In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the 10 stocks with the most insider purchases in the last quarter. Previously, we covered 10 stocks with at least $30 million in insider sales recently.
The trade war with China and fears of a recession are among the reasons U.S. stocks dropped on Monday. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O’Grady explained that at the core of the downward trend is uncertainty. “We do not know where tariffs are going, it’s changing by the minute, and investors hate uncertainty.”
On Monday, Beijing began implementing retaliatory tariffs on various U.S. farm products, for which China is the largest market. These include a 10% tax on soybeans, pork, beef, and fruit, and a 15% levy on chicken, wheat, and corn, according to CBS News.
Blue-chip companies fell 2.1%, while the broader market dropped 2.7%, hitting its lowest point this year. The NASDAQ dropped 4% after entering a correction last week.
Market analyst Adam Crisafulli from Vital Knowledge notes that the weakness stems from concerns about slowing growth, Trump’s pro-tariff agenda, and high valuations—factors that have been influencing sentiment since mid-February.
Goldman Sachs confirmed on Monday that it is downgrading its economic growth forecast for 2025 from 2.4% to 1.7%.
As the market adjusts to new political and economic shifts, some analysts remain optimistic, especially about AI technology’s potential. Insider trading often garners attention during these times, as executives have insights into their companies. For example, when a CEO or CFO purchases company stock, it can signal confidence in the business.
However, insider selling doesn’t always reflect a lack of confidence, as it could be for reasons like personal financial needs or portfolio adjustments. Executives often follow pre-arranged plans (10b5-1 plans) for these transactions.
Though insider activity can provide helpful signals, it should be viewed alongside broader factors like the company’s financial health, market conditions, and industry trends. Thorough research is essential for making informed investment choices.
Today, we’re focusing on the stocks with the most insider purchases in the last quarter. Using Insider Monkey’s insider trading screener, we identified stocks where at least five insiders bought shares in the last quarter (from Oct.1 to Dec. 31). From this group, we highlighted the 10 stocks with the highest number of individual purchases.
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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
For each stock, we provide details on the number of insider purchases and the company’s current market capitalization. Let’s dive into the 10 stocks with the most insider purchases in the last quarter.
10. 374Water Inc. (NASDAQ:SCWO)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 8
Market capitalization: $50.73 million
We begin the list with 374Water, a cleantech company that converts wet wastes into valuable resources in the U.S. The Durham, North Carolina-headquartered company processes materials such as sewage sludge, biosolids, food waste, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and forever chemicals.
It provides AirSCWO systems, which use supercritical water oxidation to treat a range of waste streams. 374Water serves industries including agriculture, defense, oil and gas, waste management, environmental remediation, and municipal sectors.
On November 18, eight insiders, including the company’s president and CEO, and CFO, acquired $633,500 worth of 374Water shares at a price of $1.25 per share. The stock lost 27.21% since the beginning of the year and is now trading at $0.36 per share. Over the last 12 months, 374Water shares dropped 73.99%.
374Water is also among the 12 penny stocks with insider buying in 2025.
9. Flushing Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:FFIC)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 9
Market capitalization: $438.59 million
Flushing Financial Corporation is the parent company of Flushing Bank, offering banking services to consumers, businesses, and government entities. The Uniondale, New York-headquartered firm provides various deposit accounts, including checking, savings, and CDs, as well as mortgage loans, small business loans, and consumer loans. The company operates full-service branches in New York and an online banking platform under the iGObanking and BankPurely brands.
On February 25, Flushing Financial’s board of directors declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.22 per common share.
On December 12, nine insiders purchased a total of around $248,468 worth of Flushing Financial shares at a price of $15.25 per share. The stock lost 8.47% year-to-date and is now trading at $13.07 per share. Over the last 12 months, Flushing Financial shares gained 1.08%.
According to four Wall Street analysts, Flushing Financial is a “Hold,” and its price target amounts to $17.00, writes TipRanks. The average price target suggests an upside of 30.77% from the latest price.
8. HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 10
Market capitalization: $31.10 billion
HEICO Corporation designs and manufactures aerospace, defense, and electronic products both domestically and internationally. The Hollywood, Florida-based company operates through two segments: Flight Support Group (FSG) and Electronic Technologies Group (ETG).
The FSG segment provides jet engine parts, insulation systems, and components, along with repair services for aircraft and avionics. The ETG segment offers a wide range of products, including electro-optical equipment, power electronics, RF filters, and various electronic components.
In February, the company’s Flight Support Group acquired 90% of the stock of Millennium International, LLC. Transaction terms and financial details were not disclosed.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, HEICO disclosed an increase in net income of 46% to a record $168.0 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, up from $114.7 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Net sales increased 15% to a record $1.03 billion, up from $896.4 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024. Operating income also increased 26% to a record $226.8 million, up from $180.2 million in the comparable period of the prior year. Continued commercial aerospace product sales increases have resulted in eighteen consecutive quarters of sequential growth in Flight Support Group net sales.
Strong earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 have caused the stock to jump 16.3% on February 27.
On October 18, 10 insiders, among which is the company’s CEO, acquired a total of around $1.91 million worth of HEICO shares at a price of $262.94 per share. Having gained 7.17% year-to-date, the stock is now trading at $254.79 per share. Over the past 12 months, it returned 39.01% to its investors.
According to MarketBeat, 11 analysts have given an average “Moderate Buy” rating to HEICO stock. The average price target is $271.40, representing a 6.75% upside from the latest price.
7. Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 11
Market capitalization: $62.32 billion
The seventh among the 10 stocks with many insider purchases in the last quarter is a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), Simon Property Group. The Indianapolis, Indiana-headquartered company is focused on owning and managing popular shopping, entertainment, dining, and mixed-use properties. Its portfolio features high-profile tenants like Apple, Nike, and other luxury brands.
Simon Property is known for its prime locations with strong foot traffic, especially as retail rebounds post-COVID. The company has also partnered with e-commerce giants like Amazon and Bonobos, converting some properties into distribution centers.
As of December 31, 2024, Simon Property owned or had an interest in 229 properties comprising 183 million square feet in North America, Asia and Europe. It also owned an 88% interest in The Taubman Realty Group, or TRG, which owns 22 regional, super-regional, and outlet malls in the U.S. and Asia. Additionally, at the end of 2024 the company had a 22.4% ownership interest in Klepierre, a publicly traded, Paris-based real estate company, which owns shopping centers in 14 European countries.
On December 30, 11 insiders bought a total of around $410,348 worth of Simon Property shares at a price of $168.59 per share. The stock is now trading at $164.94, having slid 2.22% year-to-date. Over the past 12 months, Simon Property returned 10.11% to its investors.
Twelve analysts have an average “Moderate Buy” on Simon Property stock with a 12-month price target of $189.08, according to TipRanks.
Simon Property is also one of the 10 dividend stocks that are outperforming the market in 2025.
6. Ames National Corporation (NASDAQ:ATLO)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 12
Market capitalization: $164.22 million
Ames National is a multi-bank holding company that offers a range of deposit products, including checking, savings, money market accounts, and CDs. The Ames, Iowa-headquartered business provides various loans, such as commercial, agricultural, residential real estate, and consumer loans for vehicles, home improvements, and personal needs. It also offers cash management, merchant services, and wealth management.
During the last quarter, 12 insiders, among which are the company’s president, and CFO, acquired a total of approximately $122,372 worth of Ames National shares at an average price of $17.03 per share. Currently, the stock is trading at $18.35, having gained 11.69% since the beginning of the year. Over the past 12 months, Ames National declined 3.62%.
On February 12, Ames National’s board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per common share.
For the full year of 2024, the company disclosed a net income of $10.2 million or $1.14 per share, compared to $10.8 million or $1.20 per share earned in 2023. Loan interest income was $9.0 million higher than in the prior year, primarily due to higher average rates and growth in the loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2024, total assets were $2.13 billion, a decrease of $22.3 million, as compared to December 31, 2023. The decrease in assets is primarily due to a decrease in securities available for sale and partially offset by an increase in loans and interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions.
5. NewtekOne, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEWT)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 12
Market capitalization: $314.97 million
In the middle of the list of 10 stocks with the most insider purchases in the last quarter is NewtekOne, the parent company of NewtekBank. The Boca Raton, Florida-based company provides a variety of deposit accounts, SBA loans, and commercial loans, including real estate loans. Its offering also includes electronic payment processing, cloud-based POS systems, insurance brokerage, payroll services, and technology solutions like website hosting, cloud hosting, and data recovery.
During the last quarter of 2024, 12 insiders, among which are the firm’s president and CEO, bought a total of around $187,790 worth of shares at an average price of $13.39. Having declined 6.19% since the beginning of the year, the stock is now trading at $11.98. Over the last 12 months, NewtekOne shares went up 2.48%.
In 2024, NewtekOne had a net income of $50.9 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.97, compared to $47.3 million and $1.89 per basic share in 2023. Newtek Bank and the company’s non-bank lending subsidiaries closed $1.5 billion of loans across all loan products for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024; a 33.1% increase over $1.1 billion of loans closed for the same period in 2023.
The company raised its 2025 annual EPS forecast range to $2.10 to $2.50 per basic and diluted common share, from its previous full-year 2025 EPS forecast range of $2.00 to $2.25 per basic and diluted common share.
In January, NewtekOne paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share on its outstanding common shares.
According to three analysts, the average rating for NewtekOne stock is “Hold,” writes StockAnalysis. The average stock price target is $14.67, which is an increase of 22.45% from the latest price.
4. Chain Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:CBNA)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 14
Market capitalization: $143.97 million
Chain Bridge Bancorp is the parent company of Chain Bridge Bank, N.A., which offers a range of commercial and personal banking services across the United States. The McLean, Virginia-headquartered company provides deposit accounts, treasury management, payment services, loans, and mortgage financing, as well as wealth management, asset custody, and trust and estate services. Its loan offerings include both residential and commercial real estate loans, along with consumer and commercial loans.
On October 3, 14 insiders, including the company’s CEO, president, and chief risk officer, purchased a total of $516,890 worth of Chain Bridge shares at a price of $22.0 per share. These purchases were a part of the company’s initial public offering. Since the beginning of the year, the stock declined 12.49% and is currently trading at $21.94 per share. Since its IPO in October 2024, Chain Bridge gained 3.49%.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the company disclosed a net income of $20.9 million, compared to $8.8 million in 2023. Return on average equity was 20.05% for 2024, compared to 11.90% for 2023. Earnings per share were $4.17, compared to $1.93 for 2023.
Two Wall Street analysts have given a “Moderate Buy” rating to Chain Bridge stock and a 12-month price target of $32.50, according to data from TipRanks.
3. Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISI)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 15
Market capitalization: $520.8 million
The third among the 10 stocks with the highest number of insider purchases in the last quarter is the parent company of Five Star Bank, Financial Institutions. The Warsaw, New York-headquartered firm provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses in the Empire State.
The bank offers a range of deposit accounts, loans, and insurance products, including mortgages, personal and commercial loans, auto and home insurance, and retirement plans. Additionally, the company provides wealth management, and investment advisory services, and operates a real estate investment trust.
Over the last three months of 2024, 15 insiders, among which are the company’s CEO, CFO, and CRO acquired a total of $735,000 worth of Financial Institution’s shares at a price of $25.0 per share. Insiders bought these shares on December 13 as part of the company’s underwritten public offering of 4 million shares.
Recently, the company announced that its board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per outstanding common share, an increase of $0.01, or 3.3%, from the most recent quarter. Financial Institutions is also among the 10 small-cap dividend stocks that drive year-to-date gains.
For the full year of 2024, the company disclosed a net loss of $24.5 million, compared to net income of $50.3 million in 2023. After preferred dividends, net loss available to common shareholders was $26.0 million, or ($1.66) per diluted share, for 2024 compared to net income available to common shareholders of $48.8 million, or $3.15 per diluted share, in 2023. Provision for credit losses was $6.2 million in 2024 and $13.7 million in 2023.
Year-to-date, the stock dropped 4.95% and is now trading at $25.94. Nonetheless, over the past 12 months, Financial Institutions returned 40.6%.
According to the three analysts, Financial Institutions is a “Moderate Buy,” writes MarketBeat. The analysts have given the stock a 12-month price target of $33.33.
2. Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:MPB)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 15
Market capitalization: $498.03 million
Mid Penn Bancorp is a regional bank holding company providing various financial services through its subsidiary, Mid Penn Bank. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based company provides commercial banking services to individuals, partnerships, non-profit organizations, and corporations. It also offers a range of loan products, trust, retail investment, wealth management, and insurance services.
During the last quarter of 2024, 15 insiders acquired a total of $1.35 million worth of Mid Penn shares at an average price of $29.42 per share. Currently, the stock is trading at $25.73 per share, having lost 10.8% since the beginning of the year. However, over the last 12 months, Mid Penn returned 26.13% to its investors.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, Mid Penn Bank reported a net income of $13.2 million, or $0.72 per diluted common share, compared to $12.1 million, or $0.73 per diluted common share, in the same quarter of 2023. The bank’s board of directors also declared a cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, marking the 57th consecutive quarterly dividend.
Two analysts have given a “Buy” rating on Mid Penn stock, with a 12-month stock price target of $36.0, according to StockAnalysis.
Mid Penn is also among the 10 small–cap stocks insiders are buying recently.
1. F & M Bank Corp. (OTC:FMBM)
Number of insider purchases in the last quarter: 16
Market capitalization: $67.56 million
F & M Bank, the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank is first among the 10 stocks with the most insider acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2024. The Timberville, Virginia-based company offers a wide range of financial services to individuals and businesses in the Mother of States. The bank provides various deposit accounts, including savings, money market, and both demand and time deposit options, along with internet and mobile banking. Its offering also includes loan products, credit cards, dealer financing, etc.
During the last quarter, 16 insiders, including CEO, and CFO, acquired $220,695 worth of F & M Bank shares at an average price of $20.45 per share. Since the beginning of the year, the stock declined 4.05% and is now trading at $19.19 per share. Over the past 12 months, F & M Bank returned 8.54% to its investors.
F & M Bank recently disclosed the financial report for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024. Net income was $2.3 million or $0.64 per share for the quarter, bringing net income for the year to $7.3 million or $2.07 per share, a 163% increase over net income in 2023. On December 31, 2024, the company had total assets of $1.30 billion, total loans of $839.9 million, and total deposits of $1.20 billion. This reflects growth of $17.9 million, or 2%, in total loans and $61.9 million, or 5%, in total deposits since year-end 2023.
Overall, FMBM ranks first among the 10 stocks with the most insider purchases in the last quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of FMBM, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than FMBM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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