We recently published a list of 14 Most Expensive Stocks Insiders Are Buying In March. In this article, we are going to take a look at where UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF) stands against other most expensive stocks insiders are buying in March.
President Donald Trump is preparing to announce “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, introducing so-called reciprocal tariffs as retaliation for tariffs imposed by other countries. While the announcement would represent a significant expansion of U.S. tariffs, experts familiar with the matter indicate it is expected to be more targeted than the broad, global approach, writes Bloomberg.
The stock market is reacting to these reports with the broader market gaining 1.5%, blue-chip companies advancing around 1.2% and the NASDAQ Composite being up more than 2%.
As investors digest daily developments, uncertainty continues to weigh on the market. During such times, insider trading often draws attention, as executive stock purchases may signal confidence in a company’s future. However, insider selling doesn’t always indicate doubt—it could reflect personal financial needs or diversification strategies. Executives often use pre-set plans like 10b5-1 to ensure transparency. While insider trading offers valuable clues, it should be considered alongside financial health, market trends, and industry shifts.
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Which stocks are insiders buying at the highest prices this month? To find out, we used Insider Monkey’s insider trading stock screener, focusing only on stocks where at least two insiders had purchased shares in March. From there, we ranked the 14 stocks with the highest average price per share.
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).
With each stock, we note the average price per share of these purchases and the stock’s market capitalization.
A county courthouse, representing the legal services the company provides.
UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF)
Market Capitalization: $7.44 billion
UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF), a bank holding company providing banking and asset servicing in the United States and internationally, ranks fifth among the 14 most expensive stocks insiders are buying in March. The Kansas City, Missouri-headquartered company operates through Commercial, Institutional, and Personal Banking segments, offering services such as commercial loans, asset management, healthcare payment solutions, retail banking, and investment advisory.
In January, UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF) completed its acquisition of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. As a result, UMB’s assets increased to approximately $68 billion (as of Dec. 31, 2024), expanding its presence from eight to 13 states. The acquisition also boosted UMB’s private wealth management assets by 32% and significantly increased its retail deposit base.
For the full year 2024, UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF) reported earnings of $441.2 million ($8.99 per diluted share), which compares to $350 million ($7.18 per diluted share) in 2023. Revenue totaled $1.57 billion, a 10.36% increase from $1.42 billion in 2023.
Recently, the company’s board of directors approved a dividend of $175 per share for its Series A 7.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, which equals $0.4375 per depositary share.
In March, two insiders purchased a total of around $47,812 worth of UMB Financial shares at an average price of $110.19 per share. The stock has declined 9.31% year-to-date, and currently trades at $102.35 per share. However, over the past 12 months, UMB Financial has returned 25.51% to its investors.
According to StockAnalysis, seven analysts have rated UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF) stock as “Buy” with a price target of $128.71 per share. This average price target suggests a 25.76% upside from the latest price.
Overall, UMBF ranks 5th on our list of the most expensive stocks insiders are buying in March. While we acknowledge the potential of UMBF 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 UMBF 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 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.