality assets.
Over the last three months, 4 insiders, including directors, bought $249,000 worth of the company’s shares at a price of around $21.52 per share. Interestingly, over the last six months, the company’s shares gained 23.85%. Will this growth trend continue for FS KKR Capital stock, and could this be a good time to invest? It may be worth considering.
This is a dividend paying stock, which is important for some investors. On October 8, 2024, FSK’s board of directors declared a distribution for the fourth quarter of $0.70 per share, consisting of a base distribution of $0.64 per share and a supplemental distribution of $0.06 per share.
In November and December, FS KKR completed two public offerings of $600 million and $100 million 6.125% unsecured notes due 2030, respectively.
Not only is FS KKR one of 10 Mid-Cap Stocks Insiders Are Buying Recently, but it is also one of the 10 Best BDC Stocks To Invest In.
6. Maximus, Inc. (NYSE:MMS)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 5
Market Capitalization: $4.259B
Maximus, a provider of government services, specializing in health and human services programs is yet another dividend paying player on this list of mid-caps stocks with significant insider holdings. The company has a forward dividend yield of 1.59% and a payout ratio of 19.22%.
In November and December, five insiders acquired approximately $754,000 worth of Maximus shares at a price of $72.26 per share. The stock is currently trading at $75.79, but over the last six months it dropped 13.84%.
This suggests that insiders have used the November and December drop in price to buy shares. Why did the stock drop? In November, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notified Maximus they had canceled the Contact Center Operations (CCO) 1-800-MEDICARE and Federal Marketplace solicitation which covered the same scope of work Maximus currently performs under contract today through option periods available until 2031. This way, the company lost the new bidding opportunity. It looks like insiders thought that the bad news is priced in and that may be the reason why they bought the stock.
Meanwhile, year-to-date the stock is up 1.53%, following January dividends of $0.30 per share and the news of winning contracts to continue medical disability exam services for veterans.
5. RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 5
Market Capitalization: $6.772B
RLI Corp is an insurance holding company specializing in property and casualty insurance and the fifth out of our 10 mid-cap stocks insiders are buying recently. In January, five insiders acquired approximately $950,000 worth of Maximus shares at a price of $72.14 per share. The stock is currently trading at $74.51, having lost 9.60% year-to-date. Over the last six months, RLI shares gained 2.32%. The highest drop over that period happened at the end of January.
Why did the stock drop in January? On January 15, 2025, RLI executed a two-for-one stock split of common stock, resulting in a lower price of its shares, which may be the reason insiders decided to seize the moment and buy more shares.
RLI has an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from seven research firms, according to MarketBeat, and an average 12-month price target of $91.20.
The company is known for its solid track record of dividend payments that has been paying for 49 years. On December 20, 2024, the company paid a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.145 per share for a combined total of $196.8 million.
Investors who invested in RLI five years ago would have gained 54% on their investment.
4. WillScot Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:WSC)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 5
Market Capitalization: $6.698B
A provider of mobile and modular space solutions in North America, WillScot Holdings Corporation, attracted the attention of five insiders including the CEO, President, and CFO over the last three months. In November, these insiders acquired around $1,053 worth of the company’s shares at a price of around $35.12 per share. The stock is now trading at a similar price of $35.80 per share. Over the last six months, the stock went up 3.62%, and year-to-date it gained 7.03%.
According to StockAnalysis, 10 analysts have an average 12-month price target of $45.50, signaling a potential for an upside of around 27%. Also, the average rating for the stock from 10 analysts is “Buy.” Polen Capital, an investment management company, recently wrote that the company’s “business model is highly predictable as assets are leased with an average duration of three years—this stability has enabled management to allocate capital effectively.” The investment firm added that construction markets have been slugging over the last few years, so it should improve volume backdrop. “We expect this, combined with continued pricing gains through higher attach rates of their Value-Added Services, to lead to mid-teens EPS growth over the next five years.”
In January, WillScot confirmed a partnership as the preferred temporary space provider for the Los Angeles Rams.
WillScot is one of billionaire Lee Cooperman’s top 15 long-term stock picks.
3. Flowco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:FLOC)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 6
Market Capitalization: $2.564B
This provider of production optimization, artificial lift and methane abatement solutions for the oil and natural gas industry is one of 10 mid-cap stocks insiders are buying recently. Six insiders, including President and CEO, CFO, acquired around $1.89 million worth of Flowco Holdings shares at a price of $24 per share. The company’s shares are now trading at $28.44 per share.
Flowco was founded in 2024, and it went public on January 16, 2025. Insiders bought their shares the next day. Since it is a newly listed company, it should take some time to have analyst coverage on it. Furthermore, the company also hasn’t disclosed detailed financial results.
Flowco’s CEO, Joseph Edwards was the one to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock for a total of $1.2 million. This signals the management’s confidence in the company’s future.
2. Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:ZETA)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 7
Market Capitalization: $4.267B
Zeta Global Holdings is an AI-powered marketing cloud company that offers data-driven solutions to help enterprises acquire, grow, and retain customers more cost-effectively. In November, seven insiders, including the CEO, acquired approximately $3.20 million worth of the company’s shares at a price of around $18.92 per share. Zeta Global Holdings is currently trading just below that average with a price of $18.19. Over the last six months, its shares lost 17.13%.
The stock plummeted 50% in November, due to a report by the short seller Culper Research, and even though the company refuted the claims and was cleared in a forensic review, the stock is yet to recover. In December, the company announced that its Zeta Marketing Platform usage surged 108% year-over-year.
In January, an analyst from DA Davidson chose Zeta Global Holdings as their top pick in the marketing software space. In addition to being one of the 10 mid-cap stock insiders are buying recently, this stock is also one of the 12 Stocks That Will Double in 2025.
Over the past year, the stock rose 88%, outperforming the broader market index.
1. Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD)
Number of Insiders Recently Buying: 10
Market Capitalization: $8.424B
This leading global food company and one of the world’s largest pork processors and hog producers just went public this January. This explains the huge insider trading activity, with as many as 10 insiders, including the President and CEO, CFO, and CBO recently buying its shares. Together they acquired $65.68 million worth of Smithfield Foods shares at a price of $20 per share. Currently, the stock is trading at $21.82 per share.
Simthfield’s director Long Wan bought 3.2 million shares, investing $64.00 million in the company. This indicates the management’s confidence in the company’s potential.
The company operates a diverse portfolio of well-known brands, including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan’s Famous, Farmland, Farmer John, and Armour. It has a long tradition, being founded back in 1936, as Smithfield Packing Company.
According to Wall Street Journal data, analysts have a favorable view of Smithfield Foods, with an average 12-month price target of $34.00, suggesting a potential upside from the current price. However, since the company just went public, more analyst data coverage is expected to develop over time.
Overall, SFD is first among the 10 mid-cap stocks insiders are buying recently. While we acknowledge the potential of SFD, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SFD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap
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